England vs Switzerland Combined XI: Brilliant Bellingham leads England contingent
After miraculously scraping past Slovakia in the round of 16, England will face Switzerland in their Euro 2024 quarter-final on Saturday evening.
Ahead of the clash, we’ve put together a Combined XI based on the sides’ WhoScored player ratings throughout the tournament so far.
According to the respective match ratings, Switzerland narrowly edge out England, with six representatives to five. Here, we run through the XI in full.
Jordan Pickford (England) - 6.51
Lining up between the sticks is England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who rarely puts a foot wrong when playing for his country. The Everton man helped the Three Lions to clean sheets against both Serbia and Slovenia in the group stage, and could do little about Ivan Schranz’s opener in last weekend’s round of 16 clash with Slovakia.
Fabian Schar (Switzerland) - 7.08
Fresh from another strong campaign at the heart of Newcastle’s backline, veteran defender Fabian Schar has maintained a high performance level for his country at Euro 2024. Schar has played every minute for the Swiss thus far, helping them to a well-earned clean sheet in the round of 16 victory over Italy.
Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) - 6.77
Manuel Akanji joins Schar in defence having carried his impressive club form over into the national team so far this summer. The 28-year-old has looked assured as ever as the Rossocrociati go in search of their best ever European Championship campaign.
Keeping with the theme of Manchester City defenders, John Stones completes our back three, having performed well for England alongside new centre-back partner Marc Guehi. Stones’ efforts have helped Gareth Southgate’s side maintain one of the best defensive records at the tournament, with just two goals and 3.27 xG conceded so far.
Daniel Ndoye (Switzerland) - 6.92
Taking up a role on the right-hand side of a five-man midfield is Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, who has impressed in what is his first ever major tournament. The 23-year-old has started each of Switzerland’s four games in three different roles, while he netted his first international goal in the 1-1 draw with Germany in Group A.
Jude Bellingham (England) - 7.32
England very much owe their place in the quarter-finals to Jude Bellingham after a moment of sheer brilliance from the 21-year-old, in the 95th minute no less, saw the Three Lions draw level with Slovakia in the last 16. Bellingham, who also netted the winner in England’s group opener against Serbia, is his nation’s highest rated player at the tournament so far.
Declan Rice also earns a place in our XI, with his average rating second only to Bellingham among England players at Euro 2024. The Arsenal man has been a mainstay under Gareth Southgate and turned in his best rated display yet in the round of 16 victory.
Rice may be Arsenal’s present and future, but former Gunners midfielder Granit Xhaka also makes it into our Combined XI having starred as Switzerland captain at Euro 2024. The 31-year-old has played every minute, marshalling his side from midfield with effortless control, much like he did as a crucial part of Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable Bundesliga triumph last season.
Michel Aebischer (Switzerland) - 7.14
Michel Aebischer, Switzerland’s highest rated player at Euro 2024, and another man who plies his trade for Bologna, completes our midfield quartet. Despite playing as a central midfielder all season for his club, Aebischer has slotted in comfortably as a left wing-back for Murat Yakin, notching three goal involvements (one goal, two assists) across four matches.
Ruben Vargas (Switzerland) - 6.92
The final Switzerland representative in our Combined XI is attacker Ruben Vargas, who both scored and assisted in the round of 16 victory over Italy last weekend. The 25-year-old has started all but one of his nation’s matches so far, managing a total of seven key passes.
Rounding off the XI is England captain Harry Kane, whose extra-time header against Slovakia last Sunday sealed the Three Lions’ place in the quarter-finals. The Bayern Munich striker also netted in the group stage, in the 1-1 draw with Denmark, and will be hoping to add to his impressive scoring record at major tournaments with another goal here.
