Sabasports Match Preview
Euro 2024: Switzerland vs Italy
Kickoff Time: 2024-06-30 00:00 (HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
In the group stage, Switzerland maintained an unbeaten record with one win and two draws. They secured a spot in the knockout stage as the second-place team in their group and displayed strong performance. Switzerland boast several main players from the five major leagues, including Granit Xhaka, who broke Bayern Munich’s dominance and secured the German domestic double championship with Bayern Leverkusen; Yann Sommer, who aided Inter in the championship win; Michel Aebischer and Leonidas Stergiou, who helped VfB Stuttgart won an entry of Champions League; and Manuel Akanji, who contributed to Manchester City’s four consecutive Premier League titles, among others. Switzerland predominantly employ the 3421 formation, which reinforces their defense by increasing the number of players in the defense line and restricts the opponent’s space. However, due to the defensive nature of the formation, Switzerland may struggle to orchestrate intricate attacking moves and rely more on counterattacks. Hence, the speed and ability to seize opportunities of their forwards will be crucial.
As the defending champions, Italy had a rather disappointing performance in the group stage, achieving a record of one win, one draw and one loss. They narrowly qualified for the elimination stage as the second-placed team in their group. Luciano Spalletti, drawing from his coaching experience with Napoli, implemented a 4-3-3 formation that prioritizes offensive play for Italy. He gradually shifted away from relying on skilled players and focused on incorporating taller and faster players, as well as midfielders with strong tackling abilities. Unlike traditional possession-oriented teams, Italy’s passing control emphasizes quick progression through the midfield and creating shooting opportunities promptly. Defensively, the cohesion and stability of the defense line are ensured by players from Inter and Torino working together. Their goalkeeper and captain, Gianluigi Donnarumma, has been instrumental in Italy’s advancement with his remarkable saves and crucial contributions.
In terms of strength and reputation, Italy undeniably outshine Switzerland. However, based on their performances in the group stage, Switzerland have displayed better form than Italy. Both teams employ defensive-focused tactics, indicating a closely contested match. Nevertheless, Switzerland possess strong passing control and penetrating abilities, making them likely candidates for executing effective counterattacks. Taking everything into consideration, Switzerland, in excellent form and condition, have a good chance of keeping a clean sheet within regular time.
Switzerland’s Last 5 Games: DDWDW
24-06-24 Switzerland 1-1 Germany
24-06-20 Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
24-06-15 Hungary 1-3 Switzerland
24-06-08 Switzerland 1-1 Austria
24-06-05 Switzerland 4-0 Estonia
Italy’s Last 5 Games: DLWWD
24-06-25 Croatia 1-1 Italy
24-06-21 Spain 1-0 Italy
24-06-16 Italy 2-1 Albania
24-06-10 Italy 1-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
24-06-05 Italy 0-0 Turkey
Head To Head Record:
21-11-13 Italy 1-1 Switzerland
21-09-06 Switzerland 0-0 Italy
21-06-17 Italy 3-0 Switzerland
10-06-06 Switzerland 1-1 Italy
09-08-13 Switzerland 0-0 Italy
Prediction: Switzerland to win or Draw