Hungary vs. Switzerland kicks off the first full day of group games at Euro 2024 on Saturday, providing soccer fans with a triple-header of matches. Read on for our Hungary vs. Switzerland predictions.
Hungary vs. Switzerland prediction
For the Hungary vs Switzerland match prediction, we believe the final score will be 1-0 in favor of Hungary based on our analysis.. Neither team has a habit of conceding many goals, but the Hungarians have shown more offensive prowess recently, which could give them the edge.
Should we expect fireworks in this game? Probably not. Both teams took cautious approaches during the early rounds of their last tournaments, and it would be surprising if either looked to come out aggressively here.
Our Hungary vs. Switzerland predictions:
Hungary (0) Asian Handicap @ +130 with bet365
Hungary vs. Switzerland betting odds
Hungary vs. Switzerland Head-to-Head Statistics
This will be the first meeting between Hungary and Switzerland since 2017, when Switzerland won 5-2 at home in a World Cup qualifier. A few months before that, they beat Hungary 3-2 on the road.
Since first playing back in 1938, the teams have faced each other nine times, with Switzerland winning four and Hungary winning two. Switzerland has won four of the last five encounters and hasn’t lost to Hungary since 1981.
Hungary vs. Switzerland preview
The match is set for June 15, 2024, at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne at 9:00 AM ET.
A force in the 1930s and 1950s, reaching the World Cup final in 1938 and 1954 and featuring one of the greatest players ever, Ferenc Puskas, Hungary spent many years out of the international spotlight. However, they have steadily turned things around in recent years.
Despite not appearing in the World Cup since 1986, Hungary has qualified for each of the last three European Championships and now competes on the biggest international stage.
Topping their qualification group to reach Euro 2024, this Hungary team is eager to show what they’re made of, having lost just once since September 2022.
The Magyars come into this tournament having won four of their last five games, including a convincing 3-1 win over Israel.
Switzerland, which hosted the World Cup in 1954 when Hungary famously reached the final, is also keen to prove tough to beat. They have long been a fixture at major tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals at Euro 2020 and the last-16 at the World Cup in 2022.
Managed by Murat Yakin for the second tournament in a row, Switzerland arrives in Cologne on the back of a four-game unbeaten run, drawing with Denmark and Austria, and beating Estonia and Ireland, while conceding just one goal.
Hungary vs. Switzerland betting picks
Ahead of Saturday’s first Euro 2024 fixture, we’ve identified one promising betting opportunity.
Hungary (0) Asian Handicap
For those who may not know, a ‘(0) Asian Handicap’ means betting on Hungary to win, but if the game ends in a draw, you get your stake back as a refund.
This is likely to be a cautious affair, which is expected, and both teams would probably take a point if offered beforehand.
However, if one team has shown more offensively recently, it’s Hungary.
At Euro 2020, Hungary started cautiously, holding out against Portugal until the 84th minute, and drawing 1-1 with France. Many of the same players have grown together since then, making this a more sturdy and organized unit, as recent results suggest.
Hungary arrives at Euro 2024 with three clean sheets in their last four games, including shutting out a decent Turkey team that will also feature in this tournament.
In Barnabas Varga, Rolland Sallai, and Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, Hungary has the offensive quality to complement their defensive rigidity, which Switzerland might lack right now.
Switzerland is never easy to beat, but they’ve shown little going forward recently, which is concerning. They beat a substandard Estonia team with relative ease in their first warm-up game but then struggled to create against Austria, scoring once with a scrappy goal.
Against Austria, Switzerland created just 0.86 expected goals and has now scored one or less in six of their last seven games, failing to score in two of their last five.
In November of last year, Switzerland failed to score against Romania in their final qualifying game and against Denmark in a friendly three months later.
That’s just one goal in their last three games against teams good enough to be in Germany this summer, which makes them look overpriced ahead of this fixture.
We might have a false favorite here, and although I could be wrong, if any team comes out on top, it’s Hungary, who seem generously priced in the early betting.
Recap - Hungary vs. Switzerland betting picks
To confirm, for Saturday’s first European Championship kick-off, we’re betting on:
Hungary (0) Asian Handicap @ +130 with bet365
