Gareth Southgate’s team aims to deliver a stronger performance after a lackluster showing at Euro 2024.
Here’s our prediction and preview for Saturday’s quarter-final clash between England and Switzerland.
When will the yellow cards reset?
Yellow cards accumulated during the tournament that have not led to a suspension are wiped clean after the quarter-finals. They do not carry over to the semi-finals.
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England’s EURO 2024 Dilemma: Left Flank Undermining with and without the Ball
England vs Switzerland: Match Preview
The condemning headlines were nearly written, knee-jerk social media reactions were ready, and calls for a new manager were half-typed as Gareth Southgate’s tenure with England seemed poised to end in disappointment against Slovakia. Yet, the Three Lions somehow advanced to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Next up is Switzerland on Saturday in Düsseldorf, where England must improve on their lackluster last-16 performance against Slovakia, which nearly resulted in a humiliating exit.
Ivan Schranz’s composed first-half goal had Francesco Calzona’s side on the brink of a monumental upset until Jude Bellingham – of course – saved the day with England’s latest regular-time goal in European Championship history.
Timed at 94 minutes and 34 seconds, Bellingham’s heroic act alone would have been enough to celebrate England’s new hero. However, the manner in which he did it was even more impressive. An acrobatic overhead kick sent the game into extra-time on Sunday before Harry Kane scored just 50 seconds into the additional 30 minutes to secure a 2-1 victory.
From seemingly down and out, England kept their hopes in Germany alive and, in turn, staved off the awaiting criticism. Declan Rice insisted after the game that his side would do “anything to protect” manager Southgate.
That fighting spirit was hard to identify for much of the match against Slovakia, but England have still advanced to their fourth consecutive quarter-final at a major tournament (World Cup/Euros) for the first time, all under the often-criticized Southgate.
They have progressed from two of their four Euros quarter-final matches, although three of those four games were decided by the dreaded penalty shootout.
A personal milestone awaits Southgate at the Düsseldorf Arena as well, with the 53-year-old set to become the third England manager to oversee 100 international games. Walter Winterbottom marked his milestone match with a 3-3 draw against Northern Ireland in 1958, while Alf Ramsey won his 1-0 against Wales in 1972.
England could also achieve another landmark on Saturday as they aim to become the sixth European side to secure 50 victories at major tournaments, joining Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The Three Lions currently have 49 wins from 116 matches, knowing that a landmark triumph would secure a semi-final berth.
Selection remains a contentious issue within the England camp. Luke Shaw’s fitness continues to be a concern at left-back, while Southgate has yet to see the best from Phil Foden or Bukayo Saka on the wings, with Anthony Gordon eagerly awaiting his opportunity.
Kieran Trippier also seems at risk of missing out, with media reports suggesting Southgate will opt for a back three. Despite filling in as a makeshift left-back, the Newcastle defender has created more chances (7) and delivered more line-breaking passes (6) than any other England player at Euro 2024.
Ezri Konsa is expected to join the starting XI alongside John Stones and Kyle Walker in a back three, with Marc Guéhi set to be absent due to suspension.
Whoever starts in defence will face a Switzerland side that is scoring from all angles, with their seven different scorers at this tournament being their most ever at a major competition.
Xherdan Shaqiri, Dan Ndoye, Kwadwo Duah, Breel Embolo, and Michel Aebischer have all found the net, while Remo Freuler and Rubén Vargas scored in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Italy in the first knockout round.
England will also contend with a familiar face in midfield, Granit Xhaka. The former Arsenal player has created more chances (8), completed more passes (254), and made more line-breaking passes (51) than any other Switzerland player in this tournament.
Xhaka’s contributions will be crucial once again for Switzerland, who have lost just one of their last 14 matches at the Euros (W5 D8). However, two of the draws in that run ended in penalty shootout defeats, a concern for boss Murat Yakin.
Will the pressure weigh heavily on the Swiss shoulders again?
Switzerland are set to appear in the quarter-finals of a major tournament for just the fifth time, and only their second time at the Euros after 2020. They have been eliminated at this stage in all four of their previous attempts, the most of any European nation without ever reaching a semi-final.
England vs Switzerland: Head-to-Head
Despite Switzerland’s impressive form heading into this clash, Southgate may find confidence in England’s dominant head-to-head record in this fixture.
England have lost just one of their last 24 meetings with Switzerland across all competitions (W17 D6), and are unbeaten in their last 13 encounters (W9 D4) since a 2-1 loss in a World Cup qualifier in May 1981.
