Switzerland V Iceland
Tuesday, 14 June – 17:00 (GMT)
UEFA Under-21 European Championship
– Switzerland took maximum points from their opening Group A encounter after beating hosts Denmark 1-0.
– Iceland prop up Group A following their 2-0 loss to Belarus, with a near certain exit to follow should they not avoid defeat on Tuesday.
The 2011 Under-21 European Championship in Denmark is well underway and I’m sure many of you, like myself, have been left a little underwhelmed after the first lot of group encounters.
Goals were few and far between – Spain were the only team of the eight competing in these finals to score a first half goal – while the football itself has hardly been a spectacle at times, with all four matches to date producing tight affairs.
However, one team who did excel first-time out was Switzerland, whom stunned the hosts, Denmark, to win 1-0 in Aalborg courtesy of Xherdan Shaqiri’s superb solo effort. The Swiss had to be on their guard defensively, however, with goalkeeper Yann Sommer in particular having shone. But they weren’t the most creative, managing just eight attempts the entire match, and if they are to reign supreme once again in Aalborg over an Iceland outfit who disappointed on their first outing against tournament underdogs Belarus, it will probably be by another tight margin.
It will be a ‘do or bust’ scenario for Iceland, though, when they take to the pitch for Tuesday’s Group A encounter. Should they fail to collect their first points of the tournament and Belarus defeat Denmark later that evening, Eyjolfur Sverrisson’s team will exit the competition with one game to spare.
Unfortunately, though, Iceland will be shorn of 22-year-old Aron Gunnarsson, whom plies his trade with Coventry City in the Championship, after the midfielder saw red against Belarus for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Just like the Swiss, Iceland also struggled to carve out openings, though against weaker opposition, it must be said, and may well find themselves banging their heads against another brick wall, a well-organised Swiss defence.
Another evenly-fought contest would appear the call judging by how both encountered difficulties in the creative department in their opening games. That said, there is little doubt as to which manager boasts the greater array of players, with four of Keld Bordinggaard’s Switzerland squad having turned out for the senior team against England no less than two weeks ago, and in striker Shaqiri they have a genuine talent, a powerhouse of a forward with the potential to take the tournament by storm.
Betting Selection(s):
Switzerland to WIN @ 2.10 (11/10) Coral
Xherdan Shaqiri to Score @ 3.60 (13/5) PaddyPower
