England’s journey towards Euro 2024 glory continues as they prepare to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals. This highly anticipated match will take place in Dusseldorf, with both teams vying for a spot in the semi-finals. While Switzerland is aiming to reach their first-ever major tournament semi-final, England has a strong track record against them, having won each of their last five meetings.
England secured their place in the quarter-finals by narrowly defeating Slovakia in the last 16. Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time equalizer sent the match to extra-time, where Harry Kane scored the winning goal. On the other hand, Switzerland has emerged as the dark horses of the tournament, having knocked out defending champions Italy in the previous round.
Despite not being at their best, England remains unbeaten at Euro 2024. However, they have only managed to win one of their four matches in normal time. Gareth Southgate’s side has also suffered two defeats this year, losing to Brazil and Iceland in friendly matches. On the other hand, Switzerland has been unbeaten in 2024 and has not tasted defeat since November.
In terms of team news, England will be without Marc Guehi due to suspension, but Ezri Konsa is expected to replace him. Luke Shaw’s fitness remains a concern, and Trent Alexander-Arnold may come into the side if England opts for a back three. Switzerland will welcome back Silvan Widmer from suspension, but Granit Xhaka’s thigh injury is a slight worry.
The star man for England has been Jude Bellingham, who rescued the team with his goal against Slovakia. The 21-year-old midfielder has been a standout player with two goals and two man of the match awards. Switzerland, on the other hand, has seen goals from various players, with no one player standing out as the star performer. However, Dan Ndoye could pose a threat to England’s defense after scoring his first international goal against Germany.
In terms of the managers’ comments, Southgate acknowledged the need for improvement while praising the team’s togetherness and spirit. Yakin, on the other hand, remained focused on his team and avoided distractions from their opponents.
Given England’s historical success against Switzerland and their stronger record in major tournaments, an England win seems likely. However, an improved performance will be necessary to secure a spot in the semi-finals. My prediction is a 2-0 victory for England.
The match will be broadcast live on BBC One and can also be streamed for free on the BBC iPlayer app/website. So fans can easily follow the action and stay updated through SunSport’s live blog.
In terms of odds, England is favored to win with odds of 6/5, while a draw has odds of 2/1. Switzerland has odds of 14/5 for a victory. In terms of qualification, England is favored at 4/7, while Switzerland has odds of 13/10.
Overall, the stage is set for an exciting quarter-final clash between England and Switzerland. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, but history suggests that England has the upper hand. Fans can look forward to an intense game as these teams battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.