Shaw and Kane scored in their most recent meeting, a 2-1 friendly victory in March 2022, as Embolo’s opener was canceled out by the hosts at Wembley Stadium.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams at a major tournament, and the third at the European Championship. England have a favorable record in these encounters, winning 2-0 in the 1954 World Cup and 3-0 at Euro 2004, while being held to a 1-1 draw at Wembley in the opening game of Euro 1996.
England vs Switzerland: Recent Form
England: WDDWL (all competitions, most recent first)
Switzerland: WDDWD (all competitions, most recent first)
England vs Switzerland: Team News and Predicted Line-up
England: Team News
Gareth Southgate is contemplating a switch to a back three for Saturday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
England have utilized a back four throughout this summer’s tournament but switched to a three during the second half of their dramatic last-16 victory over Slovakia.
With a five-day break between that game and this weekend’s match in Düsseldorf, Southgate has been experimenting in training, trialing a wing-back system to potentially match up against the Swiss, who have predominantly played a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Southgate employed a back-three throughout his first tournament in charge, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and on several occasions at Euro 2020, including the last-16 win over Germany and the final defeat to Italy.
In this European Championship, England have struggled for width on the left flank in each of their four matches, with the right-footed Kieran Trippier filling in at left-back for the injured Luke Shaw, and Phil Foden not being a natural wide player on the left wing.
Shaw is back in training and in contention to play against the Swiss, but it is unlikely Southgate will risk starting him after almost five months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
However, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka offers another left-footed option on that flank. The 22-year-old broke into the Gunners’ first team as a wing-back as a teenager and, while he suggested last week that moving him from his established position on the right of the attack was “not the solution” to England’s problems, Southgate did so as his side chased the game at 1-0 down against Slovakia.
In that scenario, Southgate would have to choose between Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold at right wing-back, with Kyle Walker dropping into the back-three as he has done capably in the past.
One definite change for the Three Lions boss will be at center-back, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi suspended and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa expected to step in.
England: Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper: Pickford
- Defenders: Walker, Stones, Konsa, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Saka
- Midfielders: Mainoo, Rice, Foden, Bellingham
- Forwards: Kane
Switzerland: Team News
Switzerland have a fully fit squad ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final match against England on Saturday.
They received a significant boost on Wednesday when it was confirmed that influential midfielder Granit Xhaka would be fit for the game, despite experiencing adductor pain during their 2-0 win against Italy last Saturday.
Xhaka, coming off a near unbeaten season with Bayer Leverkusen, controlled the game against the Azzurri and was deservedly named player of the match. He will pose a challenge to the England midfield on Saturday, which has at times struggled to maintain control against supposedly inferior sides.
However, Xhaka is not the only player England need to be cautious about. Ruben Vargas scored an excellent goal against Italy, while fellow winger Dan Ndoye has drawn interest from Manchester United and Inter Milan after several impressive performances against Germany and Italy.
Michel Aebischer, in particular, may cause problems for the England defense due to his unique role. Typically a defensive midfielder for Bologna, he has been starting as a left wing-back. In possession, he often drifts into more central positions, allowing left center-back Ricardo Rodriguez to overlap and overload the opposition right-back.
Aebischer’s movement and rotations with Rodriguez and Ndoye have caused teams plenty of issues so far, and England may be switching to a back three on Saturday to counter that.
Switzerland: Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper: Sommer
- Defenders: Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez, Aebischer, Ndoye
- Midfielders: Freuler, Xhaka, Vargas, Widmer
- Forwards: Embolo
England vs Switzerland: Match Prediction
England were dreadful against Slovakia for most of the match, reaching their lowest point in an already frustrating tournament until Bellingham and Kane rescued them in dramatic fashion.
Repeating that performance against a well-drilled, confident, and dangerous Swiss team would likely result in a swift exit in Düsseldorf.
Switzerland are a much stronger team than Slovakia and will be eager for another upset after efficiently eliminating the holders.
While the comeback against Slovakia was thrilling for England fans, it should not mask the serious issues in their performance. It did little to silence critics, especially as they were heavily pressured again after taking the lead in extra time in Gelsenkirchen.
However, the pre-tournament favorites may have gained the confidence boost needed to finally ignite their otherwise lackluster campaign.
This match has the potential to be long and grueling, with the possibility of penalties looming. If England cannot improve their form now, they likely never will.
Our prediction is England to win, 2-1.
When and Where to Watch the Match LIVE in India?
UEFA Euro 2024 matches will be broadcast live on Sony Sports channels: Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 4 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5, and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD in India. Live streaming of Euro 2024 can be accessed through the SonyLIV app and website.
You can watch the match in 6 July from 9:30 pm onwards on Sony Sports channels: Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 4 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5, and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD.
Live streaming of the match can also be accessed through the SonyLIV app and website.