Scotland vs Switzerland Euro 2024 prediction: Can Steve Clarke’s men bounce back?
Scotland’s Euro 2024 place will be on the line when they take on Switzerland in Cologne.
Scotland vs Switzerland Euro 2024 prediction: Can Steve Clarke’s men bounce back?
Scotland vs Switzerland latest prediction
Scotland’s Euro 2024 opener did not go to plan at all. They were always going to be up against it, facing a Germany side that have found form under Julian Nagelsmann and will have been boosted by hosting the tournament. But no one will have predicted such a heavy defeat for the Tartan Army.
A 5-1 thrashing, their second-heaviest defeat at a major tournament — after their 7-0 loss to Uruguay at the 1954 World Cup — leaves Scotland needing something big to qualify for the last 16. Only a win against Switzerland will really do. Although there is the possibility for qualification through being one of the best third-placed sides, Scotland’s -4 goal difference is already counting massively against them.
Switzerland weren’t really being talked about ahead of Euro 2024 and went up against dark horses Hungary in their opening game. But Switzerland were comfortable in their 3-1 victory, putting them in a very good position to reach the last 16. Level on points with Germany, Switzerland know victory here would put them through to the last 16 providing Hungary don’t beat the hosts.
Scotland and Switzerland meet in the second game of the second round of Euro 2024 group stage fixtures on June 19 at the Cologne Stadium in Cologne at 8pm.
Switzerland’s game against Hungary was essentially won in the first half thanks to goal from Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer putting them 2-0 up. But Barnabas Varga’s second-half strike made things nervy, before Breel Embolo confirmed Switzerland’s victory in injury time.
The goal meant that Embolo has now scored in each of the last three major international tournaments, just the second player to score in three separate tournaments for Switzerland after Xherdan Shaqiri (five). Embolo has scored four goals in those three tournaments, with only Shaqiri (nine) and Josef Hugi (six) netting more in major tournaments for the Swiss.
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Scotland latest team news
We know that there will be at least one change to Scotland’s side from their 5-1 defeat to Germany. Ryan Porteous was sent on while conceding the first-half penalty, which Kai Havertz converted to make it 3-0 and has now been banned for the remainder of the group stage. Liam Cooper, Grant Hanley and Scott McKenna are the centre-back options, and it was Hanley who came on at half-time for Che Adams, so he is likely to start.
Adams got the nod over Lawrence Shankland up front but there could be a switch up there, given the latter’s form going into the tournament. Otherwise, Scotland may stay the same with Steve Clarke clearly having his favourites. There will be hopes, though, for Billy Gilmour to start in midfield to give Scotland a bit more control, which would push Scott McTominay further up.
Much could depend on the results from the opening matches in terms of team news for the second game, but the 3-4-3/5-2-2-1 system is likely to remain in place, at least to begin with.
Expect to see much of Scotland’s play coming down the left, with Kieran Tierney, if fit, overlapping Andy Robertson, while McGinn and McTominay will share the responsibility of making late runs into the box. Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson will be a massive miss in midfield, so the task of keeping the back door shut and trying to add a little composure in possession will likely fall to Brighton’s Billy Gilmour. Ryan Christie has also shown the versatility to play deeper with Bournemouth this season.
Dykes, shown in the illustrative line-up graphic below, was the most likely starter up-front but has been ruled out after suffering a training ground injury on Friday. Che Adams is a potential replacement.
Switzerland latest team news
There is a lot of versatility in the Swiss forward line heading into the tournament. Kwadwo Duah got the nod up front over Breel Embolo and Zeki Amdouni and repaid the faith so it would be a surprise to see him dropped to the bench.
Xherdan Shaqiri was an unused substitute and may remain that way for now, given how Switzerland got on in their opener. Dan Ndoye and Ruben Vargas were the starters behind Duah. At the back, the three of Ricardo Rodriguez, Manuel Akanji and Fabian Schar look strong, so there won’t be any changes there.
Scotland vs Switzerland head-to-head
This is a fixture that has been rarely seen in international circles over the last few years. It is unknown to Squawka whether there is some secret enmity between the Scottish and Swiss FAs but there have only been two meetings between the countries in the last thirty years. Once in a friendly in 2006, which Switzerland won, and also in the group stages of Euro ’96 where Ally McCoist winner looked like taking Scotland through, until England conceded a late consolation goal to Netherlands in their famous 4-1 win.
Scotland vs Switzerland H2H | |||||||
Date | Score | Ground | |||||
01/03/06 | 1-3 | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |||||
18/06/96 | 1-0 | Villa Park, England | |||||
08/09/93 | 1-1 | Pittodrie, Aberdeen | |||||
09/06/92 | 1-3 | Stade de Suisse, Bern | |||||
11/09/91 | 2-2 | Stade de Suisse, Bern |
How to watch Scotland vs Switzerland live
The second round of Group A continues as Scotland take on Switzerland, with the game set to be broadcast live on BBC One, as well as online via BBC iPlayer.
Every game at Euro 2024 will be shown live on either BBC or ITV, with the two platforms sharing the broadcast rights.