LIVESTREAM IFAF Men’s EC: Italy @ Switzerland, Oct. 12, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon EDT)

AFI | 2024/25 IFAF Men's European Championships | 10/12/2024

Graphic: Dante Bustos

Team Italy travels to Thun, Switzerland Saturday, October 12 to face the Swiss national team in the qualifying round of the 2024/25 IFAF Men’s European Championships.

Italy won the first-ever European championships in 1983, claimed gold again in 1987, and were the defending champions last year, but had to settle for the bronze medal with a 26-7 win over Sweden. They travel to face a Swiss team that finished 11^th overall in 2023.

“As a new coaching staff, we’re excited to take on the challenge of continuing the legacy of success,” says Italy head coach Brian Michitti. “With many new faces, our focus remains on building a strong, winning culture that pushes each player to reach their full potential. Our players have a great attitude, but our upcoming opponents will test us, and it will be a true measure of how far we’ve come since January.”

Watch live. Italy @ Switzerland, Oct. 12, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon EDT)

Team Switzerland, under head coach Rudy Fonkoue, will be looking to improve on their 11th place finish in the last European Championship tournament. The Swiss squad lost 15-0 to the Czech Republic in their final game of the 2023 event.

Rudy Fonkoué:

“This is a transition year for us. New management in the federation. I have been the HC for just about one year. We’re also trying to give a new push to the National Team. Building a new culture. Obviously there’s a lot of rebuilding to do.

“This game is great challenge for us. To know exactly where we are as a team and a federation. We play a great team with a lot of talent. Their ELF QB is a huge plus for them.

“But there is talent in Switzerland too. We have some players with ELF experience too (Milan Spiller for example and P.Y MAJO). But our offense is very young at the skill positions. The team worked really hard in camp. I was really happy with what we have done. And I am confident that we will be ready for the challenge this afternoon.”