Hitzfeld names final Switzerland squad
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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FC Basel 1893's Xherdan Shaqiri is the only slight surprise inclusion in Ottmar Hitzfeld's 23-man FIFA World Cup squad, named after Switzerland's 1-0 friendly defeat by Costa Rica.
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FC Basel 1893's Xherdan Shaqiri is the only slight surprise inclusion in Ottmar Hitzfeld's 23-man squad for Switzerland's FIFA World Cup campaign.
Hitzfeld has been denied the services of left-back Christoph Spycher, ruled out early through injury, and striker Marco Streller, who is also unfit to make the trip. Ludovic Magnin and Albert Bunjaku take their places in a squad containing 13 players who have previously been part of a major international tournament.
Switzerland kick off their campaign in South Africa against European champions Spain on 16 June before continuing their Group H quest against Chile and Honduras.
Switzerland squad
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Marco Wölfli (BSC Young Boys), Johnny Leoni (FC Zürich).
Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hannover 96), Stéphane Grichting (AJ Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (S.S. Lazio), Ludovic Magnin (FC Zürich) Philippe Senderos (Arsenal FC), Steve von Bergen (Hertha BSC Berlin), Reto Ziegler (UC Sampdoria).
Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (West Ham United FC), Gelson Fernandes (AS Saint-Etienne), Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel 1893), Gökhan Inler (Udinese Calcio), Marco Padalino (UC Sampdoria), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel 1893).
Strikers: Albert Bunjaku (1. FC Nürnberg), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Alexander Frei (FC Basel 1893), Blaise Nkufo (FC Twente), Hakan Yakin (FC Luzern).
