Xherdan Shaqiri, Switzerland
Home  »    »  Craig King’s Wales v Switzerland preview: narrow Swiss win?

Craig King’s Wales v Switzerland preview: narrow Swiss win?

| 09.06.2021
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Our Matchday Squad journalist will be covering Switzerland throughout Euro 2020

Switzerland begin their Euro 2020 campaign in the unfamiliar surroundings of Baku and against pretty unfamiliar opponents too.

This will be their first visit to the Azeri capital since 1996 and only their eighth meeting with Wales, a side that they last faced off against in October 2011.

Die Nati play the first and last of their three group stage matches at the cavernous Baku Olympic Stadium and it seems likely that their opening night on the Caspian Sea will prove crucial to their ambitions of reaching the Round of 16 again.

With a match against Italy on the horizon, manager Vladimir Petkovic will be aiming to begin with victory and has everyone available after his side came through their warm-up matches without fresh injury concerns. Petkovic is certain to opt for his 3-4-1-2 formation with key players Haris Seferovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka all involved.

Wales will provide difficult opposition but this is a game that Switzerland really must be winning if they wish to progress. If they can quell the tremendous team spirit of the Welsh and, of course, Gareth Bale, they have more than enough quality across the pitch to pick up the three points. I am predicting a 1-0 victory for Switzerland.

Check out the latest Euro 2020 odds.

«
»

Author

Craig King

Craig King is a freelance journalist who has followed and worked on Swiss football for the last ten years.

The Scottish born journalist runs the @FootballSwissEN page on Twitter covering Swiss football in English, while he is also the admin for the English FC Basel account @FC_Basel_EN. This includes the domestic Swiss Super League and the Switzerland national team.

Craig has also worked as a researcher for the popular computer game Football Manager.