Switzerland have been procuring a reputation as giant slayers in recent times, so Brazil and co. beware: Murat Yakin's squad are back and in axe-swinging mood.
The Swiss are often touted as underdogs going into major tournaments, owing to a perceived lack of star names — but make no mistake, this is a serious tournament team that has spent years together building a strong chemistry.
They've progressed from the group stages at five of their last six major tournaments, and rocked Euro 2020 by knocking-out the world champions, France.
In qualifying for Qatar 2022, Arsenal's Granit Xhaka and his international teammates went unbeaten to seal first place in UEFA Group C and beat Euro 2020 champions Italy, who ultimately crashed out in the playoffs.
🧳 Switzerland can plan for Qatar 2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 15, 2021
🛣 Italy's road to the #WorldCup will continue with the play-offs#WCQ pic.twitter.com/oIsRytE33r
The Swiss are a team to watch in Qatar.
More: Switzerland's Group G opponents at Qatar 2022
Final 26-man Switzerland World Cup roster
Yakin named his final 26-man squad on Wednesday, November 9, five days ahead of the FIFA-imposed deadline.
Nations had until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA, from which they were required to select a final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.
Here's the final 26-man list. (Stats correct as of start of Qatar 2022)
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 1 | Yann Sommer | Borussia Monchengladbach (GER) | 33 | 77 |
| GK | 21 | Gregor Kobel | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 24 | 3 |
| GK | 24 | Philipp Kohn | RB Salzburg (AUT) | 24 | 0 |
| GK | 12 | Jonas Omlin | Montpellier (FRA) | 24 | 3 |
| DEF | 22 | Fabian Schar | Newcastle (ENG) | 30 | 73 |
| DEF | 5 | Manuel Akanji | Manchester City (ENG) | 27 | 43 |
| DEF | 13 | Ricardo Rodriguez | Torino (ITA) | 30 | 100 |
| DEF | 4 | Nico Elvedi | Borussia Monchengladbach (GER) | 26 | 40 |
| DEF | 3 | Silvan Widmer | Mainz (GER) | 29 | 34 |
| DEF | 18 | Eray Comert | Valencia (SPA) | 24 | 10 |
| DEF | 2 | Edimilson Fernandes | Mainz (GER) | 26 | 22 |
| DEF | 11 | Renato Steffen | Lugano (SWI) | 30 | 27 |
| MID | 10 | Granit Xhaka | Arsenal (ENG) | 30 | 107 |
| MID | 8 | Remo Freuler | Nottingham Forest (ENG) | 30 | 49 |
| MID | 20 | Fabian Frei | Basel (SWI) | 33 | 22 |
| MID | 6 | Denis Zakaria | Chelsea (ENG) | 25 | 43 |
| MID | 15 | Djibril Sow | Frankfurt (GER) | 25 | 32 |
| MID | 14 | Michel Aebischer | Bologna (ITA) | 25 | 11 |
| MID | 15 | Christian Fassnacht | Young Boys (SUI) | 28 | 15 |
| MID | 26 | Ardon Jashari | Luzern (SWI) | 20 | 1 |
| MID | 25 | Fabian Rieder | Young Boys (SUI) | 0 | 0 |
| MID | 23 | Xherdan Shaqiri | Chicago Fire (USA) | 31 | 109 |
| FWD | 17 | Ruben Vargas | Augsburg (GER) | 24 | 27 |
| FWD | 19 | Noah Okafor | RB Salzburg (AUT) | 22 | 8 |
| FWD | 9 | Haris Seferovic | Galatasaray (TUR) | 30 | 88 |
| FWD | 7 | Breel Embolo | Monaco (FRA) | 25 | 59 |
❤️🇨🇭 What Switzerland and our National Team are all about 🇨🇭❤️@fifaworldcup #squad #aufgebot #sélection #convocazione#natimiteuch #lanatiavecvous #lanaticonvoi pic.twitter.com/mIyjUcHxjz
— 🇨🇭 Nati (@nati_sfv_asf) November 9, 2022
The most notable absences from the final list are:
- Yvon Mvogo (Lorient)
- David Von Ballmoos (Young Boys)
- Kevin Mbabu (Fulham)
- Jordan Lotomba (Nice)
- Leonidas Stergiou (St Gallen)
- Steven Zuber (AEK Athens)
- Cedric Itten (Young Boys)
- Dan Ndoye (Basel)
- Mario Gavranovic (Kayserispor)
Goalkeeper Mvogo is known to have picked up a thigh injury while playing for Lorient in Ligue 1 against Paris Saint-Germain.
Young Boys midfielder Fabian Rieder, 20, is called up for the first time, and Sturm Graz defender Gregory Wuthrich is in contention for the first time after being placed on a 13-man standby list.
13 players are called up on stand-by - including one big surprise: Sturm Graz centre-back Gregory Wüthrich (27), who is listed for the 1st time ever! 🇨🇭👏 pic.twitter.com/2SK3GxRfcP
— Bolzplazz Swiss Football Platform (@Bolzplazz) November 9, 2022
WORLD CUP 2022 SELECTED SQUADS:
Australia | Argentina | Belgium | Brazil | Cameroon
Canada | Costa Rica | Croatia | Denmark | England
France | Germany | Ghana | Iran | Japan | Mexico
Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Senegal
Serbia | Spain | Switzerland | Uruguay | USA | Wales
Switzerland best player, strengths & weaknesses
The Swiss brought a veteran team into the last World Cup and are making the trip to Qatar without a few familiar stalwarts like now retired Stephan Lichtsteiner and Valon Behrami.
However, new faces have stepped up to lead, and the Swiss will once again be a stubborn, well-drilled side.
Stars
Granit Xhaka has always been a dependable force for Switzerland but his club form has been transformed this season, with the midfielder a powerful force in Arsenal's Premier League-chasing squad.
Both he and Chicago Fire's Xherdan Shaqiri will edge ever closer to their nation's all-time appearance record in Qatar, which stands at 118 caps, while functioning as the lifeblood and spine of this team.
Monaco's Breel Embolo will be the go-to man in attack and a strong start to the Ligue 1 season suggests he'll be ready for Qatar.
Strengths
Switzerland's old national stereotype of being well-drilled and efficient has traditionally translated onto the pitch.
Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schar and Mauel Akanji are a resolute combination at the back. (And judging by this recent interview, Akanji is as impressive off the pitch thanks to his incredible math skills as he is on it!)
Man City's Manuel Akanji is a maths genius 🤓🔢 pic.twitter.com/9VRkuMSaqb
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 8, 2022
Weaknesses
There's nothing particularly flashy in this team, which undoubtedly makes them a well-balanced fighting force. But it can leave the Swiss lacking imagination when faced with a stubborn backline. Shaqiri would once have had the magic to unlock a game, but at 31 his powers are fading.
A lack of depth behind him in the creative roles is their major question. It's the same story in attack, where Embolo and Haris Seferovic are crucial for providing the goals.
Switzerland fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Thurs, Nov. 24 | Switzerland 1, Cameroon 0 | 5 a.m. | Al Janoub |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Brazil 1, Switzerland 0 | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Serbia 2, Switzerland 3 | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Tue, Dec 6 | Portugal vs. Switzerland | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
Can Switzerland replace players on World Cup roster?
Once the final 26-man roster is official, participating teams at the World Cup can only make changes before the first game of the tournament, and only in the case of extraordinary circumstances.
According to the official tournament rules, "a player listed on the final list may only be replaced in the event of serious injury or illness up until 24 hours before the start of his team's first match."
The team in question would need to submit a medical report to FIFA and if the world governing body determines "the injury or illness is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in the FIFA World Cup" then the replacement will be allowed.
The replacement player must come from the preliminary list of players submitted to FIFA in October.