Photo: Algulf
Switzerland vs Spain - Photo: Algulf

The European Championship quarter-finals kick off in Russia on Friday evening, as giant killers Switzerland tackle 2012 champions Spain in St Petersburg. Both nations played a full part in a staggering day of Euro 2020 action to reach the last eight on Monday.

How to watch Switzerland vs Spain

TV channel: The match will be televised on ITV for free.

Live stream: UK viewers will be able to watch the match online via the ITV Hub.

Switzerland vs Spain: Match preview

Switzerland (TBA) kicked out France in the previous round, following a penalty shootout, 3-3, 5-4. Vladimir Petkovic‘s crew was up one goal and had a penalty, pretty much holding all the cards in their hands. But in just 15 minutes, everything collapsed, with Hugo Lloris saving the penalty and igniting his teammates to knockout the Swiss team in three minutes. With some 15 minutes before the end, Switzerland was down 3-1, looking exhausted and beaten.

Yet Haris Seferovic and Mario Gavranovic brought a massive comeback, which forced extra time, scoring in 81st and 90th minutes, respectively. Their hits on the target have boosted the morale of the Swiss side, who had luck in the final seconds of the regulation once Koman hit the crossbar.

When talking about statistics, only one of Switzerland’s previous seven games saw under 2.5 goals: their EURO 2020 opener against Wales, 1-1. Five ended with both teams scoring during that span.

Spain (TBA) scored 10 goals in the last two matches, erasing a very poor impression they left in the opening 180 of this EURO 2020. Though, we need to add that in certain moments they had more luck than knowledge against Croatia and Slovakia. But then again, 10 goals need to be respected, regardless of any other circumstance.

Instead of finishing the Croats, Spain allowed the rival to come back in the final moments of the event with two goals. But the Red Fury stepped up in the extra times, confidently solving the riddle and proceeding among the top eight teams on the continent.

Spain didn’t lose in the past 12 games, posting seven draws and five wins. What is a positive trend for Luis Enrique‘s boys is that they kept their net intact in four of the previous six events.

Switzerland vs Spain: Team news

Switzerland squad

A preliminary Switzerland panel for Euro 2020 was announced on May 19.

Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer, Jonas Omlin, Yvon Mvogo, Gregor Kobel

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, Dan Ndoye, Andy Zeqiri.

Spain squad

Luis Enrique announced a 24-player Spain Euro 2020 squad on Monday May 24. The big name exclusion from the panel is Sergio Ramos, while Aymeric Laporte has been included following his switch from France.

Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Robert Sanchez, Unai Simon

Defenders: Aymeric Laporte, Jose Gaya, Jordi Alba, Pau Torres, Eric Garcia, Diego Llorente, Cesar Azpilicueta

Midfielders: Marcos Llorente, Sergio Busquets, Rodri, Pedri, Thiago, Koke, Fabian

Forwards: Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Gerard Moreno, Alvaro Morata, Ferran Torres, Adama Traore, Pablo Sarabia

So far, there hasn’t been any information about injured nor suspended players on both sides, but if anything happens, we will make updates.

Switzerland vs Spain: Predictions

Like the previous four head-to-head meetings, this one will also end with fewer than three goals. After wild and crazy matchups in the round of 16, be sure that these two sides are going to come out with an ultra-conservative style of play, trying to avoid another thrilling affair.

Our decision to stick with the recent tradition here has brought us quite solid odds -170. In our opinion, this is quite a good bargain. To sum up, under 2.5 goals.

READ MORE:Euro 2020 Quarter-Finals: Match Schedule, Kick-off times, Venues

The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing, but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.

