Switzerland
Group G | World ranking: 35 Qualification: Beat Turkey in European play-off
Coach: Jakob Kuhn
Key Players: Philippe Senderos(defender), Johann Vogel (midfield), Alexander Frei (forward)
Past Record: Quarter-finals 1934, 1938, 1954; Last 16 1994 Group G Matches:
June 13: France (0-0 | Report)
June 19: Togo (2-0 | Report)
June 23: South Korea (2-0 | Report) Knockout Stages:
June 26: Ukraine (0-0 aet; Ukraine win 3-0 penalties | Report) Group Summary:
Switzerland finished ahead of group favorites France after holding the former world champions to a toothless draw and then comfortably, if unspectacularly, beating both Togo and South Korea. A second-round clash with Ukraine gives the Swiss the opportunity to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 52 years. Pre-Tournament Preview:
Switzerland scraped into the finals on the away goals rule after a highly-charged play-off defeat in Turkey, which led to Turkey being fined and ordered to stage the next six competitive home matches at neutral grounds. However, that 4-2 Istanbul reverse should not hide the fact that Kuhn's dogged side had gone a whole year and 14 matches unbeaten -- including going through their entire qualifying campaign without losing. Switzerland renew acquiantances with fellow-Group 4 qualifiers France in what is likely to be a key opening match and their hopes could rest with star striker Frei, who has topped the French league scoring charts with Rennes for the last two seasons. SquadGoalkeepers:
1. Pascal Zuberbuehler (FC Basel)
12. Diego Benaglio (CD Nacional)
21. Fabio Coltorti (Grasshoppers Zurich) Defenders:
2. Johan Djourou (Arsenal)
3. Ludovic Magnin (VfB Stuttgart)
4. Philippe Senderos (Arsenal)
13. Stephane Grichting (Auxerre)
17. Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt)
19. Valon Behrami (Lazio)
20. Patrick Mueller (Olympique Lyon)
23. Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund) Midfielders:
5. Xavier Margairaz (FC Zurich)
6. Johann Vogel (AC Milan)
7. Ricardo Cabanas (Cologne)
8. Raphael Wicky (Hamburg SV)
10. Daniel Gygax (Lille)
14. David Degen (FC Basel)
15. Blerim Dzemaili (FC Zurich)
16. Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen) Forwards:
9. Alex Frei (Rennnes)
11. Marco Streller (Cologne)
18. Mauro Lustrinelli (Sparta Prague)
22. Johan Vonlanthen (NAC Breda)
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