Hungary and Switzerland Have Last 16 Aspirations
Hungary vs Switzerland Odds are Fairly Even
Switzerland Have Major Tournament Experience
Hungary and Switzerland are two of the more overlooked teams heading into Euro 2024. Hungary went unbeaten in UEFA Euro qualifiers, while Switzerland have made the Knockout Stage in their last five major tournament appearances. On Saturday, the two sides will kick off their Euro 2024 campaigns with a match against each other in Cologne. We’ll take a look at the Hungary vs Switzerland odds for the first of three matches on Saturday.
Hungary vs Switzerland
Records: Hungary (0-0-0), Switzerland (0-0-0)
Date & Time: Saturday, June 15th, 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: RheinEnergie Stadion, Cologne, Germany
Streams: Fox Sports
Head-to-Head
Hungary lead the all-time series vs. Switzerland 30-11, with five draws. However, Switzerland have won their last three matches vs. Hungary. The last chance to bet on the Hungary vs Switzerland odds was in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2017. There, Switzerland won 5-2 as Steven Zuber scored twice. The Nati also won the reverse fixture, 3-2. Hungary and Switzerland have never before played any UEFA Euro games against each other.
Hungary Continuously Improving Under Rossi
Bettors shouldn’t underestimate Hungary heading into Euro 2024. They beat England twice and took down Germany in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League. Plus, Hungary also finished in first place in the Group G UEFA Euro standings in qualifiers. In Dominik Szoboszlai, Hungary have a legitimate star player and Peter Gulasci is certainly one of the better keepers at the tournament.
Marco Rossi has been Hungary’s coach since 2018 and he also helped them qualify for Euro 2020. Hungary failed to advance out of the group four years ago but they did manage to vs. both France and Germany. With a more favorable group this time around, Hungary have a shot to make a run.
Along with Szoboszlai, Barnabas Varga has been in good goalscoring form. The striker scored four times in qualifiers and found the net twice in the 3-0 friendly victory over Israel last Saturday. Willi Orban and Attila Szalai are experienced defenders who both started all three of Hungary’s matches at Euro 2020.
Xhaka Key for Consistent Switzerland
Death, taxes, and Switzerland making the last 16 at major tournaments seem to be the three major constants. Switzerland have qualified for the Knockout Stage at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups along with at Euro 2016 and 2020. They’ve also managed at least one win in each of their last eight major tournaments.
Granit Xhaka was superb for Bayer Leverkusen this season and he’s Switzerland’s key midfielder. Xherdan Shaqiri may not have the burst of pace or stamina that he used to, but Murat Yakin will still be relying on the former Liverpool winger. It’s also a luxury to have Fabian Schar and Manuel Akanji in defense and Yann Sommer in goal.
The big question is who will score goals for Switzerland? Breel Embolo isn’t fully fit but the striker is in the squad. Meanwhile, Zeki Amdouni and Noah Okafor are other options at striker. Steven Zuber led Euro 2020 in assists and the winger/forward is one to watch. Currently, the Euro 2024 odds price Switzerland at +550 to win Group A.
Match Analysis & Odds
Given Switzerland’s tournament pedigree, perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they’re favorites for this match. However, Hungary should keep this one close and we wouldn’t be surprised to see either team come away with the win in this one. Currently, the Hungary vs Switzerland odds price Switzerland at +125.
Hungary are used to, and even most comfortable, playing as underdogs. Here, Marco Rossi’s side comes in at +240 odds to win the match. The best price on a draw is +230 and it wouldn’t be the worst way for either team to start the tournament.
Hungary take an 11-game scoring streak into this match and they’ve lost just once in their last 16 games. Both Hungary pk, +0.5 and Switzerland pk, 0.5 sit at -105 odds. While Switzerland haven’t matched Hungary’s scoring streak, they’ve only lost once in their last 14 games. Over 2, 2.5 goals is priced at -125 but neither side has an elite forward line.
