Today, Italy and Switzerland are meeting in the opening match of Euro 2020. While many experts see the Azzurri as serious contenders for the title, Switzerland is a bit of an underdog. When it comes to watches, however, Switzerland certainly isn’t lacking. After all, the Alpine nation is known as the global epicenter of all things watchmaking.
Italy: A Manager With Richard Mille Fever
When it comes to watches, Italian manager Roberto Mancini is the real star of the show. Popular high-tech brand Richard Mille has already made two signature models specifically for the 56-year-old soccer legend: the RM 11-01 Roberto Mancini and the RM 11-04 Roberto Mancini. The latter features a blue band and blue accents that match the national team’s jerseys.
Italian captain Leonardo Bonucci has more refined, classic tastes. His collection includes a Rolex Datejust and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. He’s a big fan of the skeletonized Royal Oak Openworked and has a soft spot for the sturdy Casio G-Shock.
Star forward Ciro Immobile, on the other hand, prefers the iconic Rolex Submariner No Date ref. 114060 diving watch.
Switzerland: Soccer Underdogs With Watch Expertise
To start, we should mention that luxury watch manufacturer Carl F. Bucherer is the official timekeeper and partner of the Swiss national team. The brand has outfitted the team with a dedicated limited edition, the Patravi ScubaTec SFV.
Captain Granit Xhaka also regularly sports classics like the Rolex Submariner. He has a ref. 116618LN with a black dial, black bezel, and yellow gold case. The Hublot Big Bang Black Magic 44 is another of his favorites.
Hublot is the brand of choice for Xherdan Shaqiri. He is a brand ambassador and boasts a large selection of different Hublot models. His favorites include the Spirit of Big Bang Chronograph White Ceramic and the Classic Fusion Ultra-Thin Skeleton in King Gold.
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer keeps things a bit classier. He is a brand ambassador for the traditional manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen and often dons a Big Pilot’s Watch or Pilot’s Watch Classic Chronograph. You’ll also see him wearing a Portugieser on occasion.