Switzerland boss Murat Yakins picks experience over youth in World Cup selection
Three more players had been part of the group during the European Championship in Germany during 2024. Consequently only the uncapped reserve goalkeeper Marvin Keller together with the five Germany based players Aurele Amenda, Cedric Itten, Luca Jaquez, Johan Manzambi and Miro Muheim are experiencing a major tournament for the initial occasion.
The captain Granit Xhaka who holds the record for most appearances for Switzerland with 144 caps and the full back Ricardo Rodriguez with 136 appearances will be participating in their fourth World Cup in succession. Five other players are making it their third consecutive tournament.
There was astonishment at leaving out the Young Boys forwards Alvyn Sanches and Joel Monteiro who featured in the previous selection for friendlies versus Germany and Norway during March.
However their colleague Christian Fassnacht earned selection after leading the scoring in the Super League with 18 goals. Cedric Itten received a call despite his team Fortuna Duesseldorf suffering relegation from the German second tier on Sunday. Itten had netted 15 goals in the league this season.
Burnley forward Zeki Amdouni was also chosen. He has returned to play following a lengthy knee problem this month yet he has appeared only three times as a substitute in the Premier League.
Medically he is fully fit. He understands our tactics. He is aware of his position. That explains why I am pleased he can join the group Yakin informed journalists on Wednesday.
I believe the optimal players have been chosen for the group and I am eager to begin he continued.
The players convene on Monday and face Jordan in a friendly in St Gallen on the thirty first of May. The Swiss then travel to the United States where they encounter Australia in San Diego during a preparation fixture on the sixth of June.
They face Qatar in Santa Clara during their first match in Group B on the thirteenth of June followed by encounters with Bosnia and the co hosts Canada.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Marvin Keller (Young Boys Bern), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan), Aurele Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), Eray Comert (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 Bern), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (AC Milan), Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Fabian Rieder (Augsburg), Djibril Sow, Ruben Vargas (both 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).