Having missed out on Euro 2012, Switzerland’s mix of established players and exciting young stars have started their qualification campaign well, and should dominate their group.
Switzerland’s absence at this summer’s European Championship was the first time they hadn’t qualified for a major tournament since the World Cup in 2002. Although they had it easy in 2008, when they qualified as co-hosts, they have put together several good campaigns to reach these tournaments.
Their poor performances when they arrive have meant they are still not considered a top international side, but their FIFA ranking of 15 has helped them draw a weak-looking group for World Cup 2014 qualification, and they have a base of excellent players that could see them do well in Brazil.
The Swiss midfield in particular is chock full of quality players plying their trade around Europe. The experienced heads of Barnetta, Inler, Fernandes and Behrami are all in and around their prime, with the youthful talent of Shaqiri and Xhaka to add to the ranks.
Xherdan Shaqiri in particular looks like a wonderful prospect. After impressing with Basel, notably in their matches against Manchester United in last year’s Champions League, he moved to Bayern Munich in the summer for an undisclosed fee. Still only 20 years old, the midfielder has already picked up 21 caps and six goals for his country.
In defence the Swiss have Premiership experience in the shape of Senderos, Djourou and Reto Ziegler but the pick of the back four is the pacey right back Lichtsteiner. The Swiss is a member of the still unbeaten Juventus side in Serie A, and has over 50 caps for his country.
Upfront the team has looked a little short of options since the retirement of all time top scorer Alexander Frei, but he 24 year old Eren Derdiyok looks like he may be able to step up to the mark.
He has started well at his new club Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, and netted a hat-trick for his country in a friendly against Germany in May. The side also looks capable of plenty of goals from midfield, but if their strikers do start firing, they could be a real force.
Switzerland’s qualification group consists of Iceland, Albania, Cyprus, Norway and Slovenia. They have won their first two matches 2-0, and if they maintain reasonable form they will qualify with ease.
If they can use the campaign to meld their talented players into a unit, they can have high hopes of progressing beyond the group stages at the World Cup in 2014.
image: © jitbag
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