Italy vs Switzerland: Preview, prediction, team news, betting tips and odds

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Having impressed the watching continent in their opening win, Italy now take on local rivals Switzerland on Wednesday, at Rome's historic Stadio Olimpico.

While the Azzurri effectively need only a point to progress, their less illustrious neighbours are seeking their first win of Euro 2020, following a frustrating draw with Group A counterparts Wales.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Photo: Evening Standard

Italy vs Switzerland is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.

The match will be held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.

Italy vs Switzerland: Team news

Mancini will surely want to keep changes to a minimum after such an impressive opening display against Turkey.

However, Paris Saint-Germain full-back Alessandro Florenzi was replaced at half-time by Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo on Friday and subsequently diagnosed with an inflammatory muscle injury to the right calf.

Key midfielder Marco Verratti returned to training on Sunday five weeks after suffering a knee injury at PSG, though it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to play any part against Switzerland.

Italy

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alex Meret, Salvatore Sirigu

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Emerson, Alessandro Florenzi, Leonardo Spinazzola, Rafael Toloi

Midfielders: Nicolo Barella, Bryan Cristante, Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Stefano Sensi, Marco Verratti

Forwards: Andrea Belotti, Domenico Berardi, Federico Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Giacomo Raspadori

Photo: Reuters

Switzerland

Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer, Gregor Kobel, Yvon Mvogo

Defenders: Fabian Schar, Ricardo Rodriguez, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Jordan Lotomba, Becir Omeragic, Silvan Widmer, Loris Benito, Kevin Mbabu, Eray Comert

Midfielders: Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Steven Zuber, Denis Zakaria, Remo Freuler, Edimilson Fernandes, Djibril Sow

Forwards: Haris Seferovic, Admir Mehmedi, Breel Embolo, Mario Gavranovic, Ruben Vargas, Christian Fassnacht

Italy vs Switzerland: Match preview

On opening night, Italy lived up to both their pre-tournament billing and a stirring opening ceremony, as Roberto Mancini's men swept past a much-fancied Turkey side on home soil.

Juventus defender Merih Demiral was inadvertently responsible for breaking the deadlock with an own goal last Friday, before forwards Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne then wrapped up a comprehensive 3-0 victory - Italy's ninth win in a row.

Each of those consecutive successes - several of which were against modest opposition - also saw them register a clean sheet. Against Switzerland, then, the four-times world champions will be looking to reach ten straight wins for only the second time in their long and glorious history – the first such streak having come during qualifying.

In fact, a measure of the mountainous Swiss task is that the Azzurri have not lost at all since September 2018 and have yet to concede a goal so far this year.

With that run representing La Nazionale's last nine matches, the veteran defensive pairing of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have been anchoring their rearguard with characteristic authority. While Mancini has been lauded for introducing fresh blood to the setup, Chiellini is now 36 and his club colleague Bonucci is 34 - and together they have accrued a combined 209 caps for the national side.

That bedrock has helped former Manchester City manager Mancini come out on top in more than two-thirds of his matches to date, as his new-look team have gone undefeated for 28 games and counting. During that time, Italy have married vast experience with youthful exuberance; making them contenders to end a half-century of European Championship hurt at Wembley next month.

Italy vs Switzerland: Prediction

Photo: Reuters

Italy were a dominant force against Turkey, and ran out comfortable winners. The performance of the midfield trio of Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli and Nicolo Barella was highly praised, and it is unlikely that Roberto Mancini makes wholesale changes to the side which faced Turkey.

Switzerland, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance against Wales. Attacker Breel Embolo was in fine form in that game and was a constant thorn in the opposition defence, and he will once again look to have a considerable impact.

Italy have been impressive under Mancini, and they should be able to win here.

Prediction: Italy 2-1 Switzerland

Italy vs Switzerland Head-to-Head

In 57 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Italy hold the clear advantage. They have won 28 games, lost seven and drawn 22.

The two countries last faced each other way back in 2010, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw. Midfielder Gokhan Inler's goal for Switzerland was cancelled out by a goal from striker Fabio Quagliarella for Italy.

Italy form guide at UEFA Euro 2020: W

Switzerland form guide at UEFA Euro 2020: D

Italy vs Switzerland: Betting tips

Italy & BTTS

Italy have a great defensive record and were relatively untroubled by Turkey on matchday one, but three of their last four games against Switzerland have seen both teams score. Switzerland have scored in all of their last seven international matches and both teams have scored in four of their last six outings, including the 1-1 draw with Wales. Italy have won each of their last six matches and we're expecting them to extend that winning run on Wednesday.

Over 2.5 Goals

Each of Italy's last three matches have produced over 2.5 goals and the Italians scored three goals against Turkey in their first group game, the first time they have scored more than two goals in any European Championship game. Five of Switzerland's last seven games have also produced over 2.5 goals, so you can see just why we're backing goals in Wednesday's clash.

2-1 to Italy

Italy might have won 3-0 last time out but that is the first time they have scored more than two goals in a Euros game. Switzerland will offer more of a challenge than Turkey did as they looked good against Wales, despite failing to win that game. Switzerland are in good goalscoring form and we believe they will score past Italy but they hosts and favourites have netted at least two goals in each of their last six matches and a 2-1 final scoreline could be on the cards.

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