When looking at Wales against Switzerland, the thought that comes to mind is that both these teams are just off the top but never at the bottom. With household names in both teams, this really promises to be a match that should not be missed, especially as the three points here could be extremely crucial come the end of group stages.
Euro 2020: Group A
Saturday 12 May
Baku Olympic Stadium
15:00
To Win
Wales 26/10
Draw 2/1
Switzerland 5/4
Wales
It has been widely disclosed that Gareth Bale went to Tottenham Hotspurs on loan so that he could be primed for the Euro 2020. It is also a well-known fact that Bale knows how to lead his country, this came to the fore when Wales made it to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
Aside from Bale, the Welsh have some top quality from across European leagues such as Wayne Hennessey from Crystal Palace, Ben Davies from Tottenham, Daniel James from Manchester United and Aaron Ramsey from Juventus.
With the squad of talent in various positions, they look certain to pull of an impressive performance in the competition.
The only issue Wales may face is that their manager who helped them qualify for the Euros, Ryan Giggs, will not be there to help guide them through the tournament as he is currently facing personal matters and had to be replaced prior to the tournament by Rob Page who is the interim coach.
Switzerland
Win or lose, the Swiss seldom play a bad game. Who can forget how they shocked the world in Durban back in 2010, beating the eventual World Cup winners Spain 1-0 in their first game of that tournament? They really know how to pitch up at international tournaments.
The Red Crosses boast quality in each position with players that play for some of Europe’s finest, none of them more popular than the man they refer to as the “Alpine Messi” – Xherdan Shaqiri. The little magician who applies his trade at Liverpool is known for his impressive performances for his country and will no doubt play an integral role in the competition.
Another leader in the squad is the Arsenal midfielder and also captain of the squad, Granit Xhaka. With his power and Shaqiri’s brain, the oppositions should really be weary.
Prediction: Half-Time – Draw (17/20)
This game is an extremely tough game to call as it does really look like a moment of brilliance in the second half can decide it. The question is will it be Bale’s class or Shaqiri’s magic? I am expecting a tight first half with both teams trying to suss each other out followed by a second half of end-to-end action.
Written by Venal Naidu