SOCCER: Switzerland opt for consistency in World Cup selection

ZURICH – Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin has named a 26-man squad for the World Cup, emphasizing continuity and experience as he selected 17 players who were part of the team at the tournament in Qatar four years ago.

A further three players were included in the squad for the 2024 European Championship in Germany, leaving only uncapped backup goalkeeper Marvin Keller and five Germany-based players—Aurele Amenda, Cedric Itten, Luca Jaquez, Johan Manzambi, and Miro Muheim—set to feature in a major tournament for the first time.

Captain Granit Xhaka, Switzerland’s most-capped player with 144 appearances, and fullback Ricardo Rodriguez (136 caps) will both be competing in their fourth consecutive World Cup. Five other members of the squad are set to appear in a third straight tournament.

There were notable omissions, including Young Boys attackers Alvyn Sanches and Joel Monteiro, both of whom were part of the squad for recent friendlies against Germany and Norway in March.

However, Young Boys forward Christian Fassnacht earned a recall after finishing as the Swiss Super League’s top scorer with 18 goals. Cedric Itten was also selected despite his club Fortuna Düsseldorf being relegated from Germany’s second division, having scored 15 league goals this season.

Burnley striker Zeki Amdouni was included after returning from a long-term knee injury, although he has made only three substitute appearances in the Premier League since his comeback.

“Medically, he is 100 percent fit. He knows our system. He knows his role. That’s the reason why I’m very glad he can be part of it,” Yakin said during a press conference on Wednesday.

“I think we have selected the best players for the squad and I can’t wait to get going,” he added.

The squad will assemble on Monday and face Jordan in a friendly in St. Gallen on May 31. Switzerland will then travel to the United States for a warm-up match against Australia in San Diego on June 6.

They open their World Cup Group B campaign against Qatar in Santa Clara on June 13, before facing Bosnia and co-hosts Canada in their remaining group matches.

Switzerland World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Marvin Keller (Young Boys), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient)

Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan), Aurele Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), Eray Cömert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Luca Jaquez (VfB Stuttgart), Miro Muheim (Hamburg), Ricardo Rodriguez (Real Betis), Silvan Widmer (Mainz)

Midfielders: Michel Aebischer (Pisa), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (AC Milan), Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Fabian Rieder (Augsburg), Djibril Sow (Sevilla), Ruben Vargas (Sevilla), Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), Denis Zakaria (Monaco)

Forwards: Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Breel Embolo (Stade Rennais), Cedric Itten (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest), Noah Okafor (Leeds United) -Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Toby Davis/Reuters