The battle between Switzerland and Italy has gained prominence in recent years with both playing out defining ties in major competitions. Most matches between the sides have been friendlies including the first 12 meetings. The pair met for the first time in 1911 ending in a 2-2 thriller. This fixture has been played only thrice in major finals, two times in the 1954 World Cup and once in Euro 2020. A fourth such meeting will take place in the round of 16 stage at Euro 2024 hosted by Germany.
Italy has reigned supreme in this clash with 29 wins compared to Switzerland’s seven only. Also, the Azzurri scored over 110 goals in this fixture and kept 20 clean sheets. However, La Nati has risen on big occasions like the 1954 World Cup by winning the group game and the deciding playoff. The team also played a 1-1 draw in the last meeting in 2021 which allowed them to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar directly while Italy eventually missed out on the finals.
Despite that, Switzerland has not won in any meeting this century with Italy’s last defeat against them coming in 1993.
Switzerland vs Italy head-to-head meetings (overall)
Played - 60
Switzerland won - 7
Drawn - 24
Italy won - 29
Switzerland vs Italy goals scored
Switzerland scored - 68
Italy scored - 112
Switzerland vs Italy clean sheets
Switzerland - 10
Italy - 20
Biggest Switzerland win: Switzerland 4-1 Italy - 1954 World Cup playoffs (23 June 1954)
The goal-difference and head-to-head system was not in practice back in the days of the 1954 World Cup if two teams were leveled in the competition at the end of the group stages. Hence, Switzerland and Italy played an extra game to determine the team moving into the knockouts. Both finished on two points, behind group winners England with three points, despite the Swiss beating their counterparts in the group game. So, La Nati had to do it again to claim their place in the quarterfinals. This time Karl Rappan’s side thrashed the Azzurri 4-1 to fulfill their objective in style with Josef Hugi scoring a brace while Robert Ballaman and Jacques Fatton scored a piece. Fulvio Nesti’s 67th-minute strike to cut the deficit to 2-1 did not help.
Biggest Italy win: Switzerland 1-5 Italy - International friendly (30 January 1927)
The ultimate demolition was performed by Italy in 1927 when they smashed five goals in this fixture in a friendly. Adolfo Baloncieri scored a splendid hattrick with Julio Libonatti and Gino Rossetti scoring in between leaving Walter Weiler’s goal as a mere consolation. Baloncieri’s three-goal haul was the first of the only two hat tricks scored in this fixture. The Azzurri scored five against the Swiss again in a friendly in 1947 and before in the now-defunct competition Dr Gero Cup. Italy also had a series of other big results in competitive outings including the 4-0 victory in the 1967 Euro qualifiers and the 3-0 victory in the main tournament in 2021. Manuel Locatelli scored a brace in that win with Ciro Immobile adding a third late in the match.
Switzerland vs Italy Last Five Meetings
Switzerland 0-0 Italy - International friendly, Berne (12 August 2009)
Switzerland 1-1 Italy - International friendly, Geneva (5 June 2010)
Italy 3-0 Switzerland - Euro 2020, Rome (16 June 2021)
Switzerland 0-0 Italy - 2022 World Cup qualification, Basel (5 September 2021)
Switzerland 1-1 Italy - 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (13 November 2021)
