Italy welcome Switzerland to Stadio Olimpico, Rome, in the second round of Group A matches at Euro 2020.
Victory would see Italy stay top and secure qualification, whereas Switzerland could top the group with a win depending on Wales’ result against Turkey earlier in the day.
Team News
Alessandro Florenzi is a doubt for Italy as he continues to struggle with a recurring calf injury, despite featuring in Friday’s opening win over Turkey.
Marco Verratti has fully recovered from a knee injury but is unlikely to start as manager, Roberto Mancini looks set to name an unchanged starting eleven.
Switzerland will be without goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel after he withdrew from the squad following an ankle injury which he suffered in warm-up for Saturday’s draw against Wales.
Stat Attack
- Italy have lost both of their two previous meetings against Switzerland in major tournaments – losing both clashes at 1954 FIFA World Cup by aggregate score of 6-2.
- Switzerland have avoided defeat in just one of their last five competitive trips to Italy, albeit in qualifying competitions (D1, L4).
- Ciro Immobile has scored in four of his last five appearances for Italy in all competitions.
- Switzerland have kept just one clean sheet in their last four matches across all competitions.
- Italy have now kept 12 clean sheets in their last 13 matches across all competitions.
Prediction
Italy enter this game off the back of a dominant display in which they rarely put a foot wrong except clinically in the first half, yet did a fabulous job of capitalising on weariness in Turkey’s defence as the match wore on instead of getting frustrated and imploding.
That work ethic will therefore stand them well here because Switzerland will certainly provide their toughest test in this group, after the Swiss were also dominant in their draw against Wales and were unlucky to see a late winner ruled offside through VAR.
Now on that note, we should expect a closely fought contest between two strong teams but if Italy score first and early on then I can see a routine result coming their way.
Prediction: Italy 2-0 Switzerland
Result: Italy 3-0 Switzerland