SM
Oman vs. Qatar: 12 hrs 26 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
SN
Friendlies 1
May 30, 2021 at 7pm UK
 
UN

Switzerland
2 - 1
USA

Rodriguez (10'), Zuber (63')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Lletget (5')

Preview: Switzerland vs. USA - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Switzerland vs. USA - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's International Friendly clash between Switzerland and USA, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

As part of their preparations for Euro 2020 next month, one of the continent's top-ranked sides, Switzerland, will host the USA on Sunday.

The international friendly fixture at St Gallen's Kybunpark will also serve as a warm-up for the visitors' upcoming CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup campaigns.


Match preview

Before they tackle a European Championship group also featuring Italy, Turkey and Wales this summer, first Switzerland are set to play two home friendlies - against the United States and then versus neighbouring Liechtenstein.

Currently world-ranked 13th, the Swiss come into this first game of the summer on the back of a 3-2 friendly win over Finland in March - effectively the fourth successive victory for Vladimir Petkovic's side.

Having concluded their Nations League campaign with a default win over Ukraine last November, the Nati have since opened the World Cup qualifying process with six points from six, as they beat both Bulgaria and Lithuania in their opening fixtures this spring.

Petkovic has held his current position since July 2014 - winning 35 of his 68 games to date, while leading Switzerland to the last-16 of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Russia - and will be keen to go at least one step further in the Euros.

In preparation, the Sarajevo-born coach has called up a 29-player preliminary squad for the pre-tournament friendlies, which will be whittled down to 26 shortly after Sunday's game.

With a total of 12 players included from the ever-competitive German Bundesliga - including those such as Borussia Monchengladbach trio Breel Embolo, Denis Zakaria and goalkeeper Yann Sommer - he has a strong squad at his command, but is likely to give fringe players a last chance to impress this weekend.

Seeking to prepare for a busy summer ahead, the USA first encounter a national team against which they have won only once in their eight historic meetings - the most famous being their opening match of the 1994 World Cup on home soil: a 1-1 draw earning the US their first point at a World Cup for some 44 years.

Like the Swiss, several players in the squad named by head coach Gregg Berhalter earn their living in the Bundesliga, with Giovanni Reyna, John Brooks and Tyler Adams among those currently featuring in Germany's top flight.

In fact, a largely Europe-based selection are preparing for the altitude of Denver, Colorado, where the US will join Honduras, Costa Rica and Mexico next week for the Nations League semi-finals - then the final or a 3rd-place decider.

So, expected to fly halfway around the world by next Thursday's match with Honduras - amid an intense period of three games in eight days - squad rotation is set to be a feature of Sunday's friendly fixture.

Certainly, this match will present a significant challenge for a recently untested American side, which has primarily met only Central American and mid-tier European opponents over the past couple of years. Most recently, they defeated Northern Ireland 2-1 in March, through goals from Borussia Dortmund starlet Reyna and Chelsea's Christian Pulisic.

Without doubt, though, Berhalter's men will be more fully tested against a talented and experienced team in Switzerland - one which is heading into its own continental championship with ambitions to make the final eight.

Switzerland International Friendlies form:
  • W

Switzerland form (all competitions):
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

USA International Friendlies form:
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W



Team News

Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic is expected to offer some less experienced faces an opportunity on Sunday, as he prepares to thin out his squad ahead of the Euros.

Therefore, several stalwarts, such as Yann Sommer, Fabian Schar and Granit Xhaka may be spared, with teenage defender Becir Omeragic and Nice full-back Jordan Lotomba in contention to play.

At some stage, Petkovic could hand debuts to goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, 20-year-old forward Dan Ndoye and Brighton striker Andi Zeqiri. However, Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow may not be risked, as he still has a niggling injury to shake off.

Meanwhile, another Bundesliga-based man, Tyler Adams (of RB Leipzig) is a doubt for the USA and is likely to be held back with some silverware on the line in the coming weeks.

Gregg Berhalter's squad contains plenty of other European experience though, with Wolfsburg's John Brooks, Barcelona full-back Sergino Dest and Bryan Reynolds of Serie A side Roma all in line to start. Both Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie and Barnsley's on-loan Daryl Dike have travelled to Switzerland too, and both are set to feature.

There has been much speculation about potential debuts for Bayern Munich II defender Justin Che and Schalke striker Matthew Hoppe - who impressed this year despite his club's demise - with the latter most likely to be offered a chance in the second half.

Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Zuber, Zakaria, Freuler, Shaqiri; Embolo, Seferovic

USA possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Dest, Brooks, Miazga, Reynolds; McKennie, Lletget, Acosta, Reyna; Sargent, Aaronson


We say: Switzerland 1-0 USA

Expect a relatively inexperienced USA team to come unstuck in Switzerland, as they encounter a class of opponent above recent run-outs and have not benefited from a competitive fixture since November 2019.

With a potentially significant summer ahead, the Swiss will not want to further tire a squad featuring some weary legs, so are likely to rotate heavily during the game - narrowing their expected margin of victory to a single goal.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__449421 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:48:45:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:48:45 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
USA coach backs Pulisic for starring Chelsea role
"City and Pep haven't adapted": Is Guardiola's job in danger?
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Liverpool 'dealt Pulisic blow' as Milan take decisive action

1

L'

Latest Mount, De Ligt updates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. Wolves

2

LM

Potential Chelsea exit? Barcelona 'offered chance' to sign forward

NEW

3

PC

"City and Pep haven't adapted": Is Guardiola's job in danger?

4

&A

Heading the other way? Chelsea readying £49.8m bid for Milan 'revelation'

5

HT

Valencia 'meet release clause' in bid to appoint Championship manager

6

V'

Ederson replacement: Man City identify Serie A goalkeeper as transfer target?

7

ER

Are Liverpool the most "complete" side in the Premier League?

8

AL

Amorim points finger at Rashford's team over bombshell interview

9

AP

Hamstrung: Which Arsenal games will Saka miss through injury?

10

HW


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .