Hungary vs Switzerland | Saturday 15 June | Cologne Stadium | 16:00
The second game of Euro 2024 sees Hungary and Switzerland meet in a key Group A clash. Both sides will be pleased with their group draw for Euro 2024. While playing host Germany will be challenging, Hungary, Switzerland, and Scotland will all view each other as beatable. Who will lay down a Group A marker?
To Win
Hungary 9/4
Draw 9/4
Switzerland 12/10
Hungary
Securing their third consecutive appearance at the European Championship, Hungary booked their ticket with a game to spare, thanks to a dramatic own goal from Bulgaria in stoppage time, earning them a crucial 2-2 away draw in qualifying. Under the leadership of coach Marco Rossi, Hungary finished atop their qualification group unbeaten, boasting an impressive record of five wins and three draws.
This achievement marks a historic feat for the nation, considering its rich footballing heritage, which includes two lost World Cup finals. Notably, Hungary’s unbeaten streak spans 12 games, coinciding with Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai taking over the captain’s armband from the retiring Adam Szalai.
Switzerland
Once again, Switzerland has affirmed their status as a formidable presence in European football by securing their place in Euro 2024. With a crucial 1-1 home draw against Kosovo in European qualifying, Switzerland clinched a top-two finish, earning their ticket to the Euro finals for the third consecutive time and the sixth time overall. This achievement underscores Switzerland’s consistency and strength on the international stage, marking their impressive fifth appearance in the last six editions of the prestigious tournament.
Undoubtedly, Granit Xhaka is the player to watch for Switzerland. He had his most impressive season to date, winning the German Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. His club success will be infectious at the national level, considering he has always pulled out all the stops for his adopted nation.
Prediction: Switzerland Win (12/10)
On paper, Switzerland looks more dangerous with the likes of Shaqiri, Xhaka, Schar, and Manuel Akanji within their ranks. With those names, the ‘Darkhorse’ tag would feel quite apt. This has been a heavily played international fixture over the years, with the two nations meeting on 46 previous occasions. Hungary holds a 30-11 head-to-head advantage with five draws shared, but only one of those victories has come in their last nine meetings in a run starting in May 1994. Strongly back Switzerland to secure a win in this encounter.
Written by Joshua Gaillard @JoshuaGaillard