Manager of Switzerland Ottmar Hitzfeld

World Cup appearances: 7
Best World Cup: Quarter-Finals; 1934, 1938 & 1954
FIFA World Ranking: 20
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Captain: Alexander Frei

Switzerland Team Profile

The Swiss aren’t a country you would automatically associate with strong World Cup’s but they have gone as far as the Quarter-Finals back in their heyday, although their heyday was a good half-a-century ago. They qualified for the finals on seven previous occasions, with South Africa being their eighth, but their previous best display came way back in 1954 when they reached the Quarter-Finals… again. However, they have since rarely made the finals itself, qualifying just four times since the 60′s, failing to make the cut on eight occasions.

Switzerland did, however, get as far as the last sixteen in Germany, 2006 before losing on a penalty shoot-out, with the Swizz not managing one goal in the shoot-out, losing 3-0 to Ukraine in what was one of the poorest penalty shoot-outs I think I’ve ever seen. They flopped completely at the Euro’s in 2008, exiting after just two group games despite being the hosts. They did, however, gain a consolation victory in the form of a shock 2-0 win over Portugal, of whom had already qualified for the latter stage of the tournament.

The Swiss aren’t the powerhouse of old and are often seen as a team most nations would prefer in their group. They also wear a red and white styled kit for both their home and away games, with their home kit a red top and white shorts while their away kit is vice verse.

Switzerland Key Players

Alexander Frei

Despite entering his 30′s last year, Frei is still Switzerland best player by a country mile and has remained their most prolific goalscorer for quite some time now, scoring 40 goals in his 70 caps for Switzerland. He averages over a goal every-other-game for his country and his stunning goal return ratio has earned him the captain’s armband, although his wealth of experience would have had a hand in that decision. Frei is currently settled in Switzerland after joining Basel last season from Borussia Dortmund in Germany and has found scoring a breeze back in his native country. He is a calm and composed sort who doesn’t often miss one-on-one’s nor does he miss too many sitters.

Strengths / Weakness

Not the best at attacking, weak looking midfield and a defence which doesn’t fill me with any great deal of confidence. Moreover, the Swiss are one of thee dullest sides to watch due to their slow tempo style of playing and their inability to retain possession, especially against the elite footballing nations. They don’t have any players which could entertain the neutrals, with Hakan Yakin being the only player we would keep an eye on. Very little in terms of positives, none in fact, but plenty of negatives, despite a decent defensive record in qualifying.

Switzerland Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: European
Group: 2
Position: 1st
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-3-1
Goals Scored: 18
Goals Conceded: 8

Switzerland came through an unattractive looking Group 2, fending off Greece, Latvia & Isreal, with neither of the mentioned nations anything special, which just goes to show how easy the Swiss had it during qualification. They did, though, lose just once in ten qualifiers, although that was a shock home defeat to Luxermbourg.

World Cup Potential: 1/5

Switzerland are one of a rare few nations we can’t stand to watch as they’re so dull. Their attacks have a knack of pittering out into nothing, while they don’t have any noteworthy players in their squad. Their defence looks mighty exposed against some of the more prolific attacking country’s and will almost certainly be found wanting in South Africa. The Swiss are a team we would steer well clear of in the betting market. We would even go as far as saying we would avoid watching them on the TV if you’re in the slightest bit vulnerable to a a sudden nap after a hard days work. 

Switzerland World Cup Betting Odds

Switzerland to win the World Cup: 100/1 BetFred

Before the World Cup the odds on Switzerland were 200/1 

Official Switzerland World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg)

Marco Wölfli (Young Boys Bern)

Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich)

Defenders

Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio Roma)

Philippe Senderos (Everton)

Stephane Grichting (AJ Auxerre)

Steve von Bergen (Hertha BSC Berlin)

Mario Eggimann (Hannover 96)

Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria Genoa)

Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich)

Midfielders

Valon Behrami (West Ham United)

Gökhan Inler (Udinese Calcio)

Benjamin Huggel (FC Basle)

Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Gelson Fernandes (AS St. Etienne)

Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen)

Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basle)

Marco Padalino (Sampdoria Genoa)

Hakan Yakin (FC Lucerne)

Strikers

Alexander Frei (FC Basle)

Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede)

Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen)

Albert Bunjaku (1. FC Nuremberg)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Switzerland Fixtures – Group H

World Cup 2010 Group H - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup Group H teams: Spain, Paraguay, Switzerland, Honduras. Here it is, the final group preview of the best value bets for the World Cup. Tournament favourites Spain were the last seeded team to be drawn from the hat, and they find themselves in an interesting group, but one which they should have no trouble at all negotiating through. The countdown to South Africa 2010 is firmly on right now, and time is running out to get your pre-tournament bets down. This guide to the groups, is designed to help you find the best returns on your World Cup Odds, when looking deeper than the main outright markets. Spain surely have the dominance over Group H, but is there some big surprises to come from one of the tournament’s fancied Dark Horses, Chile?

