One to Watch: Xherdan Shaqiri

Deemed as perhaps the biggest talent of his generation in Swiss football, 18 year old winger Xherdan Shaqiri is one of the 23 players named in Switzerland's provisional World Cup squad. Having featured in 48 matches for Swiss top side FC Basel and Switzerland U21 this season, Shaqiri has impressed enough to make the selection despite just recently making his international debut in a March friendly against Uruguay. This feat is even more impressive when you take into consideration that Shaqiri also made his club debut this season; previously, he had not played one game of senior football.

Standing at just 5 ft 6 in, Shaqiri has all the abilities you would expect from a winger of his stature. Quick feet, good technique and a low center of gravity makes him a dangerous dribbler, and on occassion he has proven to be capable of great end product. Already possessing very good physique, Shaqiri's future career is likely to be decided inside his head. And it's not just a matter of whether he will continue to apply himself and is able to cope psychologically, but also a matter of how much he can improve mental footballing attributes like vision and movement, where he yet hasn't excelled in his first season.

In the Switzerland squad, Shaqiri faces stern competition for a starting spot from West Ham's Valon Behrami, Bayer Leverkusen's Tranquillo Barnetta and Sampdoria's Marco Padalino. Having previously played just 45 minutes for the national team, Switzerland's June friendlies against Costa Rica and Italy are likely to decide the fate of Shaqiri's status in the squad for at least the intitial stages of the World Cup. Even if he doesn't make the starting eleven, we are very likely to see him make substitute appearances, given the type of player he is. At any rate, it should be a fantastic experience for the young winger, who couldn't have expected this one year ago when he had yet to play a game of professional football. For us, it will be a chance to see one of the most exciting prospects in Europe make his debut on the big stage.

G. Lindström