Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin has announced Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji are in his 26-man squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. So, what will Nati’s strongest XI look like?
Qatar host the 22nd edition of the quadrennial FIFA tournament and the first in the Middle East this winter. Switzerland will compete in Group G and face Cameroon, Brazil and Serbia on November 24, 28 and December 2 respectively. It is Nati’s fifth consecutive appearance.
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Switzerland have qualified for each edition since missing the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Nati also made Italy contest the 2022 UEFA qualifying play-offs after beating the Azzurri to top Group C. Italy would lose their Path C semi-final 1-0 to North Macedonia.
Switzerland announce Yakin’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
The Swiss Football Association (ASF) has now announced Yakin’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He has included six players who ply their trade in the Premier League ahead of travelling to the Middle East. Nati will be looking to reach a third-straight last 16 fixture.
Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Kohn (RB Salzburg), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier), Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Eray Comert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Silvan Widmer (FSV Mainz), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino)
Midfielders: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Fabian Frei (Basel), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys), Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Renato Steffen (Lugano)
Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Noah Okafor (RB Salzburg), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg)
So, with Yakin selecting his 26 players for the World Cup in Qatar, HITC Football has taken a look at what Switzerland’s strongest line-up would be with Xhaka and Akanji included…
Yann Sommer (GK): Yakin to stick with Switzerland’s No.1 at the World Cup
Yakin is likely to keep Sommer as Switzerland’s No.1 at the World Cup in Qatar. It is the 33-year-old’s third tournament after making the squad in 2014 and 2018. But he did not make an appearance in Brazil or keep a clean sheet over the 76-cap stopper’s five ties in Russia.
Silvan Widmer (RB): The Mainz captain has been Switzerland’s starter since 2020
FSV Mainz captain Widmer has been Switzerland’s first-choice right-back since September 2020. He is a mainstay of the Nati unit and will now look to feature at his first World Cup. Despite making his debut in 2014, Vladimir Petkovic overlooked the 29-year-old in 2018.
Manuel Akanji (CB): Yakin to reap the rewards of his move to Manchester City
Yakin will hope to reap the rewards of Akanji’s £15m transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City in September. The centre-half had fallen out of favour at the Bundesliga outfit. Yet he has offered Pep Guardiola an aggressive and consistent defensive presence.
Fabian Schar (CB): The Newcastle star will hope to take his rock-solid form to Qatar
Schar will strive to take his rock-solid efforts on Tyneside with Newcastle to Qatar for the World Cup. The centre-half has risen to meet the Magpies’ rise to push for the European places this season. He will often run himself into the ground to protect his team’s goalie.
Ricardo Rodriguez (LB): The Torino captain is off to his third World Cup
Torino captain Rodriguez is jetting off to his third World Cup after playing every minute of Switzerland’s 2014 and 2018 campaigns. The 30-year-old left-back also recorded his 100th cap, starting 95, as Yakin’s Nati side beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in a friendly in September.
Remo Freuler (CDM): Nottingham Forest’s plight has not dismayed Yakin
Nottingham Forest’s dire start to their first term back in the Premier League since 1999 has not dismayed Yakin from naming Freuler in his Switzerland squad for the 2022 World Cup. The 30-year-old has been a key player since joining the Reds and also with Nati on 48-caps.
Granit Xhaka (CDM): The Arsenal star will captain Switzerland in Qatar
Arsenal star Xhaka will captain Switzerland at the World Cup in Qatar. It will also be the 30-year-old’s third FIFA tournament after playing in four fixtures at both of the 2014 and 2018 editions. Xhaka made his Nati debut back in June 2011 and now has 106 caps, starting 101.
Xherdan Shaqiri (RM): A fourth World Cup awaits the Chicago Fire forward
A fourth World Cup awaits Chicago Fire forward Shaqiri after playing at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions. The 31-year-old also scored a hat-trick against Honduras for his only goals in 2014. He then laid on an assist against Brazil and scored against Serbia in Group E in 2018.
Djibril Sow (CAM): Yakin is taking the Eintracht Frankfurt star to his first World Cup
Yakin is taking Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Sow to his first World Cup after emerging as a key Nati player. The 25-year-old offers a versatile engine room option, able to play in deep, wide or attacking areas. Sow made his Nati debut in their first game after the 2018 edition.
Breel Embolo (LM): The 58-cap star has found superb form since joining Monaco
Embolo is set to fly to the World Cup in Qatar in superb form after thriving since joining AS Monaco. The Ligue 1 side paid Borussia Monchengladbach €12.5m (£11m) for the 25-year-old in July. The 58-cap forward can also give a goal threat from central and wide-left areas.
Haris Seferovic (ST): His Galatasaray struggles should not hold the striker back
Seferovic’s struggles at Galatasaray should not hold the striker back from gaining a key role in Qatar. The 30-year-old joined the Super Lig side on loan in July but has failed to obtain a regular starting role. Yet the 88-cap ace has been a Nati mainstay since his debut in 2013.
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