Switzerland vs Spain: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
By Max Parsons
The first quarter-final of Euro 2020 takes place on Friday evening as Switzerland take on Spain in St. Petersburg.
Switzerland will take part in their first ever last eight tie at the European Championships, producing a giant-killing in the round of 16 to get there. Vladimir Petkovic's side drew 3-3 with world champions France after extra time, before Yann Sommer saved Kylian Mbappe's spot kick to secure a 5-4 win on penalties.
Spain qualified for their first quarter-final tie since 2012 in dramatic fashion, eventually drawing 3-3 with Croatia after a thrilling 90 minutes, before two extra time goals gave them a 5-3 win. It was the highest scoring match at any European Championships since the first ever fixture in the competition in 1960.
The two sides face each other in a bid to progress to the semi-finals, where a clash with either Belgium or Italy awaits them. Here's 90min's preview of this one.
What TV channel is Switzerland vs Spain on in the US and UK?
When is kick off? Friday 2 July - 17:00m (BST)
Where is the match being played? St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg
What TV channel is it on? ITV (UK), fuboTV (US)
Who's the referee? Michael Oliver
Switzerland team news
The Swiss were dealt a very heavy blow during their win over France as Granit Xhaka, who was superb on the night, picked up a yellow card that will mean he's suspended for the quarter-final.
The Arsenal man will most likely be replaced by Borussia Monchengladbach's Denis Zakaria and, apart from that, Petkovic should opt for the same side that got them a first ever round of 16 victory.
Spain team news
Luis Enrique has no new injury concerns following their breathtaking last 16 win, and will likely field a pretty similar XI against Switzerland.
He has so far kept faith in Alvaro Morata, who has received large amounts of criticism from supporters. The Juventus man grabbed a brilliantly-taken goal in extra time against Croatia, and will keep his spot as Spain's front man.
Switzerland vs Spain predicted lineups
Switzerland: Sommer; Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Widmer, Freuler, Zakaria, Zuber; Shaqiri; Embolo, Seferovic.
Spain: Simon; Azpilicueta, Garcia, Laporte, Alba; Koke, Busquets, Pedri; Sarabia, Morata, Torres.
Switzerland vs Spain prediction
Spain have only ever lost once to Switzerland in their 22 previous meetings - their opening fixture of the 2010 World Cup which la Roja later went on to win.
In the 21 other meetings, the Swiss have tasted defeat a whopping 16 times and, in truth, Friday's encounter is weighted in Spain's favour once more. Enrique's side have wowed Euro 2020 after a slow start, becoming the tournament's highest scorers after notching five in successive games - the first side to do so at a European Championship.
Petkovic has a very well organised and committed side, who can also comfortably hold on to the ball and build attacks at appropriate moments - although, with Xhaka's absence, their creative output may be diminished somewhat.
Against them, however, are a free-firing and vibrant side who have clearly found their rhythm. 18-year old Pedri, who has taken the tournament by storm, will be key in the battle - if Switzerland can't keep tabs on him (which few have managed to do in the past year) then he will find spaces and start to break through lines, opening things up for Spain and allowing them to pick apart their opposition.
Both teams will obviously be hungry for the result, but Spain's quality should see them through to the last four.
Prediction: Switzerland 1-3 Spain