Swiss announce provisional Euro 2016 squad

Switzerland national coach Vladimir Petkovic today revealed a provisional 28 man squad for the 2016 European Championships in France starting next month.

Swiss boss Petkovic has raised some eyebrows with the inclusion of 19 year old Young Boys defensive midfielder Dennis Zakaria who has been in impressive form for his club side this season and adds much needed steel to the Swiss midfield. In addition, there are two uncapped players in goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo (Young Boys) and defender Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach).

There are several notable omissions from the squad, with the most high profile of those being former captain Gokhan Inler who failed to make the cut. Fabian Lustenberger, Timm Klose and Valentin Stocker have also been left out. Swiss boss Petkovic has awarded the captain’s armband to the highly experienced and versatile full-back Stephane Lichtsteiner (Juventus FC).

The Swiss squad includes a number of very experienced internationals with Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Phillipe Senderos (Grasshoppers) and Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg) in defence, Valon Behrami (Watford) and Gelson Fernandes (Rennes) in midfield and Eren Derdiyok (Kasimpasa), Haris Seferovic (Eintracht Frankfurt) and key player Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City) in attack.

Add to the mix exciting playmaker Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach) and pacey striker Breel Embolo (Basel) and the Swiss could pose plenty of problems for their opponents in Group A.

However, there is a major injury concern for Embolo who has been in scintillating form this season and Petkovic will be left sweating over the striker’s availability for the start of the tournament.

Switzerland get their tournament underway against Albania on June 11^th in Lens, then they face Romania on 15^th June at the Parc des Princes in Paris with their final crunch clash against France in Lille on 19^th June.

Swiss squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Roman Burki (Borussia Dortmund), Marwin Hitz (Augsburg), Yvon Mvogo (Young Boys), Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Lang (Basel), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus FC), Francois Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schar (Hoffenheim), Phillippe Senderos (Grasshoppers), Steve Von Bergen (Young Boys), Silvan Widmer (Udinese)

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Watford), Blerim Dzemaili (Genoa), Gelson Fernandes (Rennes), Fabian Frei (Mainz), Renato Steffen (Basel), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach), Denis Zakaria (Young Boys), Luca Zuffi (Basel)

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Kasimpasa), Breel Embolo (Basel), Admir Mehmedi (Bayer Leverkusen), Haris Seferovic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City), Shani Tarashaj (Grasshoppers)