Romania vs Switzerland: EURO 2016 Group A Preview & Prediction

Switzerland will look to become the first team to advance to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 when they face Romania in Paris on Wednesday evening.

Following their opening Group A win against Albania, coupled with France’s victory over Romania, the Swiss know that three points at the Parc des Princes would guarantee them a spot in the last 16.

However, despite Fabian Schar’s fifth-minute opener last Saturday, Vladimir Petkovic’s men were far from convincing in their 1-0 victory against the Albanians, who played for 54 minutes with 10 men, and they will look for a more positive performance in the French capital.

Meanwhile, Romania would have counted themselves unlucky to be beaten 2-1 by the hosts on Friday night, as Dimitri Payet’s stunning late winner denied them a point in what was a spirited performance at the Stade de France.

Bogdan Stancu looked to have earned Anghel Iordanescu’s side a point when he won, and converted, a second half penalty against Les Bleus, the pre-tournament favourites, but they were to be denied by Payet and will be concerned by the post-match comments from their coach, who suggested his players were “absolutely exhausted” following the defeat.

The defeat to France meant that the Romanians have now won just one of their 14 games at a European Championship finals – a 3-2 success against England in 2000.

Elsewhere, Arsenal fans would have been impressed with new signing Granit Xhaka in the Swiss’ win over Albania – the midfielder created the joint-most goalscoring chances (three), made more passes (115) and had the most touches (129) of any player in his nation’s opening game.

There has been 12 previous meetings between Romania and Switzerland, with each team recording five wins and two draws, but it was the former that came out on top the last time the two met in a friendly in 2012, when Gheorghe Grozav’s goal was the difference in Lucerne.

Fabian Schar scored the winner for Switzerland in their win over Albania. Photo – Mark Leech/Offside

Team News:

Romania must decide whether to keep faith with the 35-year-old Razvan Rat at left-back after his lack of pace was exposed on a number of occasions against France, with Steliano Filip waiting in the wings to try and nullify the threat from Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri.

For the Swiss, Petkovic is likely to stick with the same team that beat Albania on Saturday, while midfielder Blerim Dzemaili is set to win his 50th cap on Wednesday.

FIFA World Ranking: Romania – 22nd; Switzerland – 15th
Best European Championship Finish: Romania – Quarter-Finals (2000); Switzerland – Group Stage (1996 & 2008)
Previous Meeting: Switzerland 0-1 Romania (May 30, 2012 – International Friendly)
Form: Romania – WDDLWL; Switzerland – WLLLWW
Key Men: Romania – Bogdan Stancu; Switzerland – Xherdan Shaqiri
Shoot Says: Romania 1-1 Switzerland