Match Preview Italy – Switzerland Euro 2024: Statistics and Key Players

Italy and Switzerland face off on Saturday in the first round of the Euro 2024 knockout stages in Berlin. Both teams finished second in their respective groups, with their fates decided in the final minutes of the last group stage matches. Italy is the favorite, but Switzerland performed well in the group stage, being the only team Germany couldn’t beat.

Probable Lineups and Notable Absences

Luciano Spalletti will likely opt for a 3-5-2 formation, with a defensive line formed by Alessandro Bastoni, Gianluca Mancini, and Matteo Darmian. The midfield will remain the same with Dimarco, Barella, Jorginho, Cristante, and Di Lorenzo, who will drop back to form a five-man defense when needed. Up front we will see the striker pair formed by Gianluca Scamacca and Federico Chiesa.

A notable absence for the Azzurri is Riccardo Calafiori, Bologna’s defender who played a key role in securing Italy’s spot in the knockout stages. He is one of the top defenders in Euro 2024 in terms of interceptions and ball progressions.

Murat Yakin is expected to maintain the 3-4-2-1 formation used during the group stage, with a defensive trio of Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji, and Ricardo Rodriguez. Silvan Widmer will be absent due to yellow card accumulation, and Leonidas Stergiou might step in alongside Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka, and Michel Aebischer in midfield. The attacking lineup will feature Ruben Vargas, Dan Ndoye, and Breel Embolo.

Recent Form and Head-to-Head

Italy is unbeaten in their last 11 matches against Switzerland, with 5 wins and 6 draws. The last time Switzerland beat Italy was in the 1954 World Cup, with a 2-1 victory. Italy has a strong tradition in the European Championships, consistently performing well in knockout stages.

In direct confrontations, Italy has dominated, winning the last two major tournament meetings 3-0, last one being at Euro 2020. Italy is also known for frequently getting to extra-time, having the highest number in World Cup and Euro history.

Switzerland, on the other hand, has reached the knockout stages in the last six international tournaments but struggled in the round of 16, with no direct wins. Their only quarter-final appearance came at Euro 2020 after beating France on penalties. Combining Italy’s tendency for extra-time with Switzerland’s success on penalties, this kind of paints a picture of what we can expect from this game.

Key Players to Watch

From Italy, keep an eye on Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made 11 saves in the group matches, making him one of the top goalkeepers in the tournament. He also won the Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2020 and has repeatedly saved Italy in crucial moments.

Nicolo Barella has also been outstanding at Euro 2024, being one of the most active midfielders with a pass completion rate of 93.1%. His defensive contribution is significant, with 3.01 tackles and 1.67 dribbles contested per game.

For Switzerland, Michel Aebischer has been impactful, scoring one goal and providing one assist against Hungary. He excels in incisive passing and ball recoveries, averaging 5.33 recoveries per game.

Another key player is Dan Ndoye, who averages 3.46 shots per game, ranking third in the tournament. He is also active in tackles, averaging 1.92 tackles per game, with 1.54 in the defensive third, though he has committed seven fouls in the group stage matches.

Conclusions

Italy and Switzerland face off on Saturday in the first round of the Euro 2024 knockout stages, after both teams finished second in their groups. Italy is favored, but Switzerland has shown solid performance, being the only team Germany couldn’t beat in the group stage. Given the history between these teams and their group stage performances, we expect a low-scoring match that could be decided in extra time or by penalty shootouts.