 |
| Ottmar Hitzfeld © Reuters |
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld gave a first call-up to
midfielder Pirmin Schwegler and welcomed Liverpool defender Philipp
Degen back to the international scene on Thursday as he named a 21-man
squad to host World Cup holder Italy in a friendly next week.
The 22-year-old Schwegler earned selection ahead of Wednesday's
game after scoring at the weekend in his first match for new club
Eintracht Frankfurt following a summer move from German Bundesliga
rival Bayer Leverkusen.
Degen played the last of his 30 internationals in May 2008 as
the Swiss prepared to co-host the last European Championship, and
before Hitzfeld took charge. The 26-year-old right-back was then
sidelined by a series of injuries in his first season at Anfield.
Defender Philippe Senderos is selected while expected to
complete a transfer from Arsenal to Everton as he seeks regular
first-team action before the 2010 World Cup finals.
The roster includes six home-based players, including captain
Alex Frei, fellow striker Hakan Yakin and winger Johan Vonlanthen
who all returned to Switzerland in the summer after Hitzfeld asked
his players to seek more influential club roles in the key World
Cup season.
Switzerland will face world champion Italy in the same
38,000-capacity St. Jakob Park stadium in Basel where it will play
Group 2 co-leader Greece in a sold-out qualifying match Sept. 5.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Marco Woelfli (Young
Boys).
Defenders: Philipp Degen (Liverpool), Stephan Lichtsteiner
(Lazio), Johan Djourou (Arsenal), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre),
Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria), Ludovic
Magnin (Stuttgart).
Midfielders: Johan Vonlanthen (Zurich), Gelson Fernandes (St.
Etienne), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Benjamin Huggel (Basel), Pirmin
Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer
Leverkusen), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria).
Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Alex Frei (Basel),
Blaise Nkufo (Twente), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne), Marco Streller
(Basel).
 | |  | | | Remember to go to www.supersport.com on your Mobile phone and keep in touch with the latest scores wherever you are. |  |
| |  | |  |
|
