Football

India, having secured a semifinal berth, will face Bangladesh in their final Group A match of the SAFF Women's Championship in Kathmandu on Wednesday. For Bangladesh, this is a crucial encounter, as a win would secure them the group title, while a loss would send Pakistan to the semifinals due to a superior goal difference.India's commanding 5-2 victory over Pakistan has propelled them into the semifinals, but their focus now shifts to topping the group and avenging their 2022 defeat to Bangladesh. In that tournament, Bangladesh shocked India by ending their unbeaten streak with a 3-0 win, marking the first time India had lost to their South Asian rivals in SAFF history."We have faced Bangladesh before, and we watched their last game against Pakistan. Our sole focus now is to win this match," said India's skipper Bala Devi. "We have both senior and young players and we are prepared to push for a win."Head coach Santosh Kashyap has meticulously prepared the team for the challenges posed by Bangladesh. "Tomorrow's match will be challenging, as Bangladesh are a strong side with a foreign coach and have solid tactical plans," he said. "Although we have already booked a spot in the semi-finals, we are taking it one game at a time, aiming to win every match."Bangladesh and Pakistan are currently tied on one point each after a 1-1 draw in their group-stage match. Bangladesh will miss the services of coach Golam Rabbani Choton and key players Akhi Khatun and Anai Mogini, but they have introduced fresh talents like Afeida Khandakar, Matsushima Sumaya, and Airin Khatun."We are coming up against an Indian team, who, in my opinion, are probably the best team in the tournament," said Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler. "It's a do or die game. It's a game we don't want to lose."With India already in the semifinals, the match will determine the group winner and the second semifinalist. Bangladesh will need a victory to top the group, while Pakistan will advance if India triumphs. A draw would leave Bangladesh as group runners-up, but they would still need a victory to secure the top spot.

Germany and Switzerland, both undefeated in Group A of Euro 2024, face off in a crucial match that could determine the group winner. Germany has already secured a spot in the knockout stage, while Switzerland needs a win to confirm its place.Germany has been in impressive form, routing Scotland 5-1 and beating Hungary 2-0. Switzerland, meanwhile, has drawn with Scotland 1-1 after a 3-1 victory over Hungary.The match will be played in Frankfurt, where the rain-soaked field has been a concern. Both teams have full squads available, with Germany expected to field the same starting lineup that has served them well so far. Switzerland, on the other hand, may make some tactical changes, with Xherdan Shaqiri likely to start on the left side of the attack.Germany is the favorite to win the match, but Switzerland has shown that it can be a dangerous opponent. The Swiss have a slight advantage in goal difference over Scotland, so a draw would be enough to secure their place in the knockout stage.However, Germany will be determined to finish top of the group and avoid a potential clash with Italy or Croatia in the next round. A win for Germany would send them to Dortmund for a knockout game against the runner-up of Group C, which is currently Denmark.Switzerland, on the other hand, would top the group with a win and face the runner-up of Group B, which is likely to be Italy or Croatia. Only freakish results could drop Switzerland to third place in the standings.The match promises to be a close and exciting affair, with both teams having something to play for. Germany will be looking to maintain its winning streak and secure top spot in the group, while Switzerland will be desperate to confirm its place in the knockout stage.

Scotland vs Switzerland: Euro 2024 Clash Preview and Live Streaming DetailsFresh from their impressive 3-1 victory over Hungary, Switzerland aims to secure their spot in the Round of 16 of UEFA Euro 2024 with a triumph over Scotland in their second Group A encounter. Scotland, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle after their disappointing 5-1 defeat to Germany in their opening match.Switzerland is expected to field an unchanged lineup, while Scotland will be forced to make alterations following defender Ryan Porteous's red card against Germany. A loss for Scotland would significantly diminish their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.Match Details:* Date: Thursday, June 20 (IST)* Venue: Cologne Stadium, Cologne* Time: 12:30 AM ISTLive Telecast and Streaming:* TV Channels: Sony Sports Network* Live Streaming: SonyLiv app and websiteKey Points:* Switzerland seeks to seal qualification to the Round of 16 with a victory.* Scotland aims to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Germany.* Switzerland is likely to maintain their starting XI, while Scotland will make changes due to Porteous's suspension.* A loss for Scotland would severely damage their qualification hopes.Additional Information:* Switzerland has a strong record against Scotland, winning four of their last five encounters.* Scotland has never defeated Switzerland in a competitive match.* The Cologne Stadium has a capacity of over 50,000 spectators.

