Established as a regular fixture in major tournament knockout stages, Switzerland kick off their fifth straight World Cup campaign this month, and are intent on breaking through a glass ceiling.
In their past four European and global finals, the Swiss managed to reach the last 16 each time, and exceeded that admirable consistency last time out, at Euro 2020, where they shocked reigning world champions France before exiting in the quarter-finals on penalties.
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For all their pedigree, though, La Nati have never made it to the final four of any championship, and perhaps that will be their ambition in Qatar.
However, Murat Yakin's experienced squad lacks a reliable goalscorer and has been drawn in a particularly challenging group, featuring many pundits' favourites, Brazil.
Here, Sports Mole assesses Switzerland's prospects at the 2022 World Cup.
GROUP
Though all eyes will be straying towards a glamorous clash with Brazil in the second round of Group G fixtures, Switzerland must focus instead on their opener versus Cameroon.
While the Indomitable Lions present a certain level of threat, they are rightly considered outsiders to progress, so the Swiss are under pressure to post maximum points against the West African side.
Should all go to plan in Al Wakrah, their meeting with the Selecao offers something of a free-hit, as the competition favourites will be expected to steamroll all those who stray into their path: battle-hardened Switzerland are set to remain steadfast in such circumstances, though - as evidenced by their defeat of France in summer 2021.
Then, at the start of December, their finale against fellow European qualifying group winners Serbia could be decisive. Perhaps with everything still at stake, that contest in the Qatari capital Doha could determine who takes second spot behind Brazil.
FIXTURES
November 24: Switzerland vs. Cameroon (10am, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)
November 28: Brazil vs. Switzerland (4pm, Stadium 974, Doha)
December 2: Serbia vs. Switzerland (7pm, Stadium 974, Doha)
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Having taken great confidence from their showing at Euro 2020, where they came so close to a first-ever major championship semi-final, Switzerland qualified for Qatar by finishing above European champions Italy in a closely-contested Group C.
While their start was far from spectacular, they won four and drew two of the first six games to leave them in with a chance of winning the group.
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The pivotal moment occurred in their second encounter with the Italians, when Jorginho missed a late penalty which would have consigned Murat Yakin's men to defeat in Rome, and they ultimately survived to end the campaign unbeaten.
Sealing the deal with victory over Bulgaria on the final day, while the Azzurri failed to beat Northern Ireland, the Swiss finished top of the group and booked a direct ticket to this winter's finals by a two-point margin.
Breel Embolo led the goal charts with a modest tally of three, as his side scored at rate of nearly two goals per game - the presence of the Bulgarians and whipping-boys Lithuania helped in that regard - while Yakin's well-drilled defence conceded just twice in the process.
RECENT FORM
A sluggish start to the year saw Switzerland fail to win any of their first five fixtures of 2022, and defeats to England, Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic during that time brought about many questions as to whether they would give a good account of themselves at the upcoming World Cup.
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However, La Nati managed to turn things around in their three most recent games, beating the Portuguese and Czechs on home soil, and enjoying a famous Nations League success in Spain.
Such a surge helped them to avoid relegation to League B and remain among Europe's elite in that competition, suggesting they may just have found their rhythm in time for the trip to Qatar.
Furthermore, Embolo hit the target in two of those three victories, raising hopes the Monaco striker could now fulfil his early potential on the game's grandest stage.
SQUAD
Unsere 26 Spieler für die WM
— 🇨🇭 Nati (@nati_sfv_asf) November 9, 2022
Nos 26 joueurs pour la Coupe du Monde
I nostri 26 giocatori per il Mondiale
Noss 26 giuveders per la WM@FIFAWorldCup #squad #aufgebot #sélection #convocazione#natimiteuch #lanatiavecvous #lanaticonvoi pic.twitter.com/hqja5jsKvw
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier), Philipp Kohn (Red Bull Salzburg)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Eray Comert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Silvan Widmer (Mainz 05)
Midfielders: Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz 05), Fabian Frei (Basel), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea)
Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Noah Okafor (Red Bull Salzburg), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Ruben Vargas (FC Augsburg)
STAR PLAYER - GRANIT XHAKA
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Renowned for lifting his game while wearing a Swiss shirt on the major stage, Granit Xhaka is set to lead his nation at the World Cup as captain and one of Europe's most able all-action midfielders.
The former Arsenal skipper - recently rehabilitated at his club, for whom he has played a major role in their rise to the Premier League summit - missed all six qualifying fixtures played after the Euros due to injury. However, his impact was undoubtedly felt when he returned for Switzerland's superb finish to the Nations League.
Of Albanian descent, Xhaka began his career at hometown club Basel, before moving to the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012. There, his reputation as a born leader with a fiery temperament was forged, and he was made captain at the age of just 22.
While it has been far from plain-sailing in North London since his subsequent switch to England's top flight, now aged 30, he cuts a satisfied figure for the Gunners and a roving role has seen him add a goal threat to his more obvious technical talents.
Is it time, then, for a player who has already racked up over a century of caps for his country to lead La Nati to new heights in Qatar?
MANAGER - MURAT YAKIN
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A reliable defender during his playing days, Murat Yakin has made Switzerland a slightly more pragmatic side, in a move away from the often expansive approach of predecessor Vladimir Petkovic, who achieved some spectacular results between 2016 and Euro 2020.
By contrast with Petkovic, the former Basel boss prefers to field four at the back, in a setup which features Newcastle United's Fabian Schar and Manuel Akanji of Manchester City among a cast of capable centre-backs.
Generally opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation, he seems to have settled on Breel Embolo as his go-to lone striker, with experienced duo Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler screening in midfield.
Like many of his diversely-drawn squad, Yakin has heritage from outside Swiss borders, and the 48-year-old of Turkish descent now leads his nation into the World Cup, thanks to edging out Italy in qualifying and avoiding the perilous playoffs.
WORLD CUP RECORD
Best finish: Quarter-finals (1934, 1938, 1954)
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They may have returned to prominence recently, but Switzerland's best World Cup finishes all came back in the early days of international competition - on their first two appearances (1934, 1938) and when they hosted the finals in 1954.
La Nati's debut saw them reach the quarter-finals after beating the Netherlands 3-2 before being eliminated by Czechoslovakia, and they once again reached the last eight in 1938, beating Germany after a replay but being subsequently knocked out by Hungary.
Awarded the right to host the 1954 World Cup, the Swiss finished second in their group behind England, qualifying for the quarters by beating Italy in a playoff. They were again knocked out at the same stage after losing a frantic encounter 7-5 to neighbours Austria.
As a result, Switzerland have the most quarter-final appearances without reaching a single semi, while they exited at the last-16 stage in 1994, 2006, 2014, and four years ago in Russia.
On that occasion, like this winter, they were drawn to play both Brazil and Serbia in the group phase, beginning their campaign with a draw against the Selecao, before beating Serbia thanks to Xherdan Shaqiri's late winner. However, Sweden then prevailed in their latest last-16 contest.
PREDICTION
Able to field a familiar unit, with several big scalps to their name, Switzerland have in place numerous pieces of the jigsaw to continue a proud record of reaching the knockout stages.
A consistent selection in defence, a top-class shot-stopper in the shape of Yann Sommer, plus a gritty midfield all add up to a side that will surely cause problems for each of their Group G opponents, yet they are sometimes found lacking in one key area.
When it really matters, the Swiss do not have a natural-born finisher in their ranks to decide finely-balanced games, and as both Brazil and Serbia possess plenty of proven strikepower in their respective arsenals, Murat Yakin's men may just find themselves edged out in pursuit of a top-two place.
VERDICT: Third in Group G
Jonathan O'Shea
