Switzerland will board the plane to Qatar this winter with hopes of defying the odds in a similar manner to last summer, when the Rossocrociati shocked the masses en route to a quarter-final penalty shootout exit from the European Championships, fresh off sending world champions France packing from the competition.
And, based on their form in qualifying, who would bet against as much?
A record of five wins and three draws from eight outings saw Murat Yakin’s troops finish top of Europe’s Group C table, in the process leaving European champions Italy to watch on from home later this year.
Their ensuing showing in the Nations League, meanwhile, too served to reiterate that the Swiss can hang with the very best, with Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic having all been put to the sword over the course of the last few months alone.
Turning attentions towards historic performance on football’s grandest stage, Switzerland’s recent World Cup record bodes well when it comes to their prospects for 2022, too.
The Rossocrociati have emerged from the tournament’s group stage in three of their last four appearances.
And plenty of familiar faces will be behind such a push, with no fewer than 12 members of the country’s 2018 World Cup squad – including the likes of Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Breel Embolo – primed to make the trip to the Middle East in a couple of months’ time.
Switzerland, all told, simply do not boast the talent required to march all the way to a first-ever international crown later this year. However, the perennial underdogs will be quietly confident heading to Asia, ready to ruffle yet more feathers amongst the very elite of the global game.
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Switzerland World Cup 2022 Tips
Read the latest Switzerland odds ahead of the World Cup, including their odds to win the tournament, odds to claim the golden boot, 101 Great Goals’ top tip and more 2022 World Cup predictions and tips.
Switzerland World Cup Predictions
World Cup betting tips
Currently viewed as 15th favourites to go all the way, Switzerland are not serious contenders for the World Cup but could be counted on to either upset one or two of the big teams but at least give them a run for their money.
Switzerland Golden Boot Prediction
World Cup betting tips
Embolo has long been viewed as an exciting prospect, and despite just 11 goals to his name for his country, is starting to deliver upon that promise. He scored against Wales at Euro 2020 and looked threatening at World Cup 2018 without actually scoring, but having hit the ground running following a summer move to Monaco, Embolo has never been better placed to lead the line, but a tilt at the golden boot looks beyond him.
Manager
Murat Yakin
The Swiss charge in Qatar is set to be headed by relatively inexperienced headmaster Murat Yakin.
On the back of spells with the likes of Basel, Spartak Moscow and Sion at club level, Yakin, in August of 2021, was afforded a first-ever chance to prove himself on the international stage by the Swiss FA.
And, all told, the 48-year-old has since gone about doing a solid job of precisely that.
Wins over continental heavyweights Portugal and Spain have proven particular highlights, with the added fact that Switzerland’s trip to Qatar will come fresh off a three-game win streak pointing towards Yakin having found his ideal XI.
Expect the Swiss tactician to employ a 4-2-3-1 setup at the World Cup, with either Breel Embolo or Haris Seferovic tasked as chief goalscorer, depending on the calibre and setup of the opposition at hand.
Yakin’s versatility, though, means that a more fluid 4-3-3 could also come into play in Qatar.
Record
Total appearances: 11
First qualification: 1934
Most recent: 2018
Best achievement: Quarter-finals (1934, 1938 & 1954)
World Ranking: 15
Overall record: P37, W12, D8, L17
Key players
Granit Xhaka
Amongst a host of high-profile names, one in the Swiss camp stands out above all others when it comes to not only stature, but importance, too.
Midfield general Granit Xhaka, whilst so often maligned for his displays at club level, has for the best part of a decade now proved the engine that keeps his country ticking, controlling the tempo from his deep-lying berth.
As much is evidenced by his 106 caps to date, good enough for fifth on Switzerland’s all-time list.
A Man of the Match display en route to the Rossocrociati’s shock elimination of world champions France at Euro 2020 provided a timely reminder to any who may have allowed Xhaka’s ability to compete with the very best world football has to offer to slip from their memories.
Now 30, and with a stellar start to the campaign with Arsenal behind him, the Swiss captain will therefore be out to prove himself once more in Qatar, with his penchant for stepping up to the plate on the big stage pointing towards Xhaka, when all is said and done, managing exactly that.
101′s Switzerland World Cup Tip
Of the 32 countries primed to take their place at the latest edition of international football’s biggest competition, Switzerland are currently viewed as 15th favourites to go all the way.
In all reality, the Swiss should have their sights set on emerging from Group H, to book a spot in the World Cup’s knockout rounds for the third time running.
From there, anything further would and should be viewed as simply an added bonus.
101’s Top Tip
Switzerland stats, fixtures and results
Follow our Switzerland page for the latest statistics, live odds, fixtures, results and match facts of every game at the World Cup.
