Euro 2008

Coach
Köbi KUHN: One of Switzerland’s best ever players took the job in 2001, having worked with national youth teams throughout the 90s, and presided over successful qualifying campaigns for Euro 2004 and World Cup 06. He will stand down after the championship, to be succeeded by German Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Goalkeepers
Diego BENAGLIO (Wolfsburg): Has taken over as first choice goalkeeper from Züberbuhler. His commanding presence at National da Madeira attracted the attentions of the German side who signed him in January.

Eldin JAKUPOVIC (Grasshopper Zürich): The Bosnia-Herzegovina-born reserve has been on loan from Lokomotiv Moscow and is called up to replace the injured Fabio Coltorti. Is uncapped and will probably still be by the time the tournament finishes.

Pascal ZÜRBERBUHLER (Neuchâtel Xamax): Former West Bromwich Albion veteran - now 37 - who famously didn’t concede a goal in the 2006 World Cup as Switzerland went out on penalties to Ukraine in the second round. Prone to errors and has been usurped by Benaglio since the friendly against England in February.

Defenders
Philipp DEGEN (Liverpool): Signed on a pre-contract from Borussia Dortmund, the right-back could force Steve Finnan out of Anfield. Has had a recent groin operation but should be first-choice ahead of Lichsteiner.

Johan DJOUROU (Arsenal): Athletic, young, versatile defensive player who can play as a holding midfielder but is better at centre-back. Has an Ivorian father and has recently been on loan at Birmingham City to gain first team experience. Started the Ukraine match at the World Cup while still a teenager.

Stéphane GRICHTING (Auxerre): Left-sided central defender who can cover at full-back. Will seek revenge against Turkey having been hurt in the fracas that followed their infamous World Cup playoff in Istanbul in 2005. Determined but lacks speed.

Stephan LICHSTEINER (Lille): Attack-minded right-back who played well in the Wembley friendly in February but Degen’s superiour technique and defensive qualities should keep him out of the first XI.

Ludovic MAGNIN (Stuttgart): Full-back with a vicious left foot with three international goals to his name. An expert free-kick taker, he will have to fight with Hakan Yakin for the right to take set-pieces. Can be found out in a physical battle but should edge Spycher.

Patrick MÜLLER (Lyon): Rated almost certain to miss the tournament, the central defender has made a near-miraculous recovery from a knee ligament injury. At 31, he is a natural father-figure in a youthful side.

Philippe SENDEROS (Arsenal): Kuhn rates the central defender more highly than most supporters of his club side, for whom he is too often found out against powerful strikers. Will be relieved that Didier Drogba, who has scored seven goals against Arsenal when Senderos is on the field in the last three seasons, is not a European.

Christoph SPYCHER (Eintracht Frankfurt): Second-choice left-back now in his thirties who can play a bit of football as well as defend.

Midfielders
Tranquillo BARNETTA (Bayer Leverkusen): Key playmaker who scored a fine goal against Togo in the World Cup. Can play on either wing or at the head of a midfield diamond, his versatility, pace and good sense of teamwork make him the fulcrum of the Swiss attacking unit.

Valon BEHRAMI (Lazio): A childhood Kosovan immigrant who has played in Italy since 2003. Can cover at right-back but prefers to play on the right of midfield in order to take advantage of his creative qualities.

Ricardo CABANAS (Grasshopper Zürich): Fell out with the international side after the World Cup and had announced his retirement but has made his peace and returns, though his absence means he may have lost out on his starting place. Scores regularly from an attacking midfield position.

Gelson FERNANDES (Manchester City): Exciting young Cape Verde-born prospect who has forced his way into the first team after starring in the Under-21s. Athletic and committed, he has impressed in his first season with City, whose ex-manager Sven-Göran Eriksson described him as “the best young player in Switzerland”.

Daniel GYGAX (Metz): Versatile attacking player most commonly positioned on the wing. Could be an impact substitute as Switzerland like to soak up opposition attacks and hit on the break - his pace is a rare and valuable commodity in the squad.

Benjamin HUGGEL (Basel): The central midfielder missed the 2006 World Cup after getting involved in the misbehaviour in Istanbul and has lost the starting rôle he occupied at Euro 2004.

Gökhan INLER (Udinese): Excellent 23-year-old holding midfielder who has come from nowhere after a fine season with his Italian side, aiding qualification for the UEFA Cup. Like Yakin, comes from Turkish stock and should be relishing their meeting on 11th June.

Hakan YAKIN (Young Boys Berne): Younger brother of Euro 2004 centre-back Murat. An inconsistent but occasionally brilliant playmaker who can play wide-left, centrally or even as a support striker.

Strikers
Eren DERDIYOK (Basel): Teenage sensasion who can play as a Chris Sutton-style emergency centre-back. Scored an outstanding goal with his dangerous left foot on his international début at Wembley in February. Tall, talented and powerful, he is a hot prospect but will have to wait before he is a regular starter.

Alexander FREI (Borussia Dortmund): Swiss Captain, record scorer and main goal threat, he has suffered a nightmare season in Germany due to a long-term injury but impressed on his return late in the season. Has 35 goals to his name including two in the 2006 World Cup.

Marco STRELLER (Basel): Tall, out-and-out striker who views scoring goals as just about his only duty. Was a promising youngster but has spent too much time out injured in his career to have become an established starter for his country.

Johan VONLANTHEN (Red Bull Salzburg): The youngest ever European Championship goalscorer after netting in the 3-1 loss to France in Euro 2004 - breaking a record set just four days earlier by Wayne Rooney. Can play as a second striker, winger or orthodox wide midfielder.

Wish You Were Here?
Blaise KUFO (Twente): His goals have propelled his Dutch club into next season’s UEFA Champions League, with a shock playoff win over Ajax but misses Euro 2008 through injury. Is often incorrectly called N’Kufo due to his Congolese origin.

Tags: Euro 2008, Johan Djourou, Kobi Kuhn, Philipp Degen, Philippe Senderos, Switzerland

---

Related Articles

• Who On Earth Is… Philipp Degen
• Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic: Hosts possess endeavour but no cutting edge
• The hosts’ deficiencies compromise Euro 2008’s legacy
• Romania land Group of Death - Euro 2008 Draw
• Euro Diary - Day One: Heartbreak for Swiss; Relief for Portuguese