FIFA World Cup 2022: Switzerland Established its Nation on a Solid Defence

The Swiss team at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar has a familiar feel to it. So, it makes sense. In Group E in 2018, Die Nati was also paired with Serbia and Brazil. They drew with the South Americans and defeated Serbia to advance to the round of 16, but Sweden ultimately eliminated them.

Being unafraid to mix it up with the supposed favourites and mess with the form book, the Swiss have always demanded respect. The main reason that Italy, the defending European champion, was unable to claim first place was due to their superior defence during the Group C qualifiers.

The Strategy and Methods of Murat Yakin in this FIFA World Cup

Despite still being under contract, Vladimir Petkovic’s departure from the Swiss hot seat in 2021 left big shoes to fill. Fortunately, Murat Yakin proved to be a wise replacement. Yakin led Switzerland to a remarkable World Cup qualifying campaign in which they went undefeated while relegating Italy, the reigning European champions, to the playoff round. As evidenced by the small number of goals allowed, his team is also known for having a strong and compact defence. His team scored 15 goals and only allowed two in the eight World Cup qualifiers.

Granit Xhaka is a Key Player in this FIFA World Cup

Granit Xhaka, the team’s captain, enjoys a freewheeling position thanks to his 106 appearances and 12 goals, which have earned him veteran status. The 30-year-old midfielder’s central role in the Swiss national team should come as no surprise. His reputation for never backing down from a challenge and for setting an example for others to follow solidifies his position as an important cog. However, Xhaka also brings a smart style of play to the field. He is more than capable of initiating attacks and breaching opposing defences with sharp through balls and deft passes because he is always thinking in the big picture.

Noah Okafor is Another One

During the nation’s World Cup campaign, Noah Okafor will be held in high regard by Swiss fans. The 22-year-old striker has put himself in elite World Cup form thus far in RB Salzburg’s season. It is hoped that when he represents Die Nati in Qatar on the international stage, he will demonstrate these qualities. He attended FC Basel’s youth academy and played professionally there before moving to Salzburg, just like captain Xhaka.

World Cup Record for Switzerland in FIFA World Cup

The World Cup has become a staple for Die Nati in recent years, and their fifth consecutive involvement in the Qatar edition is their best qualification streak ever. This comes after years of reliable play. They have only dropped one of their previous 38 World Cup qualifiers, a 2-0 setback to Portugal on October 10, 2017. In recent competitions (2006, 2014, and 2018), despite their strong performances, they were eliminated as early as the group stage, while in South Africa in 2010. We need to look further back to find greater success, specifically in 1934, 1938, and 1954, when the Swiss team reached the quarterfinals on those three occasions.

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