International Friendly: Estonia Meeting Should Create Swiss Roll-Over

Switzerland vs Estonia

As international friendly contests go, this fixture is not one of the most eye-catching in the run up to Euro 2024.

Why would it be?

Switzerland, ranked the 19th best international side in world football, at home to the minnows of Estonia, ranked 123^rd and a nation that didn’t come close to qualifying for the tournament.

So, while few expect anything other than pretty one-sided international friendly highlights at the Swissporarena in Lucerne on Tuesday evening, it could tell us plenty about the Swiss in the first of their two pre-tournament warm-up fixtures.

Talking Points

I would really like the Swiss to do well this summer, for no other reason than I thought they were cheated out of potential progress in the quarter-finals three years ago by a shocking decision.

They will certainly be optimistic of progressing from a group which contains hosts Germany, Scotland and Hungary, who they will meet in their European Championship opener on June 15.

Managed by Murat Yakin, they come into the contest off the back of a 1-0 victory over Ireland in a friendly at the end of March and, more tellingly, with just one defeat in their last 12 matches in all competitions.

On saying that, qualifying could have been a lot easier as they scraped through with four wins, five draws and one loss.

Although it’s highly unlikely they will be able to call upon Gregor Kobel, who was in goal for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on Saturday night, I would have thought long established Yann Sommer would be a number one choice anyway given his impressive pedigree.

He is one of a number of stand-out names which also include defenders Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Borussia Monchengladbach’s Nico Elvedi, experienced veteran Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino) and Newcastle United centre back Fabian Schar.

Most of them appear guaranteed starters at Euro 2024, as will be talented midfield trio Granit Xhaka (on the back of a fine season at Bayer Leverkusen), Remo Freuler and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Breel Embolo has scored 13 times for Switzerland and is expected to feature in the final third of the field, while Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni could also be handed an attacking role on Tuesday.

Estonia have never qualified for the finals of a European Championship and they have failed to win a single match in their last two qualification campaigns for the tournament.

In Henri Anier they do have a player who has scored an impressive 22 goals for his national side and the 33-year-old is expected to feature in this one.

Watch out also for possibly two players in the ranks from the League of Ireland Premier Division in the shape of Shamrock Rovers’ Markus Poom and Martin Millerpushing of Bohemians.

Roma’s 20-year-old midfielder Martin Vetkal is also set to feature from the first whistle, while there could be a 158th cap for the experienced Konstain Vassiljev.

Estonia’s priority this summer is the Baltic Cup – they play the Faroe Islands in the semi-finals next weekend – and I don’t expect them to put up too much up a fight here.

History

The story so far: Four games, four Switzerland wins, an aggregate score of 14-0.

At least last time out it was the closest yet for Estonia as they managed to restrict the Swiss to a solitary goal.

That was in October 2015 in a Euro 2016 qualifier when a 90th-minute own goal broke the hosts’ hearts in Tallinn.

Seven months earlier, the Swiss had run out 3-0 winners in Lucerne when Schar, Xhaka and Haris Seferovic were the goal-getters.

Their inaugural clash came in 1992 when the Swiss, managed by Roy Hodgson were qualifying for the US World Cup of 1994.

The 6-0 rout that day was secured by goals from Stéphane Chapuisat (two), Georges Bregy, Adrian Knup, Christophe Ohrel and Ciriaco Sforza.

Betting Tip

It’s Swiss success all the way with the SBOTOP international friendly betting odds.

Amongst the ways you can back them are First Half 1X2 @ 1.45, First Half Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.64, 1X2 @ 1.15 and Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 1.87.

By contrast, and it’s quite a contrast, Estonia are priced First Half 1X2 @  9.40, First Half Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.21, 1X2 @ 10.50 and Asian Handicap +1.75 /@ 2.25.

Given everything, I cannot see even Estonia getting a draw in this, which is on offer @ 6.10 by the way.

A re-run of last time, Correct Score 1-0, provides you with tidy odds @ 8.00.

I can see plenty of goals and have considered Over 3.25 @ 2.00 and Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.15, yet for me it’s 4-6 @ 2.45 as a *** tip.

 

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