A look at the country’s demographics, football history and its squad status prior to the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Number of inhabitants: approx. 8 million.
Continent: Europe
Confederation: UEFA
National Football Association: SFV
Number of members: approx. 268,000 (3.3% of total population)
International trophies won: /
Best World Cup result: Quarter-finals in 1934, 1938 and 1954.
Key Players
In the past: Hermann, Geiger, Lichtsteiner, Chapuisat, Frei, Türkyilmaz.
Key current players: Xhaka, Shaqiri, Embolo, Sow, Sommer.
Coach, formation and possible lineup
Coach: Murat Yakin. (since 2021)
Typical formation: 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3
Possible lineup:
- GK: Yann Sommer (Mönchengladbach) 33
- LCB: Nico Elvedi (Mönchengladbach) 26
- RCB: Fabian Schär (Newcastle) 30
- LB: Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino) 30
- RB: Silvan Widmer (Mainz) 29
- DM: Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest) 30
- DM: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) 30
- LW: Ruben Vargas (Augsburg) 24
- RW: Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire) 31
- ACM: Djibril Sow (Frankfurt) 25
- ST: Breel Embolo (Monaco) 25
Age Report
Players aged 25 or under in the current lineup: 3
Players aged 32 or over in the current lineup: 1
There is 1 player in this lineup that will (most likely) be playing their last World Cup this year: Yann Sommer.
There are 3 players in this lineup that can play at least two more: Vargas, Sow and Embolo.
The remaining 7 players could play in one (or in case of Elvedi two) more World Cups.
Youngest player: Ruben Vargas, born 5 August 1998 (24)
Oldest player: Yann Sommer, born 17 December 1988 (33)
Average squad age: 28.4
World Cup Qatar – Group G
Fixtures:
Thursday 24 November Switzerland vs Cameroon
Monday 28 November Brazil vs Switzerland
Friday 2 December Serbia vs Switzerland
Our view:
What Switzerland lack in star quality, they make up with team spirit. The embodiment of which is their captain, Granit Xhaka. Not so long ago it seemd his time at Arsenal, and maybe even his career, was coming to an end. Now, he is leading both them and his national squad to new heights. Finishing first in their qualification group for Qatar, ahead of European Champs Italy, was already an eye-catching performance. Now they have the chance to repeat this feat in a group with World Cup favorites Brazil, and Serbia and Cameroon that are always tough opponents. An interesting group to say the least, it might even be a spectacular one. I’d make sure to follow it once the World Cup is underway.
