Italy and Switzerland, two nations with a long history intertwined, are set to clash in the last 16 of Euro 2024 in Berlin on Saturday. Despite the shared border, cultural ties, and Italian being one of Switzerland’s official languages, this familiar rivalry will be pushed aside for 90 minutes of intense competition.
The two sides have met 61 times, making each other the most frequent opponent. While Italy boasts a dominant record with only eight losses to Switzerland, their most recent defeat came in 1993. However, Switzerland has shown increased confidence and resilience in recent encounters, particularly in Germany.
Switzerland narrowly missed topping Group A, only conceding an equalizer in the final minutes against the host nation, Germany. This performance demonstrated their fearless approach and their ability to compete against any opponent.
Italy, the defending European champions, have struggled to replicate their impressive Euro 2020 form. They needed a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw against Croatia to progress to the knockout stages. While their performances haven’t been as convincing, they remain a formidable opponent.
Ahead of the crucial clash, both teams have unveiled their predicted starting lineups:
Italy:
* Donnarumma (GK)
* Di Lorenzo
* Mancini
* Bastoni
* Dimarco
* Barella
* Fagioli
* Cristante
* Chiesa
* Scamacca
* El Shaarawy
Switzerland:
* Sommer (GK)
* Schar
* Akanji
* Rodriguez
* Stergiou
* Xhaka
* Freuler
* Aebischer
* Ndoye
* Vargas
* Embolo
The stage is set for a captivating encounter between these familiar foes. With both sides seeking to advance in the tournament, expect a high-intensity battle for a place in the quarterfinals.
