The Swiss national team is the only team that defeated Spain, the current world and European champion, at the last World Championship.
However, despite the sensation and victory over the Spaniards in the first round of the group stage of the World Cup in South Africa, the Swiss did not manage to win a place in the second round, but finished the group in third place, behind Spain (which, despite the defeat at the beginning, won first place ) and Chile.
Switzerland's greatest successes at the world championships were achieved way back in 1934, 1938 and 1954, when they played in the quarterfinals.
Two more times they lost in the round of XNUMX, while four times (including the last world championship) they had to be satisfied with their performances in this competition.
The first European Championship for which Swiss footballers qualified was the one in England in 1996.
In addition to this, the Swiss took part in two other championships of the Old Continent, the last time when they, together with Austria, hosted the best teams in Europe.
None of these three appearances made it to the second round of the competition.
The draw for the World Cup qualifiers in Brazil was very favorable to the land of cheese, chocolate and watches.
As expected, Switzerland won the first place in the qualifications, in competition with Iceland, Slovenia, Norway, Albania and Cyprus.
In 10 matches against these selections, the Swiss have not lost a single one, and they have recorded seven wins and three draws, thus losing by seven points to the second-placed Iceland.
Since 2008, Otmar Hitzfeld, the legend of the greats from Germany, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, has been responsible for the selection of players who have the right to play for Switzerland.
Hitzfeld was the Bundesliga champion seven times (twice with Borussia and five with Bayern), and he won the Champions League once with these two clubs (in 1997 with Borussia, and four years later as coach of the Bavarians).
In the goal of Switzerland in Brazil will be the great Diego Benalho, the keeper of the Wolfsburg net. Benalho was Hitzfeld's first choice at the last World Cup, where he conceded only one goal in three matches.
The most famous of the players whose place on the field is closest to Benaljov are the Italian champion with Juventus, Stefan Lichtsteiner, Filipe Senderos from Valencia, former Arsenal defender, Djura, and Reto Cigler, who previously played for Tottenham, Sampdoria, Juventus...
The midfield will be covered by four players competing in the Bundesliga, Tranquillo Barnet, Gelson Fernandes (the only scorer in the win over Spain four years ago), Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, three Napoli players, captain Gohan Inler, Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili, and the footballer Basel, Valentin Stocker.
Of the four Swiss strikers who will travel to South America, three are originally from the former Yugoslavia, Mario Gavranović, Haris Seferović and Josip Drmić, and they are joined by Admir Mehmedi.
That Switzerland is the favorite of the draw was also shown during the drawing of the groups for the upcoming World Cup, where they will meet the French, Ecuador and Honduras in the group. Considering the quality of Hicfeld's team, it is really realistic to expect the placement of this national team in the second round of the competition.
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