FRANCE’S quest to add a Euros crown to their 2018 World Cup trophy continues with a potential banana skin against Switzerland.
If Les Bleus dispatch their neighbours a quarter-final duel with Croatia or Spain will be next.
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Tonight’s clash will be the two teams’ fifth meeting in a major competition with the rivals having played each other twice in the European Championship and World Cup.
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But the game at Romania’s National Arena will be their first in the knockout round of a top football tournament.
The last-16 clash between France and Vladimir Petkovic’s Swiss aces will kick-off at 8pm
And fans can watch the game on ITV1 following the channel’s of Croatia’s clash with Spain.
What’s the form?
France and Switzerland have played each other on 38 occasions with the last Euros encounter between the sides ending 0-0.
The World Cup winners have gone unbeaten in their last seven meetings with their opponents although four of their last five games have ended in draws.
Petkovic’s side, skippered by Granit Xhaka, 28, finished third in Group A following a draw with Wales, a loss to Italy and a win against Turkey.
And Didier Deschamps’ players topped their group without losing a game following.
Their results include a win against Germany and two draws including a shock score draw against plucky minnows Hungary.
And their final group stage game saw Karim Benzema, 33, finally score on his return from a lengthy international exile with a brace against Portugal.
Who’s in and who’s out
France are enduring a crisis with injuries with Ousmane Dembele out for the rest of the competition.
And the team are sweating on the fitness of Lucas Digne, 27, after the Everton left-back was forced to withdraw from his side’s clash with Portugal due to a thigh-strain.
Deschamps may have to turn to Adrien Rabiot, 26, as an emergency full-back alternative to Digne if Lucas Hernandez fails to recover from a knee injury.
However PSG star Rabiot has been contending with an ankle problem.
And it remains to be seen if Marcus Thuram, 23, and Thomas Lemar, 25, will be available with both picking up knocks in training ahead of this evening’s game.
It is reported Thuram hurt his thigh while Lemar suffered a leg injury.
Meanwhile, Switzerland reportedly have no injury or suspension worries with defender Ricardo Rodgriguez claiming the Red Crosses are fit and ready to go.
Anything can happen in a tournament. We are fit and ready. We have to be compact in defence and use our few chances. We know the French have a fantastic bench. We will give it all we have. We have already practised penalties and almost everyone scored.
Ricardo Rodriguez – Switzerland full-back
Watch out for…….
Xherdan Shaqiri becoming Switzerland’s highest scorer at the Euros.
The Liverpool winger’s brace against Turkey saw him equal Hakan Yakin’s record of three goals at a European Championship – the all-time record for a Switzerland player.
And Kylian Mbappe who was prolific for PSG last term – netting 27 Ligue 1 goals in 31 games – will hope to open his Euros scoring account tonight.
If the game is rubbish….
Leonita Lekaj will no doubt be cheering on her husband Granit Xhaka just as she did during Switzerland’s run in the 2016 Euros.
The 29-year-old model and the Arsenal midfielder have been together six years and have two children.
Fancy a punt?
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Match odds?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
