Game 38: Switzerland vs Italy live from the Olympiastadion Berlin. Saturday BBC1 5pm

[Coulthard's Jaw]

Possible line-ups

Italy: Donnarumma; Darmian, Mancini, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Jorginho, Cristante, Dimarco; Scamacca, Chiesa
Suspended: Calafiori
Misses next match if booked: Cristante, Donnarumma, Fagioli, Pellegrini

Switzerland: Sommer; Schär, Akanji, Rodríguez; Stergiou, Xhaka, Freuler, Aebischer; Ndoye, Embolo, Vargas
Suspended: Widmer
Misses next match if booked: Freuler, Ndoye, Rodríguez, Sierro, Xhaka

The Opta supercomputer makes Italy slight favourites to win this one, giving them a 39.0% chance of winning, compared to 30.3% for Switzerland.

Road to the Last 16

 

[GunmaN1905]

Dimarco is out with an injury, Bastoni is also doubtful.

Spalletti is doing some tactical experiments yet again, I just can't believe both Jorginho and Cristante will play. And El Sharaawy.

Too bad I'll miss the games tomorrow, can easily see this going to penalties.

[Lucas]

Switzerland for me. Embologolo. 2-1 AET. 

[The_jagster]

Italy aren't great but I don't really rate Yakin much either, I think whoever gets the first goal sees it through to the end.

[RTHerringbone]

I always think Italian nous will carry them through, but they do have a pretty uninspiring group of players at the moment.

[Anthrax Dave]

Have a hunch that Switzerland will win this quite comfortably.

2-0 Switzerland 

[Rikulec]

Switzerland impressed me a lot in the second half against Germany. If they can show the same level of intensity and tactical organisation, they're through.

[CFuller]

This is probably the toughest of the Round 2 matches to call.

I'd like the Swiss to win, but I have a feeling that Italy will grind their way to another Final - starting with a 2-0 win. Mind you, it says a lot about how uninspiring they are that El Shaarawy is starting for them today.

[Constantine]

Where's Gunman with his lineups?! Shambles...

About this game... Fully expecting Italy to ********* their way past Switzerland. It may take them an ET but they'll get there somehow.

Edited June 29 by Constantine

[HOORAY HENRIK]

[CFuller]

Let the Gianni Infantino derby begin!

"Today I feel... conflicted." 

[Darius1998]

Such a difference between the two anthems. One gets screamed out, the other sounds like a prayer.

[Orzelek]

In what language is the Swiss anthem?

 

Do they have 4 different versions, or do they sing differnt parts in different languages like South Africa?

 

Couldn't tell from the "performance" right now  

Edited June 29 by Orzelek

[CFuller]

1 minute ago, Orzelek said:

In what language is the Swiss anthem?

 

Do they have 4 different versions, or do they sing differnt parts in different languages like South Africa?

 

Couldn't tell from the "performance" right now  

From what I can gather, they usually perform the German version at major tournaments.

Though Xhaka prefers the version with no lyrics. 

[Haguey]

I was going to predict a surprise Swiss win here but everyone is saying the same so it feels like it won't happen  Let's go with the Italians, maybe on pens

[Orzelek]

2 minutes ago, CFuller said:

Though Xhaka prefers the version with no lyrics. 

 

Great for a captain   

[CFuller]

3 minutes ago, Orzelek said:

Great for a captain   

Reminds me of when Rooney was England captain. 

But seriously, I don't care about that. This is football, not choir practice. 

[noikeee]

The Swiss well on top so far. Italy cornered near their area without much of an offensive outlet

If Barella is injured they are truly ****ed

[georginho_juventusygr]

Spalletti's boys are facing difficulties.

[DJ]

That warranted yellow IMO

[Constantine]

4 minutes ago, georginho_juventusygr said:

Spalletti's boys are facing difficulties.

Which Juve legend is scoring today?

[HOORAY HENRIK]

This has started like a friendly 

[Darius1998]

Switzerland usually drop off in the second half. Really need to get at least 1 in this half.

[Orzelek]

Might've been offside, but Embolo needs to do better there

[Constantine]

Gotta score those...

[georginho_juventusygr]

Good save by Donnarumma.

[georginho_juventusygr]

10 minutes ago, Constantine said:

Which Juve legend is scoring today?

Fagioli.

[The_jagster]

Italy are awful but this feels more like a friendly, no urgency at all

[Smallen]

Italy look dreadful defensively. Absolutely tonnes of space for Switzerland between the lines and it’s so easy for them to progress the ball.

[Freakiie]

Switzerland really needs to do better with all these chances they're getting.

[Haguey]

It's the resistible force vs the movable object so far

[HOORAY HENRIK]

Scotland were better v the Swiss.

[Orzelek]

This will end 0-0 with Italy winning on penalties, right?

[Pukey]

They've been by far the better team

[Rebs]

BANG

[Astafjevs]

Nope it won't 

[Redshift]

Forrest hero

[Smallen]

an understatement to say that’s been coming. Can’t believe how bad Italy have been.

[georginho_juventusygr]

Great goal that.

[DJ]

Nice one

[Darren Moores Mum]

Italy's defence is shocking. This isn't very Italian.

[BigV]

good finish and good play!

[CFuller]

Nice finish from Freuler.

Nottingham Forest should think about signing that guy. 

[Nordan]

Kinda been coming for a while.

[Haguey]

Wahey, potential minor shock!

Italy have been so bad, time to show if they actually have anything about them here

[Orzelek]

Great finish by Freuler

[georginho_juventusygr]

Every Italian player is wondering now where Freuler came from. 

[SouthCoastRed]

1 minute ago, Rebs said:

BANG

Swissy swissy bang bang?

[Redshift]

Southgate to limp to another final again?

[Darius1998]

Italy have looked so disorganised.