Muller in shock Swiss call-up

Defender recovers from long-term injury to make squad

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 13th May 2008

Patrick Muller800x600

Muller: Surprise inclusion

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Patrick Muller has been included in Switzerland's provisional squad ahead of Euro 2008.

The veteran defender has made just one competitive appearance for Lyon this season and had been widely expected to miss out on the upcoming tournament.

Muller sprained his ankle during pre-season training, before tearing his cruciate ligament during his comeback for the reserves in December.

He admitted after picking up the injury that he was unlikely to make the hosts squad for the European Championship, but has recovered from the problem sooner than expected.

The 31-year-old played for Lyon's second string over the weekend in Paris and was watched from the stands by national coach Jakob Kuhn.

Although his inclusion will have come as welcome relief after an injury-plagued campaign he may yet miss out of the competition itself when Kuhn trims his 26-man party down to 23 by 28th May.

Switzerland's provisional squad for Euro 2008 in full:

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Pascal Zuberbuhler (Neuchatel Xamax), Fabio Coltorti (Racing Santander)

Defenders: Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund), Johan Djourou (Arsenal), Mario Eggimann (Karlsruhe), Stephane Grichting (AJ Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lille), Ludovic Magnin (VfB Stuttgart), Patrick Mueller (Olympique Lyon), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Steve von Bergen (Hertha Berlin)

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (Lazio), Ricardo Cabanas (Grasshoppers Zurich), Gelson Fernandes (Manchester City), Daniel Gygax (Metz), Benjamin Huggel (Basel), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Johan Vonlanthen (Salzburg), Hakan Yakin (Young Boys)

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Basel), Alexander Frei (Borussia Dortmund), Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede), Marco Streller (Basel)