Switzerland Squad For Finals Named - Arsenal's Senderos & Djourou & Un-capped Degen Named

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Switzerland Squad For Finals Named - Arsenal's Senderos & Djourou & Un-capped Degen Named

Submitted by Scott Harkness on Mon, 15/05/2006 - 17:22.

Switzerland head coach Kobi Kühn has named his 23-man squad for the World Cup Finals, naming Basle’s un-capped midfielder David Degen.

The Arsenal defensive duo of Philippe Senderos and Johan Djourou have also both been named in Switzerland's squad by Kühn.

Djourou, 19, who can play in defence or midfield, has made 12 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions this season, with Senderos already in the running for the Young Player of the Tournament award.

Hakan Yakin is the biggest name missing from Switzerland's squad. The 29-year-old attacking midfielder has missed much of the season with a groin injury but staked his claim for a berth in coach Kobi Kühn's squad with some decent displays for his club-side, Young Boys at the end of their campaign.

However, Kuhn has opted to go with uncapped Basle midfielder David Degen instead of Yakin.

"Yakin is a talented player, but we have a lot of other talented players to choose from,'' Kuhn said.

"I watched his last couple of games and could see how much he improved under pressure. But I also have to put the team first.

"I spoke to him about my decision and I think he has accepted it, with a heavy heart of course.''

Alexander Frei, who was at one stage a doubt for the tournament after sustaining a serious injury whilst playing for his French club-side Rennes earlier this season, is one of four strikers in the party.

Switzerland squad for the 2006 World Cup Finals, Germany:

Goalkeepers: 1-Pascal Zuberbuehler (FC Basel), 21-Fabio Coltorti (Grasshoppers Zurich), 12-Diego Benaglio (CD Nacional)

Defenders: 2-Johan Djourou (Arsenal), 3-Ludovic Magnin (VfB Stuttgart), 4-Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), 13-Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), 17-Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), 19-Valon Behrami (Lazio), 20-Patrick Mueller (Olympique Lyon), 23-Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: 5-Xavier Margairaz (FC Zurich), 6-Johann Vogel (AC Milan), 7-Ricardo Cabanas (Cologne), 8-Raphael Wicky (Hamburg SV), 10-Daniel Gygax (Lille), 14-David Degen (FC Basel), 15-Blerim Dzemaili (FC Zurich), 16-Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen),

Strikers: 9-Alex Frei (Rennnes), 11-Marco Streller (Cologne), 18-Mauro Lustrinelli (Sparta Prague), 22-Johan Vonlanthen (NAC Breda)

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