Murat Yakin has named his 26-player Switzerland squad for this summer’s European Championship.
The 49-year-old had selected a 38-player preliminary squad in May but has now cut several players including Augsburg’s Kevin Mbabu and Genk forward Andi Zeqiri.
“Andi (Zeqiri) made the decision difficult for us,” Yakin said. “He has been performing very well recently. The training days in the pre-camp showed that there was also a lot of competition in the offensive, which is why other players were given preference.
“We have had very good training sessions. The competition for the 26 places contributed to the high training intensity and kept the tension in the team high throughout the camp.
“The mood in the team is great and I am very satisfied. With this good spirit, we now want to start the last European Championship test against Austria and then the trip to Stuttgart.”
Switzerland will be captained by Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka. The 31-year-old, who has earned 124 caps for his country, played a pivotal role in Leverkusen winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal last season.
Xhaka featured in all but one of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga games as they finished the league season unbeaten (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji and Newcastle United’s Fabian Schar have been picked to play a part in the Swiss defence, and will likely play in front of 35-year-old Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Also among Switzerland’s goalkeeping ranks is Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel, who helped his side reach the Champions League final.
Former Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who plays for Chicago Fire in MLS, will be looking to add to his 122 caps in Germany this summer.
Switzerland face Ralf Rangnick’s Austria in a friendly on Saturday before beginning their Euro 2024 campaign against Hungary on June 15. Yakin’s side then play Scotland on June 19 before their final group stage game against hosts Germany on June 23.
GO DEEPER
Switzerland Euro 2024 team guide: An under-fire manager and an underpowered front line
Switzerland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Inter), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund)
Defenders: Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Silvan Widmer (Mainz 05), Cedric Zesigner (Wolfsburg), Leonidas Stergiou (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Denis Zakaria (Monaco), Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Fabian Rieder (Rennes), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Vincent Sierro (Toulouse)
Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Steven Zuber (AEK Athens), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Noah Okafor (AC Milan), Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Dan Ndoye (Bologna), Kwadwo Duah (Ludogorets).
(Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)