Switzerland have been quietly building a very strong side during recent years. This is their fourth straight qualification to a World Cup. And although the team qualified at the expense of Northern Ireland via a controversial penalty, expectations are for the Swiss to match their recent tournament performances and advance from their group.
A good deal of the Swiss’ players represent top sides in Serie A and Bundesliga. Their European experience should provide the necessary experience for Switzerland to perform well in this summer’s tournament.
– Star players: Xherdan Shaqiri, Valon Behrami, Stephan Lichtsteiner
– FootballCoin stars:
Xherdan Shaqiri 9,720.88 seasonal points (Pro), 4,019.60 points (Easy)
Stephan Lichtsteiner 4,847.76 seasonal points (Pro), 1,740.00 points (Easy)
– Coach: Vladimir Petkovic
– Group: E
– Group fixtures:
Sun June 17: Brazil – Switzerland, Rostov-on-Don, 7pm
Fri June 22: Serbia – Switzerland, Kaliningrad, 7pm
Wed June 27: Switzerland – Costa Rica, Nizhny Novgorod, 7pm
– Prediction:
Switzerland are one of the fastest growing national teams in recent years in terms of sheer quality. However, the Swiss have been dealt a tough group that will see them struggle to qualify from their group.
Should they qualify, the Swiss are almost guaranteed to meet Germany in the first knockout round. Certainly a tough opposition will pull up a fight, but they’re certainly not favorites to move further.
– Squad:
Goalkeepers: Roman Buerki (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Leipzig), Yann Sommer (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund), Johan Djourou (Antalyaspor), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Michael Lang (Basel), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Jacques-Francois Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodriguez (AC Milan), Fabian Schaer (Deportivo La Coruna)
Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Udinese), Blerim Dzemaili (Bologna), Gelson Fernandes (Eintracht Frankfurt), Remo Freuler (Atalanta), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Steven Zuber (Hoffenheim)
Forwards: Josip Drmic (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Breel Embolo (Schalke), Mario Gavranovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Haris Seferovic (Benfica)
– World Cup history: 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1994, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
