Euro 2020: Italy vs. Switzerland match preview- team news, lineups

Italy hosts neighbors Switzerland at Stadio Olimpico in Rome for their second group stage match. Having impressed the fans in their opening win, Italy now lock horns with their local rivals Switzerland at Rome's historic stadium.

While Italy need only a point to progress, their neighbors are looking forward to their first win of Euro 2020, following a frustrating draw with Group A rivals, Wales.

On the opening night,

lived up to everyone’s expectations in a spectacular opening ceremony, as Roberto Mancini's squad defeated a much-fancied Turkey side.

Italy ran out dominant 3-0 winners over a poor Turkey side in the opening night.

meanwhile ended level with Wales in the closing stages, being made to share the spoils with a 1-1 result in Azerbaijan despite being the better side for most of the contest.

Italy vs. Switzerland match preview

Italy hope to maintain their good form at Euro 2020 and ensure their place in the knockout stages when they face Group A rivals Switzerland. A win for the Azzurri would assure their place in the next round, while a draw or a loss for the Swiss side could put their chances at risk ahead of the final match.

Italy

After winning against Turkey, Italy is one of the top favorites at the Euro 2020 and they are not willing to stop at least in the group stage.

Juventus defender,

, was responsible for breaking the deadlock with an own goal last Friday, before forwards Ciro Immobile and

wrapped up a comprehensive 3-0 victory, Italy's ninth win in a row.

Each of those consecutive successes saw them register a clean sheet. Against Switzerland, then, the four times world champions will be looking to reach ten straight wins for only the second time in their long and glorious history, the first such a winning streak came during qualifying.

With that run representing La Nazionale's last nine matches, the veteran defensive pairing of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have been anchoring their rearguard with characteristic authority.

The former

manager Mancini come out on top in more than two-thirds of his matches to date, as his new-look team have gone undefeated for 28 games and counting. During that time, Italy have got vast experience with youthful exuberance, making up for a half-century of European Championship failure at Wembley.

Therefore, the chance to seal qualification with a game to spare may encourage them to capitalize on home advantage by once more taking the initiative against a capable rival.

Switzerland

Forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against

last weekend, Switzerland visit the Italian capital knowing that an against-the-odds win would almost certainly seal their passage to the knockout stages, but that a more realistically attainable point should prove enough to keep their destiny in their own hands.

Vladimir Petkovic's squad were hauled back by a

header against the Welsh, and have still won only two of their 14 games at Euros past and present.

Although they have been beaten just once in their last 15 matches in the continent's premier international competition, the Swiss have been eliminated at the group stage three times previously, before suffering a last-16 exit in France five years ago.

La Nati's hopes of surpassing that achievement this time around are built on a solid midfield unit - featuring Arsenal's Granit Xhaka and Bergamo-based Remo Freuler while a sprinkling of players such as Embolo and

is a threat to Italy's formidable backline.

Petkovic will almost certainly take a pragmatic approach to match the Europe's most in-form national side, while being aware that taking anything away from the Olimpico will put Switzerland at an advantage compared to their other Group A rivals.

Form analysis

Roberto Mancini is unlikely to make any unenforced changes to a successful starting XI on Wednesday, as he looks to steer his squad through to the knockout stages with a win; rendering their third game, against Wales, a more probable opportunity to rotate the side.

In any case, the game may come too soon for midfield

, who has finally overcome a troublesome knee injury but is not yet ready to reclaim his place from the start. Therefore, in-demand Sassuolo midfielder

is again set to join Jorginho and Nicolo Barella against the Swiss.

One area that is expected to require a fresh face, though, is at right-back, as Alessandro Florenzi is struggling to shake off an ongoing calf problem. As at half time against Turkey, the PSG man will be replaced by Napoli's

.

Italy possible starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Locatelli; Berardi, Immobile, Insigne

Switzerland head coach, Vladimir Petkovic, who returns to the stadium he once called home as

manager, is considering a relatively unchanged lineup from their opening game, with only a possible introduction to the starting team for energetic midfielder

.

Switzerland have called up goalkeeper

to replace the injured Jonas Omlin in their 26-man squad, after the latter suffered an injury to his right ankle while warming up on Saturday.

Kobel is uncapped at senior level but will only be required to take Omlin's place as cover for established first-choice Yann Sommer and his deputy, Yvon Mvogo.

Switzerland possible starting lineup: Sommer; Elvedi, Akanji, Schar; Mbabu, Xhaka, Freuler, Rodriguez; Shaqiri; Embolo, Seferovic

Italy vs. Switzerland - Head-to-head in all competitions

The teams are meeting for the first time since 2010 and haven’t met in a competitive fixture since 1999.

In 57 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Italy hold the clear advantage. They have won 28 games, lost seven and drawn 22.

The two countries last faced each other way back in 2010, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw. Midfielder Gokhan Inler's goal for Switzerland was cancelled out by a goal from striker Fabio Quagliarella for Italy.

Prediction

While many websites offer different predictions and betting tips, we state here that As Switzerland are expected to pursue only a point, the impetus will be on the hosts to create chances and move the ball as fluently as they managed in the tournament-opening game.

Italy are well versed at probing patiently, though, and not only have

and Lorenzo Insigne to unlock the most tightly-bolted back door, but can also turn to the likes of exciting winger Federico Chiesa if required to make the difference.

Italy vs. Switzerland Referees

UEFA has appointed Russian referee Sergei Karasev to oversee the match between Italy and Switzerland on Wednesday. Demeshko and Gavrilin (RUS) is his assistant and Oliver (ENG) is the fourth official. Dankert (GER) is in charge of VAR and AVAR referees are Fritz (GER), Gittelman (GER), and Gil (POL).

Viewing information

• Date: Wednesday, June 16

• Time: 3 p.m. ET

• Location: Estadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy

• TV: ESPN

• Live stream: fuboTV (try for free)

• Odds: Italy -130; Draw +245; Switzerland +420 (via William Hill sportsbook)

Currently, France is the main favorite to win the tournament. Quinnbet, a popular bookmaker for beginners due to their

, currently prices France with 25% chance of becoming Euro 2020 champions, while England and Belgium are priced in with 14-15% chances.

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