Switzerland v Italy LIVE: Line-ups and team news as reigning champions begin last-16 at Euro 2024

Switzerland have reached the knockout stages at each of the last six major international tournaments (European Championship/World Cup) since the start of the 2014 World Cup.

The only European nation enjoying a longer such run is France (seven in a row).

It took 36 games to get rid of eight teams. It will take 15 more to dispense with another 15. There can be a lopsided element to Euro 2024, taking a long time to remove one-third of sides, then rushing to expel the others. The last few days have been laced with reprieves for those who occupied third place; the way 16 of 24 advanced meant Slovenia and Slovakia could settle for draws in their final group games.

At times, it underlined the argument that there is a purity and a greater sense of jeopardy to the old model of four groups of four. Certainly, overloaded with quality outfits, Groups B and D were a throwback to the days of 16-team European Championships; reasons to rue the expansion, perhaps. Had the tournament been smaller there would have been more pool-stage games such as Croatia against Italy, with everything on the line. As it transpired, Italy would have been out but for their very late leveller.

Since winning 1-0 in a May 1993 World Cup qualifier, Switzerland are winless in 11 matches against Italy in all competitions (D6 L5).

They are only on longer winless runs against England (13 games) and Russia (12, including games as USSR), while Italy are only on longer current unbeaten runs against Finland (14) and Turkey (13).

This will be Switzerland and Italy’s fifth meeting at a major international tournament.

The Swiss won both games at the 1954 World Cup (2-1 in the group and 4-1 in the group play-off) but Italy have won the last two, 3-0 wins in the group stages of the 1962 World Cup and at Euro 2020.

This match takes place at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, where Italy beat France on penalties to win the 2006 World Cup.

Coach Luciano Spalletti saidd: “Beside the fact everyone remembers the moment we enjoyed in Berlin when we won the [2006 World Cup] final, on the coaching team with us we have ‘Gigi’ Buffon, who has told everyone about it.

“We have been reliving the excitement which we enjoyed watching from home back in 2006.”

Switzerland make one change to the team that drew 1-1 with Germany last time out. Silvan Widmer is suspended so Ruben Vargas is brought in to bolster the forward line.

Italy make six changes to the team that lined-up against Croatia in their final group match.

Riccardo Calafiori is suspended so misses the match. Federico Dimarco, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Giacomo Raspadori, Jorginho and Mateo Retegui are all omitted with Gianluca Scamacca, Federico Chiesa, Nicolo Fagioli, Bryan Cristante, Gianluca Mancini and Stephan El Shaarawy all brought in.

Italy XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Darmian; Cristante, Fagioli, Barella; Chiesa, Scamacca, El Shaarawy

“We have fought very hard to make it here, and these are special games. Year in year out with the Switzerland national team there are some very interesting games.

“We’re very happy to play against Italy, and I think it will be a very open game. I don’t want to be drawn on who the favourite is.

“We know about their quality, their tactics and temperament, so it will certainly be special and we hope it can pan out the same way as our recent previous meetings.”

Switzerland XI: Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Vargas, Freuler, Xhaka, Aebischer; Rieder, Embolo, Ndoye

Italy’s head coach said: “We know we are up against very awkward customers in Switzerland. We have not managed to show all our potential so far, or maybe we only did so for a few moments.

“We deserved to qualify, even if we needed a last-gasp goal, but we need to take it up a step, especially in terms of personality.”