Soccer UEFA Euro Qualification - Group Stage

Switzerland vs Romania - Match Preview

⚽ 19 June 2023 - 18:45 GMT +0

Switzerland remained well on course to qualify for a third straight UEFA European Championship as they scored twice before half-time in an eventual 2-1 victory over Andorra. The Swiss had scored ten straight goals without reply in this cycle (W3) before conceding that consolation goal, so they’ll hope to return to their typically rampant scoring form as they look to open up a five-point gap to their closest chasers Romania with another win here.

All three points going one way or the other seem inevitable when Switzerland take to the pitch after an incredible run of 14 internationals without a stalemate (W8, L6). Extending that sequence with another win seems likely then, as no side other than England has defeated Switzerland in a home Euro qualifier since April 1995 (W17, D4, L2), with eight of the last nine victories in that run coming ‘to nil’.

Visiting Romania has made a positive start to proceedings themselves (W2, D1), despite falling two points behind their hosts with a goalless draw against Kosovo to begin this international break. Avoiding defeat may be key to clinging onto that second spot with Israel lurking over their shoulders, yet a 100% losing record after three encounters with the Swiss hardly inspires confidence ahead of this trip to Lucerne.

A respectable set of away results in this sphere across the last decade suggests Romania may well hold their own against the odds (W6, D3, L3), yet none of those victories came against top-12 FIFA-ranked nations, a hoodoo they’ll have to break if they’re to beat the Swiss. The Tricolours do remain on course to match their unbeaten qualifications for both Euro 2000 and 2016, though this is arguably the biggest test of matching those previously successful teams.

📋 Key battle: Zeki Amdouni continued his fantastic personal form by grabbing Switzerland’s decisive second goal in midweek, taking him to six direct goal contributions across his last three games for club & country (G5, A1). Trying to marshal him will be Andrei Burcă, the Cluj defender who helped his club to a Europa Conference League berth and grabbed his first international goal in Romania’s recent victory over Belarus.

⚡ Hot stat: Switzerland has scored at least twice in 11 of their last 13 home Euro qualifiers.