Profile
A country that has enjoyed a renaissance based on immigration (from the Balkans in particular) and improvements at youth level, Switzerland topped their relatively weak World Cup qualifying and ended up being among the top seeds to the consternation of some.
This is a team spurred on by young talents like winger Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich), midfielder Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach) and highly-rated defender Fabian Schar (FC Basel).
Add in the likes of Juventus full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner and the team's captain Gokhan Ilner of Napoli, and one gets a picture of a strong side capable of reaching the knockout stages and possibly a last-8 place if they can avoid Argentina in the last-16.
Legendary manager Ottmar Hitzfeld will hope to go out on a high as he nears retirement.
Latest news and features
Argentina leave it late to squeak past Switzerland
Switzerland's Granit Xhaka could carry the Alpine nation far
Are Switzerland the ultimate dark horses?
PIC: Here's what Switzerland's football team looks like without immigration
The Scouting Report - Hummel's potential successor Fabian Schär
The Scouting Report - Haris Seferovic is resurrecting his career
World Cup Record
Appearances: 10
Best Results: Quarter-finals (1934, 1938 and 1954)
Squad
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Roman Buerki (Grasshopper), Yann Sommer (Basel).
Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Michael Lang (Grasshopper), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schaer (Basel), Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo)
Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Eintracht Frankfurt), Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Freiburg), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich), Valentin Stocker (Basel), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Forwards: Josip Drmic (Nuremberg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad)
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Fixtures and Results
Group E
June 15 vs Ecuador (Brasilia) 2 - 1 (W)
June 20 vs France (Salvador) 5 - 2 (L)
June 25 vs Honduras (Manaus)
