Switzerland vs Italy Prediction: The Gli Azzurri to make it to the quarterfinals

The Euro 2024 knockout stage encounter will begin with the game between Switzerland and Italy. In their group stage encounters, the two teams finished the second spot and will head into this game feeling confident of winning. How will these sides respond in this game? Let’s delve into this game and make a full prediction. 

Switzerland were brilliant in the group-stage encounters of this Euro 2024, and they will look to keep that run intact in this fixture. Finishing Group A second spot with five points, Switzerland went unbeaten in each of their games. In fact, this team almost finished top of the Group until a late minute Niclas Fllkrug denied them maximum points in their last group game against Germany. 

Heading into this game, Switzerland have an unbeaten run of seven matches without a win, picking three wins while four encounters ended in draws. This team scored 11 goals in that run of matches while conceding four.

Italy would not have hoped for a better result than securing a late-minute draw against Croatia in the group stage games. Opening their Euro 2024 campaign, the defending champions secured a comeback win over Albania but then lost to Spain in their second group game, with Ricardo Calafiori’s own goal being the difference. 

Heading into this knockout encounter, Italy have lost just one of their last ten competitive games. However, they secured wins in five of the remaining nine encounters, while four ended in draws. In those encounters, Italy found the back of the net thirteen times while conceding five in those encounters. 

Switzerland Possible Starting Lineup:

Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Stergiou, Xhaka, Freuler, Aebischer; Ndoye, Vargas; Embolo

Italy Possible Starting Lineup:

Donnarumma; Darmian, Mancini, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Jorginho, Pellegrini, Dimarco; Chiesa, Scamacca

We expect a competitive encounter with the two teams giving their all. In this fixture, Italy have had more luck, but more improved performance is expected from them as the defending champions have not played up to expectations in their matches so far. Switzerland, on the other hand, are on a run of matches which should be respected, but then, it is tough to back them against a more decent side like Italy confidently. However, with both teams conceding in each of their matches in the group stage, I am backing this game to end in goals. However, Italy are slightly favored, and I fancy their playing style here. Take the Azzurri to qualify for the next stage of the competition.