Switzerland vs Italy Preview & Prediction | UEFA EURO 2024 | Round of 16

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As EURO 2024 reaches the knockout stage, Group A runners-up Switzerland take on Group B runners-up and reigning champions Italy in the first of eight Round of 16 fixtures.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 29th June, 2024 - UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – BBC / US – FOX

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer / US –VIX

SWITZERLAND PREVIEW: ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE GROUP STAGE CAMPAIGN FOR THE SWISS

At this stage at EURO 2020, Switzerland stunned France by beating the then world champions on penalties after a 3-3 thriller in Budapest. They’ll fully believe they can reach another European quarter-final here, having impressed significantly in Group A with the accumulation of five points, not losing any of their three games.

They almost pulled off arguably the biggest shock of EURO 2024 so far in the final round of Group A fixtures, having took the lead against Germany to temporarily take them top of the group, but a late equaliser from the host nation saw them move back above Switzerland, setting up this clash with Italy in Berlin.

ITALY PREVIEW: LAST-GASP EQUALISER SAW ITALIANS THROUGH AS RUNNERS-UP

Italy were looking all set for a third-place finish in Group B after falling behind in the second-half against Croatia. However, the Azzurri possessed a sting in their tail and a last-gasp equaliser from substitute Mattia Zaccagni deep into stoppage time saw Italy snatch the point they needed for a second-place finish, effectively eliminating Croatia in the process.

Luciano Spalletti’s side certainly haven’t been at their best across the competition so far, but that doesn’t matter at this point, provided they can get themselves together in the knockout stage. With such a strong tournament pedigree and a mentality that sees them battle right to the end, it would be foolish to write off the reigning champions.

SWITZERLAND TEAM NEWS: ZUBER FITNESS STILL QUESTIONABLE, WIDMER SUSPENDED

Steven Zuber remains an injury doubt for Switzerland, whilst after not featuring at all against Germany last time out, the role of mercurial attacking midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is up for debate, with the likelihood being that he will come off the bench at some point. After starting vs Germany and getting through that game with no issues, Breel Embolo should be ready to start again here, whilst Leonidas Stergiou is likely to replace the suspended Silvan Widmer

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Stergiou, Freuler, Xhaka, Aebischer; Ndoye, Vargas; Embolo

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE: Zuber (Injured)

ITALY TEAM NEWS: CALAFIORI SUSPENDED FOR AZZURRI

Spalletti will be forced into a change to his backline with Riccardo Calafiori suspended following his booking against Croatia. It would be no surprise if Italy reverted to a back four with Matteo Darmian partnering Alessandro Bastoni in the centre of defence. Attacker Federico Chiesa will no doubt be pushing for a recall.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Darmian, Bastoni, Dimarco; Frattesi, Jorginho, Barella; Chiesa, Zaccagni, Pellegrini

UNAVAILABLE: Calafiori (Suspended)

QUESTIONABLE: Fagioli (Injured)

KEY STATS

• Italy are unbeaten in the last 11 meetings between these two teams (W5 D6). Switzerland’s last victory was a 1-0 home win in a World Cup qualifying match in 1993.
• Five the last six matches between Italy and Switzerland finished level.
• Italy won their only previous EURO final tournament meeting against the Swiss. A 3-0 victory in the group stage at EURO 2020.
• All three of Switzerland’s EURO knockout matches have been settled by a penalty shoot-out. Lost 5-4 on pens vs Poland in the EURO 2016 round of 16 after a 1-1 draw, Won 5-4 on pens vs France in the EURO 2020 round of 16 after a 3-3 draw and Lost 3-1 on pens vs Spain in the EURO 2020 quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw.
• Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Switzerland have lost only one of their last 13 EURO matches (W4 D8). That was their 3-0 defeat against Italy in the EURO 2020 group stage.
• Switzerland have lost only one of their last 17 international matches (W7 D9).
• Switzerland have scored in six successive EURO matches for the first time.
• Switzerland have not kept a clean sheet in their last nine EURO matches.
• Switzerland have scored at least one goal in the first half in five of their last six EURO matches.
• Xherdan Shaqiri has scored in the knockout rounds at the last two EURO final tournaments (R16 vs Poland, EURO 2016 and QF vs Spain, EURO 2020).
• Italy have won their round of 16 tie in each of the last two EURO final tournaments. W 2-0 vs Spain at EURO 2016 and W 2-1 aet vs Austria at EURO 2020.
• Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Italy have lost only one of their last 12 EURO matches (W7 D4).
• Italy have been losing at half-time in only two of their last 24 EURO matches.
• Italy have only failed to score in one of their last 12 EURO matches.
• Italy have conceded the first goal in their previous three matches at EURO 2024. They also conceded first in the EURO 2020 final so the run stretches back to four matches.
• Eight of Italy’s last 12 EURO knockout matches have required extra-time.
• Italy have been successful in seven of their last nine EURO knockout ties.

SWITZERLAND VS ITALY PREDICTION

You would normally associate knockout football with tight and sometimes turgid football, but that isn’t likely to be the case here when you consider how both teams have played across the tournament so far, particularly Switzerland.

All three of the Swiss’ group games saw both teams score and they won’t be afraid to throw bodies forward. However, that can leave them exposed defensively and when it comes to a major tournament, Italy can never be written off.

With that in mind, back both teams to score in what should be a close contest that may well require extra time and possibly penalties to decide it.

SWITZERLAND VS ITALY TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE