Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Switzerlandvs.Italy

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 June 2024, 15:59
Switzerland's latest venture into the knockout rounds of a major tournament gets under way on Saturday, as they vie with neighbours Italy for a place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

There are several selection questions to be answered ahead of their arrival at Berlin's Olympiastadion - most prominently, whether veteran forward Xherdan Shaqiri will regain his place in the starting lineup and who will replace suspended Silvan Widmer on the right flank.

Despite almost upsetting hosts Germany last time out, Swiss coach Murat Yakin will be forced to make at least one change to his starting XI, because Widmer has been booked twice in three games and must now serve a one-match ban.

Versatile defender Leonidas Stergiou is likely to deputise, having enjoyed a stellar season with Bundesliga surprise packages Stuttgart last term.

Meanwhile, Shaqiri's hopes of adding to a superb goal against Scotland - which saw him become the first player to score in three consecutive European Championships and three World Cups - may be hampered by being consigned to a cameo role once again.

Instead, Ruben Vargas, Fabian Rieder and Dan Ndoye - the latter of whom scored Switzerland's opener against the Germans - are expected to fight it out for two places in support of a lone striker.

Zeki Amdouni may be seeking promotion from the bench, and Kwadwo Duah cannot be entirely ruled out, but Monaco striker Breel Embolo is a proven performer at international finals and is now back to full fitness following a long injury layoff.

Elsewhere, Granit Xhaka captains the side from central midfield, while first-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer could come up against as many as five Inter Milan teammates in the German capital.

Switzerland possible starting lineup: Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Stergiou, Xhaka, Freuler, Aebischer; Ndoye, Vargas; Embolo

Show more

Top News

28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Freiburg will hope to boost their chances of Champions League qualification with victory against visitors Union Berlin on Sunday in the Bundesliga at Europa-Park Stadion. 28 March 2025 talksport.com When Mesut Ozil got on the ball, it was like he cast a spell on the crowd as they watched on in awe. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City Women will look to bounce back from their European exit when they travel to Broadfield Stadium for Sunday's meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham boss Marco Silva has insisted he is focused on Saturday's FA Cup clash against Crystal Palace despite it being "very nice" to hit the significant milestone of 500 games in management. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making a move for Braga attacker Roger Fernandes this summer. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will continue their La Liga campaign with a clash against Leganes on Saturday night. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona attacker Dani Olmo will be sidelined for approximately three weeks with the right adductor injury that he suffered during the team's La Liga clash with Osasuna on Thursday night. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola has revealed Marcos Senesi could be in the squad for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Osasuna have launched an official appeal to the Spanish Football Federation, claiming that Inigo Martinez was not eligible to take to the field for Barcelona in Thursday's La Liga contest. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their faint hopes of Conference League qualification alive, Brest will travel to the South Coast on Sunday afternoon to face Toulouse in Ligue 1. 28 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta is back from his horror injury, but he's now having to wear some unique protective headgear. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is confident that Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Ceballos will all be available for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Arsenal on April 8. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool Women will look to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal when they face Aston Villa Women in Sunday's clash at the St Helens Stadium. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City Women will welcome Tottenham Hotspur Women to the King Power Stadium for Sunday's Women's Super League fixture. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both looking to ease their growing fears of relegation, Angers and Rennes will clash at Stade Raymond Kopa for a Ligue 1 match on Sunday afternoon. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United Women will welcome Everton Women to Leigh Sports Village for Sunday's Women's Super League encounter. 28 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca scrapped a planned rest day for his senior squad after they suffered a shock 3-0 loss to the club's under-21 side in training. 28 March 2025 talksport.com Wrexham are financially stable enough to challenge the big hitters next season if they secure promotion to the Championship. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Buoyed by reaching the Women's Champions League semi-final, Arsenal Women will return to Women's Super League action for Sunday's meeting with Crystal Palace Women. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly plotting a move for Liverpool-linked Jeremie Frimpong in the summer transfer window. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to consider offers for defender Cristian Romero during the summer transfer window. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to pay over the release clause of Francisco Trincao in order to land the attacker. 28 March 2025 talksport.com Brazilian football delivered yet another night of chaos as Corinthians clinched their first title in six years - with a familiar face in the middle of a controversial Sao Paolo derby. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has been impressed with young centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov since joining Manchester City in the January transfer window. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola must work around two crushing suspension blows for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final showdown with Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly moved ahead in the race for Blackburn Rovers sensation Harvey Higgins. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola is confident of having Ederson available for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United teenager Bendito Mantato is reportedly in line for a new four-year contract at Old Trafford. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Catalan battles Basque in the pick of this weekend's FA Cup quarter-finals, where Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth host Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. 28 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has delivered a positive update on the fitness of his squad ahead of Saturday lunchtime's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Fulham at Craven Cottage.