UEFA World Cup Qualifiers: Switzerland vs Sweden - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Switzerland will look to bounce back from their goalless draw with Slovenia as they take on Sweden in Lancy this Sunday. The hosts currently lead the group on 10 points, while Sweden are still without a win four games into their qualifying campaign.

We have gone through the top New Zealand betting sites to bring you the best betting deals for this match. Read on for an in-depth Switzerland vs Sweden preview, complete with a $9 tip on Breel Embolo.

Switzerland

Switzerland lead Group B after winning three of their four qualifiers and drawing their other against Slovenia. Impressively, they’re yet to concede a goal in their qualifier run so far. 

The 0-0 draw in Ljubljana was the first time the Swiss looked below their usual dominant best, managing just 0.46 xG despite controlling 65% of possession. 

Still, they hold a three-point cushion over Kosovo, thanks largely to the defensive duo of Manuel Akanji and Nico Elvedi, who’ve formed one of Europe’s most reliable defensive partnerships.

If football betting experts are right, then Switzerland are well on course to keep their momentum train firmly on the rails.

Team News: Murat Yakin doesn’t have any major injury concerns ahead of this match.

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

Sweden

Graham Potter has come in as the new Sweden manager after the side made a disastrous start to the World Cup qualifiers under Jon Dahl Thomasson. 

Betting apps in NZ considered Sweden the favourites for one of the top spots in Group B when the fixtures and groups were announced. But nothing has gone right for the Scandinavians so far, and now they have only one point to show for their first four outings.

Not only are Sweden still searching for their first win, but they’ve also failed to find the net in their last three matches. The firepower is there, but the winning chemistry is missing - something Potter must figure out quickly as Sweden’s World Cup hopes fade away.

Team News: Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres will not make the trip to Switzerland after picking up a muscular injury during club duty.

Predicted Lineup: Johansson; Lindelöf, Starfelt, Lagerbielke; Gudmundsson, Svensson, Ayari, Bergvall, Bardghji; Isak, Elanga.

• Sweden have lost only once against Switzerland in their last five meetings. 
• Sweden are one of the three teams with prior World Cup playing experience to be still winless in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers. 
• Both teams have scored only once in the last five Switzerland vs Sweden matches.

Mid-season managerial changes rarely bring instant success, but in Sweden’s case, it felt like a necessary reset. How Potter lines up his side remains to be seen, though an immediate turnaround seems unlikely. 

Switzerland, on the other hand, will fancy their chances of extending their lead and perhaps rotating later in the game. With home support behind them at Stade de Geneve, they look well-placed to control proceedings. 

Sweden’s best hope lies in feeding Alexander Isak inside the box, with Elanga and Bergvall tasked with supplying the creativity. Yet their lack of physical presence could prove costly, especially against the power of Granit Xhaka and Embolo.

This should be an entertaining watch, with both teams testing each other's defence. But Switzerland have barely put a foot wrong in the qualifiers so far, and we expect them to continue that form.

Breel Embolo to Score 2 or More @ $9.00  

Potter’s teams have struggled defensively lately. We have seen that pattern at Chelsea and West Ham. Switzerland should take advantage of this. Embolo is the home team’s primary attacking threat, having scored three times in the 25/26 season for his national team. Backing him to score twice against a leaky, low-confidence backline at home doesn’t seem like an unreasonable pick, particularly considering the odds of $9 on offer at Bet and Play.