Switzerland
Rank: 8 World Cup appearances: Best result: Top SCORERS Did you know? Short-sighted Swiss center-forward Poldi Kielholz had to wear spectacles in matches of the 1934 finals. Despite his visual limitation, he scored three goals in two matches. |
Ayoung side drawn mainly from immigrant backgrounds, Switzerland's World Cup team is about as far removed from the stereotyped image of the Alpine nation as it is possible to get.
Going further back in time, Switzerland acquitted themselves well enough when they took part in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. Although they lost 3-0 to Yugoslavia in their first match they held Brazil to a 2-2 draw in their second game at Sao Paulo, a result which prompted some fans to attack the Brazilian coach Costa after the match, incensed that Brazil had allowed the Swiss a late goal to deprive them of victory.
While the Swiss are often regarded as reserved, diplomatic and predictable, their national side is a feisty outfit with a surprising amount of flair. Stephan Lichtsteiner and hard-tackling captain Gokhan Inler never shy away from a battle while the impish skills of Xherdan Shaqiri could make him one of the finals' most exciting players.
The make-up of the team has changed beyond recognition over the past few years as the national federation, which runs one of Europe's most impressive youth development programmes, has tapped into the potential offered by Switzerland's immigrant communities.
More than half the squad hail from immigrant backgrounds. Many are from families who fled to Switzerland from Kosovo during the 1990s while midfielder Gelson Fernandes was born in the Cape Verde and Johan Djourou in Ivory Coast.
Under former Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, their prospects are better than at the previous two tournaments and they should be a far more entertaining proposition than their dour, defence-orientated predecessors.
STRENGTH
Underestimated
Switzerland are an underrated entity that could surprise a few this summer. Their work rate in midfield is remarkable, and they're comfortable both on and off the ball.
WEAKNESS
Star power
If there's a weakness, it's a lack of absolute, proven star quality. They weren't able to rely on a single player to bag goals in qualifying -- Fabian Schaer was top scorer with three, and he's a centre-back -- and there's no reason to expect that to change.
Defence
Switzerland may have problems at the back, however, where Philippe Senderos and Djourou have struggled for form at their clubs. They are prone to lapses, such as squandering a three-goal lead in a 4-4 draw at home to Iceland.
ONE TO WATCH
Xherdan Shaqiri
If Switzerland are going to shed their reputation as World Cup party-poopers, then their impish winger Xherdan Shaqiri is the man to do it.
Fun is not a word usually associated with Switzerland's national team, who have scored five goals and conceded one in their last seven games at the World Cup, yet it is something the 22-year-old Kosovo-born player thrives on.
Cheeky and instinctive, the Bayern Munich player looks like he might have learned the game playing on the streets of South America and, at 1.69 metres, has the same squat figure as some of Argentina's more impetuous players.
Enormously difficult to dispossess, Shaqiri's habit of running at the opposition, turning and firing in a quick shot or cross with his left foot creates a sense of danger every time he has possession. At Bayern, he has also learned the art of threading incisive balls in between defenders.
Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld, one of Europe's most successful coaches at club level, will bow out in Brazil after a 45-year career which has brought him seven Bundesliga titles, two Champions League winners' medals and one extraordinary defeat.
Hitzfeld will be leading Switzerland to the World Cup for the second time, having also been in charge of a bitter-sweet campaign in South Africa four years ago.
The 65-year-old German led Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, Bayern Munich to five and also won the Champions League once with each. He is one of only four coaches to win Europe's top club trophy with two teams.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Roman Buerki (Grasshopper), Yann Sommer (Basel)
Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Michael Lang (Grasshopper), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schaer (Basel), Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo)
Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Eintracht Frankfurt), Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Freiburg), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich), Valentin Stocker (Basel)
Forwards: Josip Drmic (Nuremberg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Comments