Scotland faces a crucial clash against Switzerland in the UEFA Euro 2024 Group A on June 19, following their humbling 5-1 defeat to Germany in the tournament opener. The Scots need to bounce back and secure a positive result to keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive.Switzerland, on the other hand, made an impressive start to their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Hungary. However, their preparations have been disrupted by issues regarding the playing field at their Stuttgart training base, forcing them to file a formal complaint with UEFA and relocate their practices.Scotland's last Euros win came in 1996 when they defeated Switzerland 1-0 in a group game. The Swiss team will be looking to avenge that defeat and continue their strong start to the tournament.Key players to watch include Switzerland's Granit Xhaka, who is hoping to cap off an outstanding year with success at the Euros after helping Bayer Leverkusen win the German league and cup double. Scotland will need to replace Ryan Porteous, who is suspended after being sent off against Germany.Scotland has never progressed beyond the group stage of a Euros, while Switzerland has never won more than one game during the group stage. However, both teams will be determined to make history and secure a place in the knockout rounds.Scotland's leading scorer during qualifying was Scott McTominay with seven goals, but he failed to register a single shot against Germany. Scotland manager Steve Clarke has acknowledged the need for improvement, saying, "We got a lot of things wrong and we've got to put it right in the next game. Try not to concede five goals. Give a better message."Switzerland midfielder Vincent Sierro is confident in his team's ability to control the game, saying, "They (Scotland) will fight for every ball – we know the spirit of the team. They won't make it easy for us and won't give up, so we just want to play our game and have the same control as we showed (against Hungary)."Scotland midfielder John McGinn is determined to make amends for the defeat to Germany, saying, "You never know, it might be the last tournament that you're involved in and you don't want to remember it as being an unsuccessful one. We've got two games to put it right."

As Germany prepares to host Euro 2024 from June 14, the tournament's Group A promises an intriguing battle between the hosts and three talented challengers: Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland.Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, SwitzerlandTournament host Germany, under the guidance of coach Julian Nagelsmann, will be eager to make a deep run in the tournament, particularly after impressive victories over France and the Netherlands in March. However, they will face a stern test from Hungary, who have been in outstanding form under manager Marco Rossi. Despite a recent defeat to Ireland, the Hungarians have been unbeaten since September 2022, a run of 12 games.Switzerland and Scotland are the outsiders in the group, but both have the potential to cause an upset. Switzerland, led by captain Granit Xhaka, reached the quarter-finals in the last Euros and are known for their organized and efficient style of play. Scotland, meanwhile, will be buoyed by the support of their passionate fans and will be looking to make a statement in their first match against Germany.Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, AlbaniaGroup B is a veritable "group of death," featuring three European powerhouses: Spain, Croatia, and Italy. Albania, a durable side, will be determined to make an impact despite being the underdogs.Spain, the reigning UEFA Nations League champions, are favorites to progress after defeating both Italy and Croatia in 2023. However, those matches revealed that there is little to separate the three teams. Luis de la Fuente's Spain have added flair and speed to their deep reserves of technical ability, but they still lack a reliable goalscorer.Italy, who triumphed against England to win Euro 2020, are a tough prospect despite their failure to reach the 2022 World Cup. Luciano Spalletti's side boasts several players from Serie A champions Inter Milan, including playmaker Nicolo Barella. Croatia, runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and third in Qatar two years ago, will try to give 38-year-old veteran midfielder Luka Modric a superb swansong.Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, EnglandEngland are ready to make Euro 2024 "headlines" as the Group C favorites prepare to launch their bid for a first major trophy in 58 years. Gareth Southgate's side, who face Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia in the group stage, head to Germany as one of the leading contenders for Euro glory.England, ranked alongside France as the bookmakers' top title contenders, will be looking to make amends for their painful near misses in recent tournaments. They will face a tough test from Denmark, who pushed them to the brink in a dramatic Euro 2020 semi-final. Slovenia, participating in a major tournament for only the fourth time, will be hoping to make the knockout stages for the first time. Serbia will rely on Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic and AC Milan striker Luka Jovic to fuel their bid for a place in the last 16.