Group Outright: Spain 2/7 at Stan James
Yes, they are the European Champions, and yes, they have an embarrassment of riches in their squad at the moment. They had a concern over a trio of stars not being fit enough for the world cup, but Adreas Iniesta, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas all look well on the path to recovery, and should fulfil their roles at South Africa 2010. There is little about Spain to pick holes in, as they probably have the most envious squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, from front to back. Their big match temperament had always been called into question, but they firmly put that to bed with their triumph at Euro 2008, and since then Vicente Del Bosque’s side have looked untouchable. There is something about the Spaniards going into this World Cup, which makes it hard to bet against them. It is not just the all round class and form which they displayed, nor is it the fact that they will only likely face World Cup Odds front runners Brazil in the final, but it is the air of confidence coming out of the camp. They have been unfazed by the injuries, and have just gone about their business without a lot of fuss, or headline grabbing. They are the strongest team in Group H by a country mile, and should be able to press on from their previous success, and be the first European team to win the World Cup outside of their own continent. It will also be the first time that Spain have won the World Cup, and they have the ability to do it in impressive style. Tight at the back, deadly up front, there should be no stopping them on route to the second round.

To Qualify: Switzerland 13/8 at Paddy Power
A bet which will surprise some, as they Swiss, despite topping their European qualification group ahead of Greece, have not have not had the best build up to the tournament. They suffered a shock defeat against Costa Rica, and that was their third international friendly defeat in a row. They did rally themselves on Saturday though, to give Italy the run around, dominating most of the match in a 1-1 draw. The Swiss looked quite confident of their own ability during qualification, but have maybe found the going just a little bit tougher in their build up. They are the ones charged with taking on Spain in the group opener, and when coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says that the Swiss are not simply going to roll over, the master tactician should not be ignored. He will, no doubt, have a game plan up his sleeve, but whether it will be enough to take down the Spaniards remains to be seen. The much improved draw against Italy will have given them a lot of hope, and their strength is in their team unity, and being able to close out opposition. You are not going to see an expansive game from the Swiss, and in a group with some Latin flair, their discipline in defence could be the one thing that gets them through. Therefore, while not favourites to qualify, they do represent some decent value in this market if you like.

To Finish Second: Chile 6/5 at Paddy Power
If you do not fancy the chances of Switzerland creeping into second place, then a better bet for your World Cup betting strategy, will probably be backing Chile. Coach Marcelo Bielsa is one of the characters which will stand out from the dug out, as he leads his team forward. He has done wonders for instilling a new character to Chile, which makes them a stronger candidate than they ever been at the World Cup. When you think of Chile in World Cups past, you think of a defensively weak team, and that is the one area which Bielsa has worked hard on correcting, after drilling home his own unique style to the Chilean national side. During qualification from the South American zone, where they finished in second place, just one point behind Brazil, Chile showed a much improved all round ability and self control thanks to Bielsa’s system. This means they are much stronger at the back, and that point was proven during a good qualification campaign. That is not to say however, that anything has been taken away from their strong attacking prowess. They have the ideal start in playing Honduras, which means that if Switzerland lose against Spain, it will put pressure on them in having to play catch-up.

Over 16.5 Group Goals: 9/10 at Bwin
This group should have goals in it. Plenty of goals, with the way being led by Spain and Chile. Both have the capacity to run up some big scores.
Spain hit an average of 2.80, while Chile hit an average of 1.78 goals per match during their respective qualification zones. As harsh as things may be on Honduras, they will likely be the whipping boys, and unless Switzerland get back to their tight, efficient game, then they could be exposed by Spain and Chile too. Over the six group games that is just an average of 2.75 goals needed to hit this bet, which on paper, looks pretty feasible.

To Concede Most Goals: Honduras 11/17 at Bwin
Honduras finished third in the CONCACAF group, finishing three points behind Mexico, who they actually did beat during qualification. They had a fairly mixed bag of results, winning some games strongly, and then disappointing in other. Have landed themselves a tough draw, and their build up has not been the best. In 2010 they have lost to Turkey and Venezuela, whilst drawing matches against Belarus and most recently Azerbaijan in their international friendly matches. Having to face the attacking power of Spain and Chile, they really could face a lot of time defending. They conceded an average of a goal per game during qualification.

