Match Preview
Qatar will be appearing in just a second World Cup Finals having hosted the event in 2022 where they failed to make it out of the Group Stages.
Julen Lopetegui is a familiar face to European football fans and he will lead the team at this tournament.
It has been a mammoth Qualifying campaign for “The Maroons” to make it this far. They have played 18 times and finally clinched a place at the World Cup with a 2-1 win ove UAE in October.
Since then however they have really struggled and have not won in the last 6 matches. They last played on June 6th when held to a 1-1 draw with El Salvador.
They will have gained so much from an appearance at the last World Cup and this group does look wide open.
This will be the second time Qatar have faced Switzerland, they were 1-0 winners in an International Friendly back in 2018.
Switzerland will head to North America to compete in their 13th World Cup Tournament and have reached the last 16 in the last three editions.
They will expect to make it out of this group and try and emulate the great teams of years past such as the 1934 & 1938 teams who made it to the Quarter Finals.
This is considered one of the best groups of Swiss players for many years and expectation back home is at an all time high
Murat Yakin’s team breezed through European Qualifying topping Group B and going unbeaten, winnng four and drawing twice.
Form has been very consistent and they have suffered just one defeat in the last 14 games in all competitions (a 4-3 loss to Germany). They beat Jordan 4-1 and drew 1-1 with Australia before flying out to North America.
Team News Qatar
Lopetegui has tinkered with his line up in recent matches but seems to have settled on his front three of Edmilson, Yusuf Abdurisag & Akrm Afif.
Afif is the all-time top scorer for Qatar and he will hope to add to his 39 International goals during this World Cup.
Lopetegui hasnt looked convinced by any of his goalkeepers but it does look like Mahmud Abunada has been given the green light as the No1.
Team News Switzerland
Switzerland have one of the most settled squads in this world cup, they have been together for a long time.
Murat Yakin can call on players from some of Europe’s top club sides including Breel Embolo who has had another decent season with Rennes in Ligue 1 and is likely to lead the attack.
The other main option in attack is Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni.
Gregor Kobel, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez and Granit Xhaka have all played at Major Tournaments before and will all expect to be in the starting side.
Form
| Team | Latest Result | Form (Last 6) |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar | 1-1 vs El Salvador | L L D L L D |
| Switzerland | 1-1 vs Australia | W D L D W D |
Possible Line Ups
Switzerland (4-2-3-1)
Kobel; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Vargas, Rieder, Ndoye; Embolo
Betting Odds
| Team | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar Win | 12/1 (13.00) | Grand Ivy |
| Draw | 5/1 (6.00) | Dream Vegas |
| Switzerland Win | 1/4 (1.25) | 247Bet |
We Predict.....
Qatar 0-2 Switzerland
I expect Switzerland to show their class and ease to a comfortable victory over a slowly improving Qatar in Santa Clara.