The first match of Euro 2024’s knockout stages sees Switzerland take on defending champions Italy at Olympiastadion Berlin on Saturday.
Switzerland finished second in Group A to reach this stage, while Italy finished second in Group B.
Switzerland current form
Switzerland remain unbeaten in Euro 2024 as they qualified for the knockout stage after one win and two draws.
They kicked off their summer campaign with an impressive 3-1 defeat of Hungary in which Kwadwo Duah, Michel Aebischer and Breel Embolo all found the back of the net.
They followed that with subsequent draws against Scotland and Germany. They’ve scored in every game, though are yet to keep a clean sheet.
The Swiss were unlucky not to top the group as Germany scored late on in the third and final group game to draw 1-1.
Italy current form
Italy’s run to the last-16 has been more tumultuous as they had to rely on an injury-time equaliser against Croatia to progress. In the dying minutes of the game last Friday, Mattia Zaccagni popped up with a stunning, curled strike into the top right corner to send the Azzurri through.
Prior to that, Luciano Spalletti’s men narrowly defeated Albania 1-0 before losing 1-0 to Spain.
It is fair to say Italy haven’t found their rthymn just yet.
Silvan Widmer received two bookings in the group stage so he is suspended for this one. Murat Yakin doesn’t have a natural replacement at right wing-back so one of Dan Ndoye, Fabian Rieder, Steven Zuber or Michel Aebischer may have to step in which could upset the balance of the starting XI.
Breel Embolo started his first game of the tournament against Germany after battling fitness issues all season long and then heading into the Euros. It will be up to Yakin whether to go with him or Barnabas Varga up top.
Italy also have a notable suspension as Ricardo Calafiori saw yellow in two group stage matches, including the final one against Croatia. Gianluca Mancini and Alessandro Buongiorno are options to come into the back three.
Their…
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Author : editors@footballcritic.com (Martin Macdonald)
Publish date : 2024-06-29 07:30:00
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