Now finalising their preparations for this month's European Championships, Switzerland will host neighbours Liechtenstein on Thursday evening.

St Gallen's Kybunpark stages the Swiss squad's last pre-tournament warm-up, after they previously edged to victory against the USA there last weekend.

Match preview

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Set to tackle a strong Euro 2020 group also featuring Italy, Turkey and Wales this summer, Switzerland chose to limber up for the task by holding a pair of home friendlies in the build-up.

Fielding a strong side, with one eye on the upcoming finals, Vladimir Petkovic's men came through their first post-season test last week, with a 2-1 win over the USA, who were preparing for their imminent Nations League and Gold Cup campaigns.

Though they went behind early on against a youthful American outfit, the Swiss hit back through the deadly left foot of Torino's Ricardo Rodriguez, whose deflected shot earned a 12th-minute equaliser. Their fifth consecutive international win was then secured just after the hour mark, when Steven Zuber slotted in a close-range winner for the hosts, keeping some positive momentum going.

Currently world-ranked 13th, the Nati opened the World Cup qualifying process with six points from six earlier this year, as they beat both Bulgaria and Lithuania in their opening fixtures.

Having previously been to the last-16 of both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, Switzerland are now keen to continue their good form - with five consecutive wins since Nations League draws against Spain and Germany - and go at least one step further in this year's Euros.

Petkovic finalised his 26-man selection for the task ahead on Monday, when the uncapped trio of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, midfielder Dan Ndoye and striker Andi Zeqiri were culled after attending a training camp in Bad Ragaz.

Now, their final engagement before meeting Wales in Baku will come in a low-key encounter with close cousins Liechtenstein. Having enjoyed eight wins from eight previous meetings with the minuscule nation located on their eastern border, Switzerland are certainly strong favourites, no matter the composition of their starting side.

As former Lazio coach Petkovic, who has held his current position since 2014, has previously won 36 of 69 matches in charge of his adopted nation, he will be counting on one further success to keep confidence levels topped up ahead of the summer's main event.

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Ranked 186th in the world, little Liechtenstein make the short trip from the picturesque principality to St Gallen, having suffered a dreadful start to World Cup qualifying during the last international period.

Successive defeats to Armenia, North Macedonia and Iceland - by an aggregate scoreline of 10 goals to one - have left them rooted to the bottom of their group and without much hope of making an impression in the coming games.

Having previously picked up just two points and two goals during qualification for the Euros - with a final goal difference of minus 29 from their 10 fixtures - the tiny nation's status as footballing minnows is, therefore, almost unsurpassed.

In fact, due to a lack of active teams, Liechtenstein is the only UEFA member not to have their own league structure and hence do not have access to the Champions League.

In that context, Martin Stocklasa's men will now visit their vastly more experienced Swiss counterparts more in hope than expectation, having tasted victory just once from their last 21 outings - and that came against international football's perennial fall guys, San Marino.

Team News

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Switzerland boss Vladimir Petkovic is expected to offer some less experienced faces an opportunity on Thursday, as he seeks to assess his options and combat fatigue ahead of the Euros.

Therefore, several stalwarts, such as Yann Sommer, Fabian Schar and Granit Xhaka may be spared, with goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo, defender Eray Comert and Nice full-back Jordan Lotomba all in contention to play from the start.

Having missed out on Sunday, Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow may again be held back, as he hopes to shake off a minor injury before the competitive action begins.

The visitors, meanwhile, could start two sons of former Serie A striker Mario Frick - still the nation's all-time top scorer, with 16 goals - against the Swiss. Teenage forward Noah Frick is likely to start up front alongside older brother Yanick Frick, who scored the consolation goal in a 4-1 defeat last time out for Martin Stocklasa's men.

A Swiss Super League regular with FC Thun, Nicolas Hasler is Liechtenstein's top scorer among current players, but is set to miss out due to an ankle ligament injury, which has kept their skipper sidelined since the end of March.

Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Comert, Akanji, Elvedi; Rodriguez, Zuber, Zakaria, Freuler, Lotomba; Embolo, Mehmedi

Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:
Hobi; Goppel, S. Wolfinger, Malin, Brandle; Frommelt, Meier, Sele, Salanovic; Y. Frick, N. Frick

We say: Switzerland 3-0 Liechtenstein

Having fielded a strong side last weekend, Switzerland will not want to further tire a squad featuring some already weary legs, so are likely to rotate resources against lowly Liechtenstein.

With that in mind, their expected margin of victory may be trimmed somewhat, as an element of self-preservation kicks in - with each Swiss player now assured of a seat on the plane to Baku.

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