Switzerland has been gaining a reputation as a giant killer in recent times, so Brazil and co. BEWARE: Murat Yakin’s team is back and in an ax-swinging mood.
The Swiss are often known as the underdogs going into major tournaments, due to a perceived lack of star names – but make no mistake, this is a serious tournament team.
They have progressed from the group stage in five of the last six major tournaments and knocked out world champions France to reach Euro 2020.
In qualifying for Qatar 2022, Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka and his international teammates remained unbeaten to top UEFA Group C, beating Euro 2020 champions Italy, who were then eliminated from the playoffs.
The final 26-man Switzerland World Cup roster
Yakin announced his final 26-man squad on Wednesday November 9, five days ahead of the deadline set by FIFA.
Nations had until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA, from which they had to select a final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.
Here is the final 26-man roster.
| 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 |
The most notable absences from the final list are:
Yvon Mvogo (Lorient)
David Von Balmos (Young Boys)
Kevin Mbabu (Fulham)
Jordan Lotomba (Nice)
Leonidas Stergio (St Gallen)
Steven Zuber (AEK Athens)
Cedric Etienne (Young Boys)
Dan Andoye (Basel)
Mario Gavranovic (Kayserispor)
Goalkeeper Mvogo reportedly suffered a thigh injury while playing for Lorient in Ligue 1 against Paris Saint-Germain.
Youngster midfielder Fabian Ridder, 20, has been called up for the first time, and Storm Graze defender Gregory Wuthrich is in contention for the first time after being placed on the 13-man standby list.
Switzerland’s Best Players, Strengths and Weaknesses
The Swiss fielded an experienced squad at the last World Cup and are traveling to Qatar without some familiar stalwarts such as the now-retired Stefan 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 reliable force for Switzerland but his club form has changed this season, with the midfielder a formidable force in Arsenal’s Premier League-chasing side.
Both he and Chicago Fire’s Xherdan Shaqiri will approach their nation’s all-time appearance record in Qatar, which stands at 118 caps, serving as the life and backbone of this team.
Monaco’s Briel Embolo will be the go-to man in attack and a strong start to the Ligue 1 season suggests he will be ready for Qatar.
POWERS
Switzerland’s old national stereotype of being well-drilled and skillful has traditionally translated onto the pitch.
Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schaar and Mouel Akanji are a solid combination at the back. (And based on this recent interview, Akanji is as impressive on the pitch as he is thanks to his incredible math skills!)
WEAKNESS
There is nothing particularly flashy about this team, which undoubtedly makes them a well-balanced fighting force. But this could leave the Swiss lacking in imagination when faced with a stubborn backline. Shaqiri once had the magic to unlock a game, but at 31 his power is fading.
Their major question is the lack of depth behind him in a creative role. It’s the same story in attack, where Embolo and Haris Seferovic are crucial in providing the goals.