The nation ranked eighth by FIFA and fourth by UEFA is set to take part in its ninth tournament.
The Swiss hold the record for the largest number of minutes without conceding a goal: 559 minutes. They have reached the quarterfinals three times (1938, 1950 and 1954)
They topped their group in qualifying, collecting 24 points out of 30 on the way, drawing only three matches and winning seven.
The draws came against Norway, Iceland and Cyprus.
Player to Watch:
Xherdan Shaqiri was the special one amongst Basel’s class of 2012; he transferred to Bayern in 2012-13. He has stagnated slightly recently due to injuries but remains a fantastic player who can cause devastation from the wings.
All About….General Hitzfeld!
The General of German and Swiss football is finally set to bring down the curtains on an illustrious coaching career which saw him win 18 titles including two European Cups with Dortmund (1997) and Bayern (2001). He coached Dortmund from 1991 to 1997; he coached Bayern from 1998 to 2004 and returned for one final bow at club level for the 2007-08 season. Needless to say, he won the domestic double in that season. He took the top job in Swiss football in 2008 and has already decided to step down following the World Cup.
A Glance at the Roster:
The Swiss side could cause more shocks than expected; they have the likes of Diego Benaglio, Ricardo Rodriguez, the experienced Tranquillo Barnetta, the youngster Mario Gavranovic, Stephan Lichtsteiner and the talented Granit Xhaka to aid their cause amongst other players. Surprise exclusions from the main squad include Timm Klose, Eren Derdiyok and Pirmin Schwegler.
TV Listings:
Switzerland has been placed in Group E alongside Ecuador, France and Honduras. ESPN and ESPN 3 will be broadcasting their matches live to viewers; for more information, please visit the Switzerland team page here.
