Rabat – The Euro 2024 Round of 16 kicks off with a highly anticipated clash between Switzerland and Italy on Saturday at 5 p.m. GMT+1.
Switzerland enters this match with confidence, having remained unbeaten in Group A. Their solid performance, including a close contest against Germany, secured them the runner-up spot.
Swiss captain Granit Xhaka emphasized his team’s readiness, saying: “The first step is done. We’re looking forward to the next round and our next opponents. I hope everyone has a little bit more respect for Switzerland now.”
Meanwhile, Italy, the reigning European champions, had a more challenging path to the knockouts.
In their opening game, Italy allowed Albania to score just 23 seconds into the match. Nonetheless, they managed to turn the tide with goals from Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella, securing a crucial victory.
Despite a loss to Spain and a draw with Croatia, Italy ensured their second-place finish in Group B.
Italian forward Mateo Retegui expressed their cautious optimism as he said: “We’ll play against another strong team … but we want to win and go forward.”
Today’s match promises to be a close contest. Switzerland’s cohesive tactics and Italy’s resilience suggest a tight encounter.
While Italy’s historical edge and recent championship experience might give them a slight upper hand, Switzerland’s form and determination make them formidable opponents.
A possible scenario could see the match extending into extra time or even penalties, said UEFA in a statement.
The prediction website Opta said that Italy are “slight favourites” to win this match, giving them a 37.9% chance of winning compared to 30.9% for Switzerland.
