Hungary will face Switzerland in their first Group A match at Euro 2024 in Cologne, Germany. Switzerland is aiming for a strong start to the tournament as they look to advance to the knockout stages for the third consecutive European Championship. Hungary, on the other hand, comes into the competition with an unbeaten record in qualifying and will be looking to make a statement after suffering their first defeat since 2022 in a pre-tournament friendly against Ireland.
Hungary’s fans will be under scrutiny after incidents of racist and homophobic abuse during previous tournaments. Star midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is expected to be fit despite needing treatment on his left thigh, while French-born midfielder Loic Nego is unlikely to feature in the match against Switzerland. Swiss coach Murat Yakin has a full squad to choose from, with Denis Zakaria and Steven Zuber managing light training sessions due to injuries. Despite reaching the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund, Gregor Kobel is set to be the second-choice goalkeeper behind Yann Sommer.
It has been 70 years since Switzerland hosted the World Cup, while Hungary lost to West Germany in the final. The matchup between Switzerland and Hungary dates back 43 years since Hungary’s last competitive victory over Switzerland. Both teams have struggled in opening games at the Euros, with Switzerland only securing one win from five matches and Hungary managing one win from four. Switzerland’s captain Granit Xhaka is set to make his 126th appearance for the national team, extending the team record, while vice-captain Shaqiri is close behind with 123 games under his belt.
Switzerland made a formal complaint to UEFA regarding the quality of their training field in Stuttgart but decided against relocating due to travel constraints. Hungary coach Marco Rossi is confident in his team’s abilities, expressing their desire to be the protagonists in the tournament. Switzerland’s captain Granit Xhaka is focused on securing three points in their opening match, setting clear aims for the team. Hungary midfielder Bendeguz Bolla believes the team has prepared well for the game against Switzerland and has no reason to fear their opponents. With both teams determined to make an impact in Group A, the match between Switzerland and Hungary promises to be an exciting and competitive affair at Euro 2024.
