Having kicked off their UEFA Nations League campaigns over the weekend with contrasting fortunes, England meet Switzerland for an international friendly at the King Power Stadium.
Both teams enjoyed a surprisingly successful FIFA World Cup this summer but here, we will see who has made the most progress since then.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland will be without Luke Shaw after the fullback suffered a concussion following clash of heads with Dani Carvajal during their 2-1 defeat to Spain on Saturday.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli has also been ruled out with a muscle strain.
Gareth Southgate has called up the Leicester duo of Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray, who could make their senior debuts on their home turf.
Switzerland could name an unnamed team from their 6-0 win over Iceland but sub, Albian Ajeti could be handed a start ahead of Breel Embolo.
Stat Attack
- England have won the last ten meetings (W7, D3) despite keeping only four clean sheets in that run.
- From five clashes in England, the Three Lions are yet to taste defeat after taking four wins and a draw from those games. Across those five home friendly games, they have kept just two clean sheets (December 1948: 6-0, September 1977: 0-0).
- Only ten of the 24 meetings so far didn’t have both teams score.
- England are unbeaten in their last six international friendlies with three wins and draws apiece compared to last six competitive games, where they have taken four defeats plus one win and draw apiece.
Prediction
I am expecting a quality game here because both teams have a habit of scoring in this fixture so we are guaranteed some goalmouth action.
Although Switzerland will come here full of confidence, I expect England to be much stronger and Gray will really add some creative quality to the team which Switzerland might struggle to handle.
Throw in England’s solid friendly record and I am therefore going for a late England win here.
Prediction: England 2-1 Switzerland
Result: England 1-0 Switzerland