Switzerland vs Spain: Key facts

  • This is the first meeting between Switzerland and Spain at the European Championship. Their three previous meetings in a major tournament came in the 1966, 1994 and 2010 World Cups, with Spain winning the first two and Switzerland triumphing last time out.
  • This is Switzerland’s fourth quarter-final appearance in a major tournament (World Cup and Euro), and their first in the European Championship. The Swiss have lost each of their previous three such games -- 3-2 vs Czechoslovakia (1934), 2-0 vs Hungary (1938) and 7-5 vs Austria (1954).
  • Spain have become the first team in European Championship history to score 5+ goals in consecutive games. They hadn’t scored more than four goals in any of their first 42 matches in the competition.
  • Switzerland have scored three goals in each of their last two European Championship matches, having never scored more than twice in any of their first 15 in the competition. Switzerland last scored 3+ goals in three consecutive matches in all competitions in October 2017.
  • Alvaro Morata has had more shots (15) and shots on target (8) than any other Spanish player so far at Euro 2020, and he’s also Spain’s joint highest scorer at this tournament (2). However, the other two players with two goals for Spain (Pablo Sarabia and Ferran Torres) have had fewer shots (13) and shots on target (7) combined than Morata.
  • Switzerland’s Haris Seferovic has scored three goals in his last two games at the European Championship, having netted just one in his first 13 appearances at major tournaments (World Cup/Euro). The only Swiss player to score in three consecutive appearances within a major tournament was Josef Hugi in the 1954 World Cup.
  • Ferran Torres has been involved in eight goals in his last nine appearances in all competitions for Spain (7 goals, 1 assist). Torres has scored in his last two games at the European Championship, with no Spanish player ever scoring in three in a row in the competition.

Switzerland to test Spain in Madrid

Following a largely uninspiring 0-0 friendly draw with Portugal on Wednesday, Spain get back to serious business this weekend with a Nations League A Group 4 clash with Switzerland in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid.

While Spain and Switzerland will kick off the game at opposite ends of the standings, Saturday’s contest isn’t expected to be a one-sided procession between the teams placed first and last.

Luis Enrique’s La Roja are on an impressive run of seven straight wins at home, conceding just once along the way, though the quality of the opposition they faced during that stretch, including the likes of Faroe Islands, Malta and Romania, should be taken into consideration.

Vladimir Petković’s battle-hardened Switzerland team have the quality to give Spain a sterner test. The robust Swiss outfit showcased their ability in a 1-1 draw with group favourites Germany last month, and having scored at least once in 17 of their last 20 competitive matches, the Rossocrociati will expect to make an impact on the scoresheet in the Spanish capital this weekend.

Switzerland vs Spain: Head to Head Games

• Switzerland have managed only one win in their 22 fixtures against Spain (D5 L16) – although they have lost only one of the last four games between the sides (W1 D2).

• The teams met twice in the UEFA Nations League in autumn 2020, an early Mikel Oyarzabal goal giving Spain a 1-0 victory in Madrid on 10 October before a 1-1 draw in Basel on 14 November, substitute Gerard Moreno's 89th-minute equaliser cancelling out Remo Freuler's first-half opener for the Swiss. Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer saved two Sergio Ramos penalties at St. Jakob-Park.

• The sides had also shared a 1-1 draw in a Villarreal friendly in June 2018, Álvaro Odriozola giving Spain a lead that was cancelled out just past the hour by Ricardo Rodríguez.

• Switzerland's sole win against Spain came in the teams' opening fixture of the 2010 World Cup. Gelson Fernandes scored the only goal in Durban on 16 June 2010 – but Spain won their next two games to progress from Group H, with Switzerland eliminated in third place, before going on to lift the trophy.

• This is the sides' first ever EURO meeting, final tournament or qualifying, although that 2010 encounter was their third at the World Cup. Current Spain coach Luis Enrique scored the second goal – his first at international level – in Spain's 3-0 win in Washington in the 1994 round of 16; Spain were also 2-1 winners in the 1966 group stage in Sheffield.

• Spain have scored 48 goals in their 22 games against Switzerland, conceding 18.

Switzerland vs Spain: Betting tips

Under 2.5 goals is priced at 9/10 (1.90) and has paid out in Switzerland's last three competitive home fixtures as well as in five of Spain's last six matches.

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