Euro 2024
2024-06-19 - Scotland vs Switzerland
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; EURO 2024; Group A: 2nd Round
Rhein Energie Stadion – Cologne
Wednesday, 19th June 2024 - kickoff 21:00 CET
Scotland
Scotland faces Switzerland in a crucial Group A encounter, hoping to bounce back after a heavy defeat to Germany in their opener (5-1).
Steve Clarke's team will be looking to improve their performance and secure valuable points to keep their qualification hopes alive. A loss in this game will leave them hanging by a thread, but perhaps a win against Hungary in the last round might see them narrowly go through.
There is not much positive to say for Scotland after their first game, as they were outplayed in all segments against the Germans. The defender Kieran Tierney sustained a knock in that game, and is questionable how ready he will be for this match. Also, Ryan Porteous is suspended after being sent off against Germany.
That means coach Clarke might adopt a solid defensive setup, aiming to counter-attack using the pace of their wide players. Set-pieces will also be a crucial element, with John McGinn and Andy Robertson delivering dangerous balls into the box.
Switzerland
Switzerland showed a very mature and stable performance against Hungary in the first game, winning 3-1. They are back to play in the same stadium in Cologne, which also might give them an advantage as they are familiar with it.
Remember that Switzerland has lost just two of their last 14 group matches at major tournaments, so they are a fantastic tournament team.
The Swiss will progress into the Round of 16 with a win, but even a draw will do them good. However, I believe the Swiss will push for a win so they can have a more comfortable final group game against Germany.
As in their first group match, Switzerland will likely dominate possession and create more scoring opportunities as their midfield and attack is much better than Scotland’s.
Switzerland is likely to exploit spaces behind the Scottish defense with quick passing and the physical presence of Breel Embolo in the attack.
The Betting Verdict
The Swiss side impressed us with their stability in the first game, especially in the midfield. Their build-up play is excellent, and they look better overall than Scotland.
Scotland is now under big pressure to collect three points, which might cause them to rush sometime and make mistakes, which the Swiss will likely punish.
This should be a competitive game, likely with goals in both nets, but I believe Switzerland will come out on top.
The Pick :
Scotland 1-2 Switzerland
