Switzerland vs Italy Odds & Prediction – UEFA World Cup Qualifying Matchday 5
- Euro2020 Champions Italy visit impressive Swiss side in Basel at 2:45pm ET on Sunday
- Italians top group with Swiss in second place after playing two fewer fixtures
- See all odds and best bets for Switzerland vs Italy – UEFA World Cup Qualifying Matchday 5
Switzerland hopes to land a major boost for its World Cup qualification hopes when it hosts new European Champions Italy on Sunday.
Italy leads Group C with 10 points after three wins and a draw.
However, the Swiss are in great shape after playing only twice – claiming six points from two straight victories to take the second spot presently.
Switzerland vs Italy Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland vs Italy | SWI +1 (-130) | ITA -1 (+290) | SWI +300 | ITA +100 | DRAW +220 | Ov 1.5 (+250) | Ov 1.5 (+115) |
Odds as of September 4 at FanDuel
The Italians were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home against Bulgaria in Florence last Thursday.
Meanwhile, Switzerland was in friendly action and claimed a 2-1 win against Greece in Basel in midweek. Indeed, that put an end to the Greeks’ 14-match unbeaten streak.
Despite the slip-up in its first match since winning Euro 2020, Italy is rated a +100 favorite for an away win by the oddsmakers at FanDuel.
For Switzerland under new coach Murat Yakin, furthermore, the price for a win is +300 with the draw at +220.
At the St. Jakob Park in Basel, the game kicks off at 2:45pm ET.
Italy Beat Swiss 3-0 at Euro2020
During the summer’s Euros, Italy was a 3-0 winner against the Swiss at the group stage, although Roberto Mancini’s team had a home advantage in Rome.
On that occasion, Italy’s midfielder Manuel Locatelli scored twice.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka ‘tests positive for Covid-19’ on Switzerland duty and will miss World Cup qualifiers https://t.co/dfyOrRBPml
— The Sun – Arsenal (@SunArsenal) September 1, 2021
The team went on to win the final against England on penalties at Wembley.
However, the Swiss turned out to be one of the stronger small nations at the competition.
It reached the last eight only to be beaten on penalties by Spain.
Moreover, it staged a memorable comeback from 3-1 down to secure a 3-3 draw against pre-tournament favorite France.
The Swiss then won the penalty shoot-out.
This summer was the first time Switzerland had reached the quarterfinals.
Switzerland vs Italy Statistics
| 3 | Wins | 2 |
| 1 | Draws | 0 |
| 0 | Losses | 0 |
| 7 | Goals | 4 |
| 1 | Goals Against | 1 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 7 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 3 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
After the disappointment of the draw against Bulgaria, Italy will be looking to make a big impact.
So the spread offer of +300 for it to win by two goals or more is an attractive, bold choice.
It would require a brave choice, however, with the Swiss defeat by Italy at the Euros its only setback in its last 12 games over 90 minutes, with seven wins and four draws during that spell.
So the draw looks like it could be the more productive idea here even though the Swiss are missing important Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka after a positive COVID-19 test.
Straight Fight for Automatic Qualification
These two sides are the only credible contenders for first place and the automatic qualification slot of the finals in Qatar next year. So this is the most pivotal fixture so far.
After its triumph at the Euros, Italy is among the leading hopefuls in contention to win the World Cup in 2022.
Switzerland vs. Italy: World Cup qualifying live stream, TV channel, how to watch online, news, odds, time – CBS Sports https://t.co/kahE4NChn0
— swissbusiness (@swissbusiness) September 4, 2021
Mancini’s team, furthermore, is eager to take serious command of Group C after failing to reach the last World Cup in Russia.
Meanwhile, it is also now on a remarkable unbeaten streak of 35 games, with 29 wins and six draws.
This sequence, significantly, stretches back to September 2018.
That tally equals the current world record simultaneously held with Brazil and Spain. So there is a huge incentive to, at least avoid defeat, and make a new mark in the soccer history books.
At least the fixture against Bulgaria was productive for forward Federico Chiesa.
The Juventus striker – on loan from Fiorentina – scored Italy’s goal to add to the two he claimed at Euro 2020.
The Swiss striker to watch out for is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Haris Seferovic who has hit three goals in the last four internationals.
In their first match since winning Euro 2020, Italy managed a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in a World Cup qualifier https://t.co/KZhfXp6AjL #AFPSports
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) September 2, 2021
Italy had opened its campaign with three straight wins – starting with a 2-0 home defeat of Northern Ireland last March.
Then, subsequently, it won 2-0 in Bulgaria.
Following that, there was a 2-0 win in Lithuania to conclude the opening burst of World Cup fixtures last Spring.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini said his European champions can improve even further before the World Cup takes place in Qatar next year. https://t.co/wcm6J1ulza
— Reuters Sports (@ReutersSports) August 30, 2021
Switzerland began with an impressive 3-1 win in Bulgaria.
Then, additionally, it secured a 1-0 win at home against Lithuania.
Toughest Test for Both Teams
Certainly, however, this will be its toughest fixture in the group so far. Emphatically, too, it will be Italy’s most demanding test until now.
The Swiss, furthermore, are seeking to qualify for a fifth straight World Cup – which would be a major achievement for one of Europe’s less powerful soccer nations.
Italy, however, has not lost against Switzerland since 1993. That run includes five wins and four draws. And to sum up here, another draw looks the most likely outcome on Sunday.
Pick: Draw (+220)
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
