Switzerland vs Belarus

Switzerland’s near-perfect Euro 2024 qualifying campaign continues at Kybunpark against underachieving Belarus.

Switzerland’s third consecutive appearance at the European Championship finals looks like a virtual certainty after a six-game unbeaten start to their qualifying Group I campaign (W4, D2) catapulted them to the top of the section going into the last four matches. After a brace of 2-2 draws against Kosovo and Romania, Murat Yakin’s side returned to winning ways with an emphatic 3-0 win over continental whipping boys Andorra last time out. But they must build some momentum as a three-point lead on third-placed Israel, albeit with a game in hand, doesn’t guarantee a safe passage to Germany next summer. Belarus’ visit to St. Gallen is precisely what the doctor ordered, as the ‘Red Crosses’ haven’t lost a Euro or World Cup qualifier on home soil since September 2014 (W17, D4)!

In the meantime, Belaurs’ idea of qualifying for their first-ever Euros finals as an independent country is bordering with sci-fi, even though they’ve already bettered their points tally from their previous Euro qualifying campaign (5 – W1, D2, L4). Since a 2-1 win over Kosovo on matchday three, the visitors have gone winless in three straight Euro 2024 qualifiers (D2, L1) despite keeping two clean sheets in that sequence. But that’s the kind of defensive resilience they’ll need to put on at Kybunpark to avoid another catastrophe following a 5-0 humbling in the reverse fixture on home soil. Scoring their first-ever goal against Switzerland after four failed attempts is more of a pipe dream for Belarus as they head into proceedings having drawn a blank in three consecutive Group I outings.