Switzerland has appeared in five editions of the Euros since 1996. Since their debut campaign, the Red Crosses have made it to the knockout round twice, advancing to the Round of 16 in 2016 and reaching the Quarterfinals in 2021, where they lost to Spain on penalties.
Murat Yakin and his men will seek to improve on their Euro 2020 campaign this summer. While Switzerland have earned a reputation as a stubborn side to face in major tournaments, they find themselves in a tricky Group A, with hosts Germany, a struggling Scotland side, and Hungary, who are yet to taste defeat since a 2-0 loss to reigning European champions Italy in 2022.
The Swiss go into this tournament with a load of excellent players across different positions.
They have the squad to potentially spark an upset against the favourites and could go all the way in the tournament.
Can Switzerland finally find a breakthrough and win their first major tournament championship?
Here, we preview the Red Cross’s stakes in Euro 2024, analyzing the Swiss’s tactical approach and how they match up against potential opponents.
Expected Lineup for Switzerland at Euro 2024
Since assuming the managerial role for the Switzerland national team, Murat Yakin has favoured a 4-2-3-1 play style but has also made switches to a 3-4-2-1 and 3-5-2 formation in recent matches. Regardless of how he lines up his players, the first team will likely remain the same.
Yann Sommer is certain to retain his spot as the first-choice goalkeeper. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
The 35-year-old Inter Milan player has registered 88 appearances for his country since his senior team debut in 2012 and will represent the Swiss in a sixth consecutive major tournament. He will be backed up by Yvon Mvogo and David von Ballmoos in Germany.
Switzerland’s defense will feature Premier League duo Manuel Akanji and Fabian Schär. Both players have enjoyed a phenomenal season with Manchester City and Newcastle United, respectively, and will man the two centre-back positions.
Ricardo Rodriguez and Nico Elvedi will complete the four-man defense on the wings. Yakin’s defensive rotation could potentially include Silvan Widmer, Kevin Mbabu, Ulisses Garcia, Cédric Zesiger, Eray Cömert, and Bećir Omeragić.
The midfield will be Switzerland’s high point this tournament and will include a combination of proven experience and creativity.
Yakin will undoubtedly field his two most important players, Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, in midfield. Shaqiri has been known to show up in big competitions and is one of three players to score in each of the last three FIFA World Cup tournaments, the other two being Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 32-year-old is the second-most capped player for Switzerland at all time and will be given a more offensive role on the wing.
Granit Xhaka, on the other hand, will drop deep in midfield, a position that allows him to control the pace of the game. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder enjoyed a stellar year with his club and played an essential role in their unbeaten run in domestic competitions this season.
Joining Shaqiri and Xhaka at the centre will likely be Remo Freuler, while the likes of Michel Aebischer, Vincent Sierro, Denis Zakaria, Dereck Kutesa, and Uran Bislimi settle for the bench spots.
Yakin could use a two-man offense with Zeki Amdouni and Noah Okafor as Switzerland’s target men, while Ruben Vargas will likely play behind them. Vargas’s spot isn’t as certain as the rest, however. He could face some competition against Renato Steffen and Dan Ndoye on the flanks.
In a 3-4-1-2 formation, Vargas and Ndoye will likely earn a starting spot on the midfield flanks, with Xhaka and Freuler taking care of the business centre pitch, and Shaqiri joining Amdouni and Noah Okafor upfront.
Switzerland in Group A
Switzerland will begin their hunt for a first title with a tough test against Hungary on June 15. Both teams will be facing each other for the first time in a major tournament, with only three previous meetings between them.
The Red Cross has the better head-to-head record, coming out victorious in their last two matchups against Hungary, with a 3-2 win in the first round of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers and a 5-2 triumph in the return fixture. The only other meeting between the two was at the 1938 World Cup Qualifiers, where Hungary won 2-0.
It will be a different ball game this time around, as the Hungarians have been in fine form all year round. They clinched the top spot in Group G of the European Qualifiers, with five wins and two draws, allowing just seven goals throughout the tournament. They could prove stubborn against a Switzerland side that failed to impress on their way to Germany.
Next up for Yakin’s men will be a game against Scotland on June 19. The Swiss are considered favorites to win this match, and victory could prove crucial for their qualifying hopes, with their toughest game looming in the final round of the group stage.
Switzerland has a better squad compared to a struggling Scottish side. With a ruthless offense that scored 22 goals in the Qualifiers, Yakin’s men should be able to take advantage of Scotland’s weaknesses in defense.
Without a doubt, Switzerland tickets will be in high demand for their final group-stage game against Germany, and Yakin’s men could potentially clinch a spot in the knockout rounds with a win or draw.
Germany is the favourite to win this matchup, but Switzerland’s offense could again take advantage of the host’s lacklustre defense.
Fans can expect to see a tense affair for either side in this one, especially if both teams drop points in their first two games.
Switzerland in the Knockout Rounds
The best-case scenario for the Swiss is to clinch the runner-up spot in Group A, but they could also advance to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams or even upset the hosts to win the group.
A win could pit them against Group C runners-up, which could potentially be Denmark or Serbia, and they could face Spain in the quarterfinals if they advance.
The semi-finals could see them battle it out with either Portugal or the Netherlands, while the final could be a matchup against France or England.
