Switzerland are in Group H at the World Cup and will play Spain, Chile and Honduras. This is the Switzerland squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.
First 11
GK. Diego Benaglio, Club- Wolfsburg, Age at the World Cup (AWC) 26.
RB. Stephan Lichtsteiner, Club- Lazio, (AWC) 26.
CB. Stephane Grichting, Club- Auxerre, (AWC) 31.
CB. Steve von Bergen, Club- Hertha Berlin, (AWC) 27.
LB. Reto Ziegler, Club- Sampdoria, (AWC) 24.
CDM. Gelson Fernandes, Club- AS Saint-Etienne, (AWC) 23.
RM. Valon Behrami, Club- West Ham, (AWC) 25.
CM. Gokhan Inler, Club- Udinese, (AWC) 25.
LW. Tranquillo Barnetta, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, (AWC) 25.
ST. Blaise Nkufo, Club- FC Twente, (AWC) 35.
ST. Eren Derdiyok, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, (AWC) 21.
Subs
GK. Fabio Coltorti, Club- Racing Santander, (AWC) 29.
GK. Marco Wolfli, Club- Young Boys (Switzerland), (AWC) 27.
RB. Kim Jaggy, Club- Skoda Xanthi (Greece), (AWC) 27.
CB. Mario Eggimann, Club- Hannover 96, (AWC) 29.
CB. Bruno Berner, Club- Leicester City (Championship), (AWC) 32.
LB. Christoph Spycher, Club- Eintracht Frankfurt, (AWC) 32.
CDM. Fabian Lustenberger, Club- Hertha Berlin, (AWC) 22.
RW. Valentin Stocker, Club- FC Basel, (AWC) 21.
CM. Pirmin Schwegler, Club- Entracht Frankfurt, (AWC) 23.
LM. Xherdan Shaqiri, Club- FC Basel, (AWC) 18.
ST. Albert Bunjaku, Club- FC Nuremberg, (AWC) 26.
ST. Marco Streller, Club- FC Basel, (AWC) 28.
The Coach
Switzerland are coached by German Ottmar Hitzfeld. Hitzfeld was appointed coach of the Swiss national team during the 2008 European summer and had never previously been coach of a ntional team. At club level Hitzfeld has been successful in Switzerland and Germany. In Switzerland Hitzfeld managed FC Aarau and then Grasshopper winning a total of 2 Swiss Super League titles and 3 Swiss Cups. In Germany he managed Borussia Dortmund for six years between 1991 and 1997, and won 2 Bundesliga titles and the 1997 Champions League. Hitzfeld has also managed Bayern Munich and during his two stints with the club he won 5 Bundesliga titles 3 German Cups and the 2001 Champions League.
Hitzfeld is only one of three managers to win the European Cup with two different clubs, has been twice been decreed "World Coach of the Year" (1997,2001) and voted by the Bayern Munch fans as their clubs greatest ever coach.
Switzerland's Strengths
Switzerland have a very even squad, with all their players playing in some of the best leagues in Europe.
Switzerland's weakness
What Switzerland lack the most is a few top quality players with the ability to change a match by themselves, this will prevent Switzerland from going far in the World Cup.
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