World Cup 2022 Team Preview - Switzerland

Switzerland's odds to win the World Cup

80/1

Best World Cup

Quarter-final 1934, 1938, 1954

2018 World Cup

Second round

Switzerland's World Cup Schedule

• Read a full Group G summary here

Road to Qatar

Switzerland confirmed their growing stature as a major European force when they emerged from a difficult qualifying group at the expense of Euro 2020 champions, Italy, who went on to suffer a shock playoff defeat at the hands of North Macedonia. Neither team was defeated, sharing two draws between themselves, but it was Switzerland who performed better against the other three teams (Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania) with Italy left rueing a final goalless draw in Belfast, while Switzerland were busy blitzing Bulgaria 4-0.

Recent form

Switzerland will be happy to have recovered from a slump in form that saw them lose four of five winless games following their qualification to the finals. Successive wins over Portugal (1-0), Spain (2-1) and Czech Republic (2-1) came too late to rescue their Nations League campaign, but were enough to rekindle confidence before heading out to Qatar.

Switzerland squad

Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Kohn (Red Bull Salzburg), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier), Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Eray Comert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Sylvan Widmer (Mainz 05)

Midfielders: Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz 05), Fabian Frei (Basel), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Noah Okafor (Red Bull Salzburg), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea)

Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Reuben Vargas (FC Augsburg)

Team insights

Probable formation: 4-3-3  Switzerland have evolved into one of Europe's best B-list footballing nations, with their progress built on a foundation of organised defending, laced with some creative midfield flair, and topped off by a proven goal-scoring threat up front. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer and centre backs Fabian Schar and Nico Elvedi are likely to form the backbone of their defensive platform, with Granit Xhaka adding extra steel as a protective buffer in front of the back four. When in possession, Xherdan Shaqiri will be instrumental as creative playmaker tasked with the role of servicing Han Seferovic in front of goal, while the pace and mobility of Salzburg's Noah Okafor might provide a useful option out wide.

World Cup prospects

Assuming Brazil strut their stuff to top Group G, Switzerland are likely to go toe-to-toe with Serbia to join them in the knockout phase. If the opening two match days go as expected, then everything is likely to rest on Switzerland's final showdown with the Serbians in Doha on December 2nd to decide who gets to meet likely opponent's Portugal or Uruguay in the last 16. Best hope: Quarter final if they can escape the group

Read more about each of Switzerland's Group G opponents:

Brazil, Serbia, Cameroon