Vs
Switzerland
Wembley Stadium, England
8th September 2015, 19:45 BST
***
England take on Switzerland in their UEFA EURO qualifier on Tuesday hoping to seal the top spot in Group E with a win or draw as Wayne Rooney chases the record to become England’s top scorer of all time.
Roy Hodgson’s men became the first team to qualify for the competition in France when they beat San Marino 6-0 to maintain their 100% record in Group E.
While Vladimir Petkovi ‘s Switzerland will join England for the competition if they win at Wembley and fourth-placed Slovenia hold Estonia to draw at home.
Wayne Rooney is currently on level with Sir Bobby Charlton’s for the most goal for England with 49 goals and will be hoping to go top of the chart with a goal.
Team News and Tactics
England
England are expected to play with a changed line-up in comparison to the one that beat San Marino. Although Jonjo Shelvey can be one man who may very retain his place in the starting XI following his superb show against San Marino and Michael Carrick withdrawing from the squad with injury. Carrick was expected to start the game, but Shelvey should take his place now.
Harry Kane has been out of form since the season began but the Spurs striker scored a goal in England’s routing of San Marino. However, he could feature on the bench if England go with 5 players in midfield
Raheem Sterling will probably come in to replace Jamie Vardy and Theo Walcott’s brace off the bench against San Marino should see him get the nod ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling should be picked ahead of Everton duo John Stones and Phil Jagielka.
Possible starting line-up (4-5-1): Hart; Clyne, Shaw, Clyne, Smalling; Sterling, Milner, Shelvey, Barkley, Walcott, Sterling; Rooney (C)
Switzerland
The Swiss are expected to field a 5-man midfield line up that may consist of two Premier League based players, including Valon Behrami (Watford) and Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City).
Josep Drmic is expected to lead the line with Mehmedi flanking him in the opposite wing to Shaqiri. Behrami will play down the middle alongside Shaqiri’s former Basel team mate Xhaka and Dzemaili who could start ahead of Inler.
Possible starting line-up (4-5-1): Sommer; Rodriguez, Lichtsteiner, Schar, Klose; Xhaka, Dzemaili, Behrami, Mehmedi, Shaqiri; Drmic
Key Stats
- England have won their last 7 matches in the European Championship (including qualifiers).
- Switzerland have won their last 5 matches in the European Championship (including qualifiers).
- England have won 5 of their last 6 matches against Switzerland in all competitions.
- England triumphed 2-0 in the reverse fixture, but are without Danny Welbeck who scored both goals on that occasion a 12 months ago
Player to watch
Raheem Sterling
Sterling has been booed in every away ground he has gone to in the Premier League. That has not stopped the former Liverpool FC man to give his best as he has started the season in fine form following his move to Manchester City. The winger is expected to have the better of Lichtsteiner on England’s left flank. With Switzerland needing to win and England not, Sterling can prove to be a potent weapon for England who may very well play on the counter.
Prediction
England 2 – 1 Switzerland
The fact that Switzerland need to come at England may prove to be their undoing given the pace the English have on their wings and the style Roy Hodgson usually deployed in his career as manager. England should be able to see this one through to seal the top spot in the group having beaten the swiss in the reverse fixture earlier (2-0).
Blast from the past
