Robin Bairner’s France v Switzerland preview: France to edge a close contest

Our Matchday Squad journalist will be covering France throughout Euro 2020

There is a sense that Group F winners France have yet to really get going in the tournament so far. A 1-0 win in Germany was an impressive way to start the competition but draws against Hungary and Portugal in Budapest left room for improvement from Didier Deschamps’ side.

One positive that Les Bleus will have drawn from their pulsating 2-2 draw with Portugal on Wednesday in what was a repeat of the Euro 2016 final was that Karim Benzema was finally able to get off the mark. The Real Madrid striker got both goals in the most open of France’s games to date.

Meanwhile, it was Paul Pogba in the midfield who caught the eye. So often a disappointment for Manchester United, he has excelled in two of the three games to date and has played a major role in two of France’s four goals.

An injury to Lucas Digne on Wednesday is a fresh headache for Deschamps, who has already seen Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele limp out the tournament, though neither is a first pick in their respective roles.

France, meanwhile, have a history of tight games against Switzerland. Although a Benzema-inspired performance in the 2014 World Cup guided them to a 5-2 victory, all four of their other most recent five games have ended drawn, including three 0-0s.

Those predicting an easy French victory, then, would be backing against history.

Check out the latest Euro 2020 odds.