Once Friday night’s festivities are out of the way, the real fun kicks off on Saturday.
A summer chock-full of daytime football kicks off as Wales take on Switzerland, looking to prove they are still the team who enjoyed that fairytale run to the semi-finals back in 2016.
But it’s a tricky start for Robert Page’s side against a Swiss side who know certainly know their way about a major tournament. They’ve made the knockout phase of the last three major tournaments, and aren’t out to end that run this time out.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Group A clash.
When is kick off? Saturday 12 June, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku
What TV Channel is it on? BBC One
Who is the referee? Clement Turpin
Who’s on VAR duty? Francois Letexier
It’s getting real now.
Who’s excited? ?♂️?♀️#WAL | #EURO2020 | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/SLQYntKznJ
— Wales ??????? (@Cymru) June 11, 2021
Rob Page doesn’t have too much to worry about in terms of absences, with all 26 of his players coming through their Covid testing unscathed.
Gareth Bale will be available to lead the team into battle as they take to a major tournament for only the third time in their history, but Aaron Ramsey may be a doubt to feature from the start – he hasn’t completed 90 minutes for Wales since November.
Liverpool defender Neco Williams has impressed at left wing-back for Wales and seems likely to continue there.
Hello, @EURO2020 ?
??????????
? 12.6 ? 15h00
?️ Baku
? SRF 2, RTS 2, RSI La 2#natimiteuch #lanatiavecvous #lanaticonvoi pic.twitter.com/EW9xaNGAf2— ?? Nati (@nati_sfv_asf) June 11, 2021
Vladimir Petkovic has some big decisions to make as his side vie to make the last 16 for the fourth tournament running. It seems likely to be a 4-4-2, with hat-trick hero Mario Gavranovic starting alongside Haris Seferovic.
But that doesn’t leave much room for the midfielders who are competing for starts; Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler and Denis Zakaria all have designs on a central midfield spot while Xherdan Shaqiri seems nailed on to play off the right wing.
Wales: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Roberts, Allen, Ampadu, Williams; Bale, Moore, James.
Switzerland: Sommer; Elvedi, Akanji, Schar; Mbabu, Xhaka, Freuler, Rodriguez; Shaqiri; Gavranovic, Seferovic.
With Italy and Turkey still to come for both teams, neither can afford to lose this one, so it may well be a cagey affair.
There is serious attacking quality in both sides, but with similar systems which put onus on defensive structure, it’s easy to see them balancing each other out.
Prediction: Wales 1-1 Switzerland