World Cup appearances: 7
Best World Cup: Quarter-Finals; 1934, 1938 & 1954
FIFA World Ranking: 20
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Captain: Alexander Frei

Switzerland Team Profile

The Swiss aren’t a country you would automatically associate with strong World Cup’s but they have gone as far as the Quarter-Finals back in their heyday, although their heyday was a good half-a-century ago. They qualified for the finals on seven previous occasions, with South Africa being their eighth, but their previous best display came way back in 1954 when they reached the Quarter-Finals… again. However, they have since rarely made the finals itself, qualifying just four times since the 60′s, failing to make the cut on eight occasions.

Switzerland did, however, get as far as the last sixteen in Germany, 2006 before losing on a penalty shoot-out, with the Swizz not managing one goal in the shoot-out, losing 3-0 to Ukraine in what was one of the poorest penalty shoot-outs I think I’ve ever seen. They flopped completely at the Euro’s in 2008, exiting after just two group games despite being the hosts. They did, however, gain a consolation victory in the form of a shock 2-0 win over Portugal, of whom had already qualified for the latter stage of the tournament.

The Swiss aren’t the powerhouse of old and are often seen as a team most nations would prefer in their group. They also wear a red and white styled kit for both their home and away games, with their home kit a red top and white shorts while their away kit is vice verse.

Switzerland Key Players

Alexander Frei

Despite entering his 30′s last year, Frei is still Switzerland best player by a country mile and has remained their most prolific goalscorer for quite some time now, scoring 40 goals in his 70 caps for Switzerland. He averages over a goal every-other-game for his country and his stunning goal return ratio has earned him the captain’s armband, although his wealth of experience would have had a hand in that decision. Frei is currently settled in Switzerland after joining Basel last season from Borussia Dortmund in Germany and has found scoring a breeze back in his native country. He is a calm and composed sort who doesn’t often miss one-on-one’s nor does he miss too many sitters.

Strengths / Weakness

Not the best at attacking, weak looking midfield and a defence which doesn’t fill me with any great deal of confidence. Moreover, the Swiss are one of thee dullest sides to watch due to their slow tempo style of playing and their inability to retain possession, especially against the elite footballing nations. They don’t have any players which could entertain the neutrals, with Hakan Yakin being the only player we would keep an eye on. Very little in terms of positives, none in fact, but plenty of negatives, despite a decent defensive record in qualifying.

Switzerland Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: European
Group: 2
Position: 1st
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-3-1
Goals Scored: 18
Goals Conceded: 8

Switzerland came through an unattractive looking Group 2, fending off Greece, Latvia & Isreal, with neither of the mentioned nations anything special, which just goes to show how easy the Swiss had it during qualification. They did, though, lose just once in ten qualifiers, although that was a shock home defeat to Luxermbourg.

World Cup Potential: 1/5

Switzerland are one of a rare few nations we can’t stand to watch as they’re so dull. Their attacks have a knack of pittering out into nothing, while they don’t have any noteworthy players in their squad. Their defence looks mighty exposed against some of the more prolific attacking country’s and will almost certainly be found wanting in South Africa. The Swiss are a team we would steer well clear of in the betting market. We would even go as far as saying we would avoid watching them on the TV if you’re in the slightest bit vulnerable to a a sudden nap after a hard days work. 

Switzerland World Cup Betting Odds

Switzerland to win the World Cup: 100/1 BetFred

Before the World Cup the odds on Switzerland were 200/1 

Official Switzerland World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg)

Marco Wölfli (Young Boys Bern)

Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich)

Defenders

Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio Roma)

Philippe Senderos (Everton)

Stephane Grichting (AJ Auxerre)

Steve von Bergen (Hertha BSC Berlin)

Mario Eggimann (Hannover 96)

Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria Genoa)

Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich)

Midfielders

Valon Behrami (West Ham United)

Gökhan Inler (Udinese Calcio)

Benjamin Huggel (FC Basle)

Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Gelson Fernandes (AS St. Etienne)

Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen)

Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basle)

Marco Padalino (Sampdoria Genoa)

Hakan Yakin (FC Lucerne)

Strikers

Alexander Frei (FC Basle)

Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede)

Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen)

Albert Bunjaku (1. FC Nuremberg)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Switzerland Fixtures – Group H

World Cup Group H - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup Group of Switzerland