International Friendly: Switzerland vs Germany - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Switzerland and Germany go head-to-head on Saturday morning New Zealand time in an International Friendly at the St. Jakob Park in Basel, with both sides fine-tuning for the 2026 World Cup this summer. Two qualified nations, two squads in transition, and the last window before final rosters get locked in.

Germany come in as slight favourites around $2.20, but I’m not sold on that price given Switzerland’s home record and defensive structure through qualifying. In this Switzerland vs Germany preview, I look at form and squad depth before landing on a BTTS play I reckon offers solid odds on football betting sites.

Switzerland

Switzerland topped their World Cup qualifying group unbeaten - four wins, two draws, 14 goals scored and just two conceded. That’s an incredible defensive record.

Their Nations League campaign was a different story, however: bottom of League A Group 4 with two points from six games. That got them relegated. Yakin used those matches to experiment though, and I’d argue the core of this side is still experienced and well-drilled.

Granit Xhaka runs the midfield. He’s been brilliant at Sunderland this season, and his influence on this team hasn’t faded. Manuel Akanji at centre-back gives them a calm presence too, while Dan Ndoye out wide has been electric for Bologna in Serie A.

Their last competitive match was a 1-1 draw with Kosovo in November to seal qualification. Since then it’s been friendlies and more fine-tuning.

Team News: Gregor Kobel is the first-choice goalkeeper. Xherdan Shaqiri retired after Euro 2024. Yakin has a settled squad with Nico Elvedi, Silvan Widmer, and Ricardo Rodriguez all available.

Predicted Lineup: Kobel; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Ndoye, Rieder, Vargas; Embolo.

Germany

Germany sailed through qualifying too - five wins from six in Group A, 15 points, topped only by a surprise 2-0 loss to Slovakia before thumping them 6-0 two months later. 

This country can score goals, but they’ve also looked shaky at the back.

No Jamal Musiala is big. He returned from last summer’s leg break in January but has had a setback - ankle tendon pain related to the original injury - and was left out of this squad as a precaution. 

Kai Havertz is back though, and Florian Wirtz is the player I’d build around. Lennart Karl, the 18-year-old Bayern sensation, has earned his first senior call-up after becoming the youngest Champions League goalscorer in the club’s history.

Deniz Undav is the top-scoring German in the Bundesliga this season with 18 goals. I expect Nagelsmann will rotate across both friendlies, so don’t bank on a full-strength XI for 90 minutes.

Team News: Musiala, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Niclas Fullkrug, and Emre Can are all out. Jamie Leweling has also left camp with a calf issue. Havertz, Antonio Rudiger, Anton Stach, and Undav are returning players.

Predicted Lineup: Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Goretzka, Pavlovic; Wirtz, Havertz, Sane; Undav.

• Germany dominate the all-time record between these two, with the majority of the 54 meetings going their way. Switzerland have won just nine.
• Their last meeting at Euro 2024 ended 1-1, and three of their last five encounters have been draws.
• Switzerland conceded just two goals across six World Cup qualifiers.
• Germany scored freely in qualifying, putting six past Slovakia and four past Luxembourg, but still conceded in two of their six matches.
• Switzerland have scored in seven of their last eight matches across all competitions.

Germany have better attacking options on paper, even without Musiala. Wirtz, Havertz, and Leroy Sane is a serious front line. But I think Nagelsmann will use this to test combinations ahead of the World Cup. He’s got a second friendly against Ghana three days later, so he’ll split minutes.

Switzerland at home in Basel won’t roll over. They’re tactically rigid and physically combative, and always have been against Germany. I’m leaning towards a 1-1 or maybe 2-1 to Germany.

If you’re looking across NZ betting sites for this one, the goals market is where I’d focus given how often these two have shared goals in recent meetings.

Both Teams to Score - Yes @ $1.72

Switzerland have found the net in seven of their last eight, and they don’t sit deep at home. Xhaka will dictate tempo, Ndoye will look to get in behind, and Embolo is always a handful aerially.

Germany, meanwhile, won’t struggle to create. Wirtz picks passes others don’t see, and Undav’s movement in the box has been lethal domestically. Even with rotation, this squad has goals in it.

At $1.72 on new betting sites, I’m happy enough to back both teams finding the net in a World Cup prep friendly where neither side has any reason to park the bus.