St. Jakob-Park is the venue as Switzerland and Italy go head-to-head in a top-of-the-standings 2022 World Cup qualifying Group C encounter. The two sides, who are likely to battle it out for a top place in this group, last met in a World Cup qualifier in 1993 in a match that didn’t end well for the Italians.
Switzerland and Italy remain the only nations in Group C yet to taste defeat. But while the Swiss look to ensure their fifth consecutive World Cup finals appearance, the Italians are aiming to return to the world’s biggest stage after failing to qualify for Russia 2018.
Switzerland vs Italy Head-To-Head
You don’t have to look beyond Euro 2020 to find Italy’s last competitive meeting with Switzerland. The Italians made light work of their competition’s group stage H2H, claiming an overwhelming 3-0 victory to pave the way for lifting the crown.
Gli Azzurri are now unbeaten across their last nine matches against this opposition (W5, D4) since going down 1-0 in their most recent World Cup qualifying encounter back in May 1993.
However, four of Italy’s five overall games against Switzerland held on foreign soil ended level, with a 2-1 win in a friendly in 2003 being the solitary exception to this trend.
Switzerland Form Preview
Consecutive victories over Bulgaria and Lithuania by an aggregate scoreline of 4-1 gave Switzerland a 100% start to their World Cup qualifying Group C journey. Despite trailing group-toppers Italy by four points, the Swiss remain very much in contention for a top-table finish as they have two games in hand on the reigning European champions.
Even though they head into proceedings as outsiders, the Nati will not roll over, especially following a decent Euro 2020 campaign. Switzerland defied the odds to oust world champions France in the round of 16 before taking Spain to penalties in the quarter-finals.
However, Vladimir Petkovic, who led the national team to four consecutive major international tournaments, stepped down after Switzerland’s Euro 2020 exit. The 58-year-old cut short his seven-year stint at the national team in July and took over the managerial reins at Ligue 1 strugglers Bordeaux.
Former Swiss great Murat Yakin has taken charge of the team, marking his debut with a 2-1 victory over Greece in a friendly meeting a few days ago. Though side men have gone unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 internationals in all competitions – if considered just 90 minutes of play – their solitary failure in that streak came at the hands of Italy at Euro 2020.
Switzerland’s hopes of returning the favor may hinge on a fast start, as they’ve won all five previous home fixtures after getting on the scoresheet within 25 minutes.
Italy Form Preview
Italy looked to be suffering a hangover against Bulgaria last time out following their astonishing Euro 2020 success. Indeed, Roberto Mancini’s side could only manage a 1-1 draw against overwhelming outsiders in Florence on Thursday. Despite an unsatisfying result, the Italians have equaled Spain’s 35-match unbeaten European record and could be on course of making history here.
No other European nation has even gone 36 straight internationals without a loss, as head coach Mancini hopes to make an achievement that will stand out among his peers. A victory might not necessarily be on the cards, though, with each of Italy’s last four competitive games ending level within 90 minutes.
Before being held by the Bulgarians, Italy racked up three back-to-back 2-0 triumphs to take control of the proceedings in this group. As a result, they appear to be on the verge of returning to the World Cup finals after seeing their qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 fall flat.
But if history repeats itself, Mancini could miss out on a coveted record. The last time Italy won a major international title (World Cup 2006), they went on to draw their subsequent home outing – as they did against Bulgaria now – and followed that up with a loss to France.
Italy can fall back on flying World Cup qualifying starts that have seen them open the scoring in all four Group C fixtures. Additionally, they have won four of their last six away World Cup qualifiers without conceding.
Switzerland vs Italy – Predicted Line-ups
Switzerland (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Nico Elvedi, Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji; Silvan Widmer; Djibril Sow, Steven Zuber, Remo Freuler, Ricardo Rodríguez; Ruben Vargas, Haris Seferovic.
Italy (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Emerson Palmieri, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Giovanni Di Lorenzo; Jorginho, Marco Verratti, Nicolo Barella; Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne.