Switzerland Team for 2010 World Cup

The Swiss team for the FIFA World Cup 2010 and their coach Ottmar Hitzfeld are visiting South Africa with the sole intention of churning out wins. Now there’s nothing wrong with that intention; is there? The Switzerland team comprises a unique concoction of young talent and players who have put in the years at the world stage. Ottmar Hitzfield took over as coach after the team’s poor show at the UEFA EURO 2008. This is the Switzerland team’s second appearance in a row at the world’s most anticipated sporting event. Their Round of 16 loss in fateful penalties to Ukraine in Germany 2006 will see them looking to avenge in South Africa what they lost out on in Germany.

The Swiss football team has in its ranks the likes of Blaise N'Kufo and Captain Alexander Frei. Both these players hold impressive resumes and can help the Swiss register a win at any given moment. The team also consists of young prodigies in the form of Tranquillo Barnetta, keeper Diego Benaglio and Eren Derdiyok. A little on the team’s Captain – Alexander Frei holds his county’s record for the player with the most number of goals. He finished the qualifying run with five goals against his name. That goes to show a lot, doesn’t it?

However, in spite of having great names in the squad, the Swiss had an unfortunate start to their qualifying campaign. They drew away to Israel and had the displeasure of tasting ‘sour grapes’ when they lost to a meek Luxembourg in Zurich. This black cloud however had a silver lining which helped the Swiss realize that they would have to step up their game in order to make it to the ‘Rainbow Nation’. They then pulled off five back to back wins against Latvia, Greece and Moldova, but took a pit stop when they drew against the Latvians. This loss again helped them recoil to a revenge 3-0 win against Latvia in Luxembourg and propelled them to the top spot in the European Group 2 and a confirmed ticket to South Africa.

"If my father had known I'd be this successful as Switzerland coach - not as Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund coach - he'd have been overjoyed. It's the place we call home,” said an elated Ottmar Hitzfeld, Switzerland coach. The Swiss in South Africa will look to imitate and achieve more than their predecessors who reached the last eight stages in 1934, 1938 and 1954.

The Pre-World Cup list of players for Switzerland is given below.