Scotland are desperate to shake off their huge loss in the Euro 2024 opener against the buoyant Switzerland side in Cologne.
SCO vs SUI Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2024/ Thursday, 20 June 2024
Time: 21:00 (CET), 00:30 (IST)
Venue: RheinEnergieStadion, Koln
SCO vs SUI Match Preview
Having suffered the biggest-ever defeat in Euro history, Scotland has put their dreams of qualifying for the first-ever knockouts in major uncertainty. The 5-1 thrashing by Germany also severed their goal difference keeping them at the bottom of Group A. Ryan Porteous’ red card after a horror challenge on Ikay Gundogan did not help the cause of any damage control in the evening. The Tartan Army knows another defeat will cause them to bid goodbye to the tournament with a draw only minutely keeping them in the mix for qualification to last-16. Scotland has won just once in their last 10 matches in all competitions and has been winless in four of the previous five meetings with Switzerland, their next opponent in the group. Hence, a comeback from Steve Clark’s team seems unlikely but they could bring out their best at their worst time.
Switzerland made an encouraging start to Euro 2024 by beating Hungary 3-1 last week. Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer gave them the early advantage in the first half before Breel Embolo finished things off in added time fending off any sort of comeback chance of the opposition after they got a goal back. Murat Yakin will be pleased about his side’s performance, apart from momentary lapses in the second half, as the win keeps them in the driving seat for a third straight knockout appearance. Switzerland are placed second to Germany due to an inferior goal difference and will likely qualify with the hosts to the next round following a win against a demoralised Scotland team. A draw might force them to play for a result in the decider but suffering just one loss since the 2022 World Cup will demand a positive result here.
Recent Form (all competitions)
SCO: LLWDL
SUI: DWWDW
Recent Form (Euro 2024)
SCO: L
SUI: W
SCO vs SUI Team News
Porteous’ red card means someone has to fill up his void at centre-back with Grant Hanley as the possible option. Scott McKenna came on for the last 13 minutes against Germany and forced Antonio Rudiger’s own goal but Steve Clarke will rely on the 32-year-old experience here instead. More changes are expected in the forward line with Lawrence Shankland replacing Che Adams while Billy Gilmour steps into the midfield for Callum McGregor.
For obvious reasons, Switzerland will stick to their winning team against Hungary with the boost of having Denis Zakaria back from his thigh injury. Fellow midfielder Steven Zuber is not so lucky as he continues to train alone in his recovery from a calf issue. Silvan Widmer and Remo Freuler could miss out against Germany in the final group game having picked up a caution in the first group match.
SCO vs SUI Predicted Lineups
Scotland
Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; Ralston, Gilmour, McTominay, Robertson; McGinn, Christie; Shankland
Switzerland
Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Widmer, Xhaka, Freuler, Aebischer; Vargas, Ndoye; Duah
SCO vs SUI Dream11 Match Prediction
Switzerland is likely to end up on the winning side in this clash against Scotland. We predict a 2-1 victory for the Swiss.
SCO vs SUI Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Granit Xhaka
Vice-captain Pick: Kwadwo Duah
SCO vs SUI Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Gunn (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Schar (Cr - 8.5), Akanji (Cr - 8.5), Rodriguez (Cr - 8)
MID: McGinn (8.5), Xhaka (Cr - 9), Freuler (8), Robertson (Cr - 9), Aebischer (8.5)
FW: Duah (7.5), Shankland (Cr - 7.5)
Vice-captain: Kwadwo Duah
Captain: Granit Xhaka
