World Cup preview: Switzerland

The Road To The World Cup

Switzerland qualified automatically for the World Cup as Group E winners.

Their impressive run of form - unbeaten in qualifying and not losing a competitive match for over a year (including a 1-0 victory over Brazil) before a surprising 2-1 setback against South Korea in November - saw them rewarded with one of the top eight seeds for the draw in December.

As a result, they should be very optimistic about their chances of qualifying out of Group E, and will quietly be eyeing top spot ahead of France.

With a mix of established talent (Stephan Lichtsteiner, Gokhan Inler and Xherdan Shaqiri) and some exciting youth (Ricardo Rodriguez, Josip Drmic), Switzerland has all the qualities of a team poised for a Cinderella run.

Unlike Belgium and Colombia, nobody is talking about them, either.

Group Stage Schedule

Formation: 4-2-3-1

It was all the rage during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and Switzerland have continued to utilize the formation to great effect in the years since that tournament. 

Famously, manager Ottmar Hitzfeld and his men secured a 1-0 victory over Spain in their opening group match at the 2010 World Cup, and that victory remains the only game the Spaniards have lost in their previous three major tournaments.

With veteran shot-stopper Diego Benaglio providing reliable hands between the sticks, Switzerland are built around a strong defense (despite the fact that Philippe Senderos is in the squad).

The Napoli duo of Gokhan Inler and Valon Behrami provide cover for the back-four, and make the side difficult to break down from open play.

Further up the field, the attacking trio of Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka and Valentin Stocker - all of whom are under 25 years of age - are given the freedom to interchange with one another and create openings for a single striker.

During qualifying, that was Real Sociedad man Haris Seferovic, who seemed to have established himself after bouncing around various clubs in both Switzerland and Italy throughout the early stages of his career.

But with Seferovic misfiring, that role has been assumed by 21-year-old Josip Drmic, who proved time and again this past season with Nuremberg that despite his young age, he is more than capable of leading the line.

Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld

After three decades on the sidelines, the German announced late last year that his managerial career will come to an end at the conclusion of the World Cup.

The 65-year-old - one of only four managers to have won the Champions League with two different teams (Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich) - has captured seven Bundesliga titles during a trophy-laden spell on the bench.

Since assuming the reigns of the Swiss side in the summer of 2008, Hitzfeld has led the team to unprecedented heights. Ranked 48th in the FIFA rankings prior to his arrival, Hitzfeld has engineered two consecutive World Cup appearances and has Switzerland in their best ever position (sixth) in the world heading into the tournament.

However, there have been some hiccups during his five-year spell with the team. After failing to qualify for Euro 2012, Hitzfeld came under serious criticism from the Swiss press, including one publication that didn't mince words when discussing the failings of the legendary bench boss.

Via the Daily Mail:

"His team have no charisma, no passion, no concept, and play uninspired football. There is no identity from the coach and the team have developed not one bit under Hitzfeld."

Suffice it to say, the tune has changed.

Projected Starting XI

GK: Diego Benaglio

LB: Ricardo Rodriguez

CB: Michael Lang

CB: Steve von Bergen

RB: Stephan Lichtsteiner

CDM: Gokhan Inler

CDM: Valon Behrami

CAM: Valentin Stocker

CAM: Granit Xhaka

CAM: Xherdan Shaqiri

FW: Josip Drmic

Projected Substitutes

GK: Roman Buerki

GK: Yann Sommer

DF: Philippe Senderos

DF: Fabian Schar

DF: Johan Djourou

DF: Reto Ziegler

MF: Gelson Fernandes

MF: Blerim Dzemaili

MF: Tranquillo Barnetta

FW: Admir Mehmedi

FW: Mario Gavranovic

FW: Haris  Seferovic  

The Captain: Gokhan Inler

The Napoli midfielder is the lynchpin that holds this Swiss side together, as he is called upon to provide a shield for the back-four while also being asked to initiate the attack after winning the ball back.

A physical presence in the center of the park the 29-year-old is equally adept at both ends of the pitch, and has become renowned in Italy for his shooting ability from distance.

The former Udinese man - who has 72 international caps to his name - could be looking at his final chance at World Cup glory. Not that he needs any extra motivation to get stuck in - he committed 22 fouls in nine qualifying matches.

The Star: Xherdan Shaqiri

Generally speaking, you expect players to face more competition for a starting place with their respective national team than they do with their club side.

For Xherdan Shaqiri, the situation is exactly the opposite.

Often finding himself overshadowed by the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery at German giants Bayern Munich, the diminutive, yet powerful winger is free to showcase his talents when he suits up for his national team.

Built like an armored tank trapped inside the frame of a FIAT 500, Shaqiri will be relied upon as the main attacking outlet for a team with definite aspirations of assuming the mantle as the tournament underdog.

One of the few bonafide stars on the squad, Shaqiri's left foot will provide the flair and excitement going forward for a team that is recognized more for its defensive solidity than for its ability to find the net.

The Young Gun: Josip Drmic

The one glaring question surrounding the Swiss squad surrounds their ability to score goals. While their stingy back-line should be enough to power them through the group stage, they will need someone to step up in attack and bang home the chances that Shaqiri and company are likely to create.

Josip Drmic will be the one entrusted with that responsibility.

The Croatia-born striker is coming off an stellar debut season in the Bundesliga, where he scored 17 goals for relegated side Nuremburg - a feat that earned him a transfer to perennial Champions League club Bayer Leverkusen.

In just seven appearances with the national team, the 21-year-old has scored three goals. An insufficient sample size it may be, it's still a better rate than fellow strikers Seferovic (one goal, 11 caps), Admir Mehmedi (one goal, 21 caps) and Mario Gavranovic (four goals, 11 caps).

Together with fellow Bundesliga youngster Ricardo Rodriguez, Brazil affords Drmic the chance to announce himself as one of the best youngsters in the game.

The Swan Song: Steve von Bergen

One of the few elder statesman in the squad, the 30-year-old played every minute during the qualifying campaign and marshaled the back-four expertly as Switzerland only conceded six goals (four of which came in one bizarre match against Iceland).

Plying his trade with Young Boys of the Swiss Super League, von Bergen, who turns 31 on Tuesday, will be relied upon to provide a veteran, calming presence for a very young side.

He likely won't be the focus of many highlight packages for his work in Brazil, but considering he's a center-back who rarely gets forward, that's a good thing.

Three Questions

1. After not being a regular starter with his club side, can Xherdan Shaqiri inspire the Swiss to a deep run in Brazil?
2. Will a Switzerland team lacking a recognizable star up front be able to score enough goals to compete with the heavy-hitters of the competition?
3. Can the team rally behind departing manager Ottmar Hitzfeld and give the German an exciting send-off?

Trivial Matters

Nicknames: Schweizer Nati, La Nati, Rossocrociati.

Most caps: Heinz Hermann (117).

Top scorer: Alexander Frei (42).

First international: February 12, 1905. France 1 - Switzerland 0.

World Cup appearances: 10, beginning in 1934.

Best World Cup result: Quarter-finals in 1934, 1938 and 1954.

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