Euro 2024 team guide and best bets: Swtizerland
Switzerland are regulars in the knockout stages of major tournaments but does a shaky qualification campaign point to an early exit at Euro 2024?
Get up to speed with Murat Yakin's men in our comprehensive team guide, featuring tactical analysis, players to watch out for, predicted line-ups, betting tips and more.
How Switzerland qualified for Euro 2024
Switzerland are part of the furniture these days when it comes to major tournaments but their performances en route to this summer’s finals were anything but convincing.
After starting with convincing successes over Belarus and Israel, the Swiss won just two of their final eight qualifiers — with both victories coming against minnows Andorra.
Finishing five points behind group winners Romania, they only held off Israel for second place thanks to their habit of rescuing late draws from behind.
Burnley forward Zeki Amdouni was their chief goal threat, netting six times in 10 outings despite entering the qualification phase with just one senior cap under his belt.
Ultimately, it was a case of job done for the Swiss but performances can have done little to bolster confidence in the ranks.
Switzerland’s squad for Euro 2024
Switzerland named a 26-man squad ahead of the tournament:
Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel (Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient), Yann Sommer (Inter)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Nico Elvedi (Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Rodríguez (Torino), Fabian Schär (Newcastle), Leonidas Stergiou (Stuttgart), Silvan Widmer (Mainz), Cédric Zesiger (Wolfsburg)
Midfielders: Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Fabian Rieder (Rennes), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Vincent Sierro (Toulouse), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg), Granit Xhaka (Leverkusen), Denis Zakaria (Monaco), Steven Zuber (AEK Athens)
Forwards: Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Kwadwo Duah (Ludogorets), Breel Embolo (Monaco), Dan Ndoye (Bologna), Noah Okafor (AC Milan)
Switzerland’s predicted starting XI for Euro 2024
Switzerland’s star player - Manuel Akanji
Fresh off helping Manchester City towards a domestic double, Manuel Akanji should be in a fantastic headspace coming into this tournament.
When the 28-year-old joined the English champions two years ago for a paltry £15 million, few would have forecasted him racking up 95 appearances so quickly.
However, it is testament to the ex-Borussia Dortmund man’s oodles of class that he has so effortlessly slid into the backline of arguably Europe’s greatest club side and in the blink of an eye become one of their most influential players.
Waxing lyrical last October, City boss Pep Guardiola said of Akanji: “We are so lucky to have him.
“We had a feeling we needed a central defender, so we moved quickly when we had the chance to get him.
“He is open minded, well educated and so intelligent. It’s a joy to work with Manu every single day.”
Akanji’s distribution is always a crucial tool for this Switzerland side, with his ability to break the lines with a sharp pass deterring opposition sides from a high press.
Expect to see him playing with a greater freedom as Yakin looks to maximise every inch of his influence.
Switzerland’s one to watch - Zeki Amdouni
When Burnley picked up Zeki Amdouni from Basel last summer, Spanish outlet Marca declared they had signed “the Swiss Messi”.
That lofty comparison came about after respected sports data company StatsBomb ranked Amdouni alongside RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons as the most similar youngster in Europe to the legendary Argentine in terms of playing style.
Premier League fans may be scratching their heads at that claim now, given Amdouni managed just five goals and completed 90 minutes only once for a Clarets side comfortably relegated back to the Championship.
Yet for all those struggles at Turf Moor, his form in a Swiss shirt could hardly be more contrasting
The attacking midfielder was his nation’s chief goal threat in qualifying, with six goals putting him comfortably clear at the top of Group I’s scoring charts.
Though often entering from the bench, Amdouni’s running in behind and reliable left-footed finishing caused chaos — most impressively when bagging a brace in a 2-2 draw with Romania.
Yakin traditionally opts for his more experienced operators to start matches but in a side badly struggling for goals, the youngster is becoming harder to ignore.
Switzerland's manager - Murat Yakin
All things considered, Yakin is one of several managers who could be looking for a new job if Euro 2024 doesn’t go to plan.
The 49-year-old Basel icon took charge of his nation in August 2021, successfully qualifying them for the 2022 World Cup ahead of Italy before guiding them to the last 16 in Qatar, where they exited unceremoniously via a 6-1 thrashing from Portugal.
Still, those efforts were relatively well received at home but things have taken a downward turn since last summer.
Home draws with the likes of Romania, Belarus and Kosovo have prompted a shift in the mood of supporters, frustrated by the manager’s conservative style and underperforming star players.
Yet the Swiss FA resisted calls to make a change, instead declaring that the current boss has their “full confidence” — for now, at least.
As a former defender, Yakin sets his team up in a rigid defensive shape and invites opponents to break them down before looking to counter-attack in transition.
The style is reliant on the wide passing range of Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji, the disciplined midfield marshalling of Granit Xhaka and the unpredictability of the mercurial Xherdan Shaqiri.
Switzerland's Euro 2024 betting odds
Switzerland to win Euro 2024 - 80/1
Switzerland to reach the Euro 2024 final - 33/1
Switzerland to win Group A - 11/2
Switzerland top team goalscorer - Haris Seferovic 5/1, Zeki Amdouni 5/1, Breel Embolo 5/1, Xherdan Shaqiri 6/1, 8/1 BAR
*All best UK prices available as of 28/05/24
Analysis and best bets for Switzerland at Euro 2024
Expert analysis from Odds Now's Matt Hill:
“Normally a shoo-in to progress past the group stage at major tournaments but not much further, Switzerland don't look likely to be breaking new ground at Euro 2024.
“On paper, a second-place finish in Group A behind Germany seems achievable but the dangerous duo of Hungary and Scotland should sense an opportunity against this underperforming group and their under-fire manager.
“Yakin needs his big players to stand up and be counted this summer. Granit Xhaka has enjoyed a sensational campaign with Bayer Leverkusen, while Manuel Akanji has also been fabulous for Manchester City.
“Meanwhile, talisman Xherdan Shaqiri spends his time in America’s MLS nowadays but still has a bit of class up his sleeve.
“Ultimately though, struggling past the likes of Andorra, Belarus, Kosovo and Israel suggests this is a squad coming to the end of their current cycle. The 6/4 about a group stage exit does make some appeal but isn't exactly juicy given poor teams can still sneak through in third place.
“Instead, the way to play it may well be to split stakes on the exact points market. Backing 7/1 and 9/1 for the Swiss to finish on one or two points respectively gives punters some juice on Scotland and Hungary getting results against this steady but unspectacular outfit.
“Though he has failed to fire at Burnley, Zeki Amdouni’s six goals in 10 qualifiers shouldn’t be overlooked and 5/1 for him in the top team goalscorer market looks fair.”
Matt's Best Bets:
Switzerland to get exactly one point - 7/1 (Bet365)
Switzerland to get exactly two points - 9/1 (SkyBet)
Zeki Amdouni top Switzerland goalscorer - 5/1 (BetVictor)