Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Switzerland could line up for Saturday’s Euro 2024 clash with Italy.
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
> Click here to see how Italy could line up for this last-16 contest
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