South Africa World Cup 2010 Group H: Switzerland

GROUP H

Spain Switzerland Honduras Chile

Switzerland

Road to South Africa

The luxury of having been drawn in Uefa's weakest qualifying group appeared meaningless after dropping five points in the opening two fixtures - new coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's first two qualifiers no less. A draw in Israel didn't seem too bad until the loss to minnows Luxembourg in Zurich four days later appeared to have counted Switzerland out of the reckoning for South Africa.

Hitzfeld, though, isn't exactly used to second best, and his tireless work with an experienced group paid dividends. Eight straight matches unbeaten secured top spot in Group 2 by a solitary point from Greece, even though they still made heavy weather of hanging on for a desperate goalless draw against 10-man Israel at the death in Basel.

Switzerland Copyright © Soccerphile	Switzerland Copyright © Soccerphile

Switzerland v Spain 16 June; Durban
Switzerland v Chile 21 June; Port Elizabeth
Switzerland v Honduras 25 June; Bloemfontein

Analysis

The past two years have offered up contrasting fortunes for the Swiss but the self-deprecating alpine nation are finally coming to terms with an unprecedented year of success on the football field (and beach) in 2009, and even starting to believe they could emulate their forefathers of the 1934, 1938 and 1954 tournaments in South Africa.

As co-hosts of Euro 2008, Switzerland were dismal, and their bottom-placed finish in Group A brought to an end the national team tenure of veteran boss Jakob 'Kobi' Kuhn. Under Kuhn, the Swiss had qualified for Euro 2004 and reached the knockout phase of the 2006 World Cup in Germany before being bombed out on penalties to Ukraine.

Respected club coach Ottmar Hitzfeld returned to his second home and his first international post, and despite an inauspicious start to qualifying has helped instigate a top-to-bottom winning mentality in the Swiss corridors of power.

What's more, even if this year's tournament arrives a little soon for the country's breed of talented youngsters, Hitzfeld can look forward to Euro 2012 and Brazil 2014 with relish after Switzerland claimed last year's under-17s World Cup in Nigeria at their maiden attempt.

Key player: Alexander Frei

Alexander Frei remains the flag bearer of Swiss hopes in South Africa. Occasionally injury-prone, Frei is nevertheless his country's all-time leading goalscorer and has been a staple fixture upfront for the national side for some time. Now 30 and back at hometown club Basel, his partnership with World Cup novice Blaise N'Kufo, who's got a real eye for a goal but little experience at the elite level, could catapult Switzerland into the second round.

One to watch: Eren Derdiyok

Eren Derdiyok is yet another Swiss footballer of immigrant decent making a real mark in one of Europe's top leagues. Since his high profile summer switch from Basel, Derdiyok has enjoyed regular Bundesliga football at winter break table toppers Bayer Leverkusen, where he's formed a destructive partnership with Germany forward Steffan Kiessling. The strapping 22-year-old made seven appearances en route to South Africa 2010, scoring in the vital 2-2 draw with Latvia.

Coach: Vincente del Bosque

Ottmar Hitzfield has two UEFA Champions League successes (at two different clubs) on his coaching resume but the former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich coach who took charge after Switzerland's Euro 2008 flop has never been to the World Cup as a player or coach. The Group H opener against reigning European champions Spain will be virgin territory for the 61-year-old German, but he's twice been recognised as the very best in his field and has a love for Switzerland after a long playing and coaching career there.

Record

1950, 1962, 1966 First Round; 1946, 2006 Second Round; 1934, 1938, 1954 Quarterfinals.

FIFA Ranking

Men to watch

Tranquillo Barnetta, Blaise Nkufo, Gokhan Inler

Predictions & Latest Odds

The Swiss have a decent chance of making it to the second round.
World Cup Betting

How they qualified

First place in Europe Group 2.

On the sidelines

In spite of losing to Luxembourg in a qualifier, the Swiss qualified.
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Soccerphile says

Switzerland, in their ninth World Cup, have the coach and strikers to make their mark in Group H and will fancy their chances of getting the better of Chile and Honduras to progress to the knockout phase.

The Squad

Goalkeepers Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Marco Wolfli (Young Boys), Johnny Leoni (Zurich)
Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Philippe Senderos (Everton), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Steve von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Mario Eggimann (Hannover 96), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Midfielders: Valon Behrami (West Ham), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Benjamin Huggel (Basel), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Gelson Fernandes (Saint-Etienne), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria)
Forwards: Alexander Frei (Basel), Blaise Nkufo (Twente), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Marco Streller (Basel), Hakan Yakin (Luzern)

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