Teenage midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri was the surprise inclusion in the final 23-man Switzerland squad for South Africa.
Teenage midfielder makes it into final Swiss squad
Teenage midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri was the surprise inclusion in the final 23-man Switzerland squad for South Africa.
The 18-year-old Basle player only came into the international side this year but has clearly impressed boss Ottmar Hitzfeld.
But the Swiss are missing striker Marco Streller, who was ruled out by injury last Thursday, while full-back Christoph Spycher had previously withdrawn.
On a more positive note, the squad contains 13 players with experience of major international tournaments as they prepare to take on World Cup favourites Spain, Chile and Honduras in Group H.
Squad
Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Marco Wolfli (Young Boys), Johnny Leoni; Mario Eggimann (Hannover), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Ludovic Magnin Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Steve von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria); Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (West Ham), Gelson Fernandes (Saint-Etienne), Benjamin Huggel (Basle), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basle); Albert Bunjaku (Nurnberg), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexander Frei (Basle), Blaise Nkufo, Hakan Yakin (Luzern).
