GROUP H: Can the inconsistent Swiss keep it together long enough?

Consistency is often a problem for the Switzerland national football team so is it possible that they can produce enough glimpses of positivity to achieve required results.

Led by the brilliantly successful Ottmar Hitzfeld, the Swiss have the opportunity to get themselves out of the group stage with wins over Honduras and Chile as hot-favourites Spain seem too much of a task.

A lot comes down to whether all-time leading goalscorer Alexander Frei is fit because without him, goals will be very hard to come by with all the load falling to Blaise Nkufo.

Swiss fans will expect the team to finish second in their group and although the players will want more, I doubt it is achievable as they will be fighting tooth and nail with Chile to advance to the Round of 16.

Switzerland

Playing schedule: Spain (Durban) June 16; Chile (Port Elizabeth) June 21; Honduras (Bloemfontein) June 25

Also known as: Schweizer Nati or La Nati
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld (GER)
Captain: Alexander Frei
Key players: Alexander Frei, Benjamin Huggel, Gokhan Inler
Wildcard: Blaise Nkufo
Player to watch: Tranquillo Barnetta
Most caps: Heinz Hermann (117). Of this squad: Hakan Yakin (80)
Top goalscorer: Alexander Frei (40)
FIFA ranking: 24
Qualifying: Top of group in UEFA group stage.
Appearance: 9th
Best result: Quarter-finals – 1934, 1938 & 1954

Switzerland

Goalkeepers

Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg)
Marco Wolfli (Young Boys)
Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich)

Defenders

Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio)
Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria)
Philippe Senderos (Everton)
Steve von Bergen (Hertha Berlin)
Stephane Grichting (Auxerre)
Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich)
Mario Eggimann (Hannover 96)

Midfielders

Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel)
Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen)
Gokhan Inler (Udinese)
Valon Behrami (West Ham United)
Marco Padalino (Sampdoria)
Hakan Yakin (Lucerne)
Gelson Fernandes (Saint-Etienne)
Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel)

Forwards

Alexander Frei (FC Basel)
Blaise Nkufo (Seattle Sounders)
Marco Streller (FC Basel)
Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen)