Euro 2024 | Italy v Switzerland – Predicted starting XI’s | OneFootball

Italy and Switzerland will kick-off the knockout phase of Euro 2024 when they face each other in the opening match of the Round of the last 16 in Berlin on Saturday evening.

Following a less than impressive group phase, which took a last gasp equaliser against Croatia on matchday three to ensure qualification, Azzurri coach Luciano Spalletti is set to make several changes as he looks for more attacking options.

Bologna centre-half, Riccardo Calafiori is suspended and his place is expected to be taken by Roma’s Gianluca Mancini. Inter left-back Fedrico Dimarco is injured so his clubmate Matteo Darmian will replace him.

Spalletti is expected to use Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagiolo as the holding midfielder, with Roma duo Bryan Cristante and Stephan El Shaarawy supporting Nicolo Barella and Federico Chiesa. Gianluca Scamacca could return to lead the line with Mateo Retgui dropping to the bench.

For the Swiss, Silvan Widmer is suspended so Leonidas Stergiou is expected to deputise in midfield. The only other expected change is Ruben Vargas replacing Fabian Rieder on the right side of the attack. Otherwise, it looks to be the same starting line-up that pushed Germany so close on matchday three in Group A.

Predicted starting XI’s

Italy (4-1-4-1) Donnarumma; Darmian, Bastoni, Mancini, Di Lorenzo; Fagioli; El Shaarawy, Barella, Cristante, Chiesa; Scamacca

Switzerland (3-4-2-1) Sommer; Rodriguez, Akanji, Schar; Aebischer, Freuler, Xhaka, Sterigou; Ndoya, Vargas; Embolo

Steve Mitchell | GIFN