Switzerland

Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Captain: Alexander Frei
Group: H

Their main strength is attack with the prolific Alaxander Frei leading the line. He has 43 goals in 70 international appearances. He is also coming into the World Cup with good form scoring 15 goals in 19 league matches. With the loss of Marco Streller, Eren Derdiyok will more than likely partner Frei. Their midfield is adequate with Goklan Inler the playmaker and Barnetta providing accurate crosses and very accurate set pieces which should provide a difference. Defence on the other hand is a weakness. Their best defender is Phillipe Senderos which says it all. They have a pacy full back in Stephan Lichtsteiner who in some areas of the Italian media has been nicknamed Forrest Gump. He will be doing his best to get the ball and run as far away from his goal as possible. In goal they have Diego Benaglio who is reliable and should be kept busy.

Coming into the World Cup they lost a friendly to Costa Rica and were booed off the pitch. They also lost to Luxemburg not so long ago. Those 2 defeats will knock confidence. However they are coached by Ottmar Hitfeild who is one of the best around. He won the Champions League with 2 different teams like Mourinho. However it took him 4 years to get his second whereas it took Mourinho 6 years. His expertise and tactical awareness should get the best out of his players.

Switzerland have a good chance of nicking second place in there group behind Spain. There crucial game will be against Chile as the winner of that game will most probably finish second as Honduras will likely finish bottom. If they proceed past the group stages they will more than likely struggle to get any further.

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys Berne);

Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hanover 96), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria);

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (West Ham United), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne), Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Goklan Inler (Udinese);

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexander Frei (FC Basel), Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede), Hakan Yakin (FC Luzern), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel), Albert Bunjaku (Nuiernburg)

Chris Guest