One of the great surprises of the World Cup is the absence of Italy team, reigning European champion and classified in the Final Four of League of Nations. a lot had to do Swiss On it.
The team of Murat Yakin gave one of the great surprises of the UEFA Qualifiers prevailing in group C and relegating the Azzurri to the repechage, which would end up condemning him.
In any case, it is not surprising to see the Swiss team play a World Cup. This will be his fifth consecutive appearance since then Germany 2006 As far as Qatar 2022.
His best historical result, far in time, are the quarter-finals of the 1934, 1938 and 1954 editions, the latter as the organizing country. In addition, four eliminations in the round of 16 (1994, 2006, 2014 and 2018) and another four in the group stage.
The draw, on this occasion, places them with one of the great candidates for the title, Braziland two other dangerous selections such as Serbian Y Cameroon. They will begin their journey against the African team (24/11), then they will face Canarinha (28/11) and will close this first instance on 2 December against the European team.
The coach: Murat Yakin, the unexpected captain of the Swiss ship
The european 2021 it left a great feeling Selection of Switzerland. They reached the quarter-finals, after beating the world champion on penalties in the round of 16 France and be eliminated in the same way against another similar power Spain.
However, his coach Vladimir Petkovic, made the decision to close the cycle that began in 2014 (he moved to the Girondins de Bordeaux) and the Federation sought Murat Yakin as his replacement.
Except for two seasons in Spartak Moscow, Yakin has been leading Swiss football continuously since 2009, becoming two-time First Division champions with Cf basel and achieved promotion into the top category with the Fussball club Thun.
His most recent experience was in Segunda with the FC Schaffhausen, thus his arrival in the national team attracted attention. Even so, he left a strong image for qualifying and his team brought down a similar giant Italy: three wins and three draws (two of them against blue) to get the direct ticket to Qatar.
So after a rough start in the UEFA Nations League, they have victories against Spain and Portugal that open a glimmer of hope. Without being candidates, the goal is to advance to the round of 16. From there it will be another story.
Figure: Xherdan Shaqiri, the Messi of the Alps
Short lefty, skilful and dribbling, Xherdan Shaqiri does not have the same explosion as that young man who dazzled with the jersey of Bayern Monaco, after the start FC Basel, but it is still one of the most powerful cards in the Swiss team.
The hierarchy of the player Chicago fire mark the route before reaching the Serie A football. Eleven consecutive seasons in the European elite, with moves to bayern, Inter, Stoke City, Liverpool and Olympique de Lyon, becoming champion of the league, Champions League he was born in Club World Cup with the Reds and with the Bavarian team.
His athletic physique stands out, which helps him counteract his short stature (1.68 meters) and gives him power, but lately, due to a matter of stamina or a tactical decision by the coach, he is usually one of the first to leave. He has started 16 of 19 games in the Swiss in the latest edition of Nations League, World Qualifications and Eurocup, but only in two did he complete 90 minutes.
He is one of the great figures and emblems of this selection, but not the only one. It also appears with a place of preponderance Granite Xhaka, permanent owner and an important name in the Arsenal which recorded the best start in its history in Premier League.
shaqiri will play his fourth World Cup, xhaka the third. They have been separated for a year of age, but their Albanian roots unite them and the story of suffering of their respective families, victims of the war that disintegrated Yugoslavia. They are on the way to becoming the two players with the most games played for their country and now, moreover, they are united by the dream of the World Cup. Qatar awaits them and 9 million Swiss place their hopes in them.
Switzerland, a team with clear ideas
After Petkovic’s departure, Murat Yakin he returned to the 4-man line in defense and his team found greater stability, closing the Qualifiers with just two goals conceded in eight games played.
In any case, the basis of the squad that reached the quarterfinals eurocupconsolidated despite the change of coach, he remains and promises to fight in a complex group.
A historian in the arc how Yann Summer, the voice of experience Ricardo Rodriguez in defence, the preponderance of shaqiri Y xhaka in midfield and good alternatives in attack with Haris Seferovic Y Breel Embolo. This is the backbone of 4-2-3-1’s yakin.
Another of the variants for that role of lone striker, or even second striker, is worn by the young man Noah Okafor, 22 years old. shine in Red Bull Salzburgafter converting his three rivals from Champions League (Milan, Chelsea and Dinamo Zagreb), and added minutes in 4 of 6 games for his team League of Nations.
These are the weapons of Switzerland, which goes to Qatar with the ambition of going beyond the round of 16, in which case it has lost in 3 of the last 4 World Cups. Cameroon, Brazil and Serbia risk complicating things for him.
Source: Clarin
