Northern Ireland v Switzerland 08SEPT

THE SQUAD: SWITZERLAND

WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

YANN SOMMER GOALKEEPER BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH AGE 32 CAPS 66 GOALS 0 Sommer made his debut for the senior side nearly a decade ago and has represented his country at two World Cups and a pair of European Championships. Saved Kylian Mbappe’s penalty to secure a famous win over France at Euro 2020. Has been at Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach since 2014. RICARDO RODRIGUEZ DEFENDER TORINO AGE 29 CAPS 86 GOALS 9 Zurich-born left back who has a Spanish father and Chilean mother. Made his senior debut against Wales in Swansea in 2011. Rodriguez scored the crucial penalty in Belfast in the first leg of the 2018 World Cup play-off and then headed Jonny Evans’ effort off the line in Basel to ensure Switzerland went to Russia. NICO ELVEDI DEFENDER BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH AGE 24 CAPS 31 GOALS 1 Classy centre back who cited Sergio Ramos as a role model growing up. Elvedi, who has a twin brother who is also a professional footballer, finished the 2020- 21 Bundesliga season with the best pass completion percentage of any player in the league. Played every minute of Switzerland’s Euro 2020 campaign. CEDRIC ZESIGER DEFENDER YOUNG BOYS AGE 23 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 In the senior set-up for the first time after impressing with Switzerland Under-21s and domestically for Young Boys, with whom he has won two league titles. Zesiger is primarily a central defender who previously played for Neuchatel Xamax and Grasshoppers in his home country.

YVON MVOGO GOALKEEPER PSV AGE 27 CAPS 4 GOALS 0

GREGOR KOBEL GOALKEEPER BORUSSIA DORTMUND AGE 23 CAPS 0 GOALS 0

Cameroon-born stopper who came through the academy at Young Boys. He moved to RB Leipzig in 2017 and is still contracted to the club but is currently on a two-year loan with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. Mvogo debuted for the Swiss in a 2-1 win over Iceland in 2018.

Though he was uncapped prior to this international window, Kobel, one of three Swiss goalkeepers at Dortmund, has started the season as BVB’s number one after joining in the summer. He made the third-most saves in the Bundesliga with Stuttgart last season. Was part of the Euro 2020 squad.

FABIAN SCHAR DEFENDER NEWCASTLE UNITED

MANUEL AKANJI DEFENDER BORUSSIA DORTMUND

AGE 29 CAPS 64 GOALS 8 Schar won the Swiss Super League three times with Basel before moving to Hoffenheim in Germany and then on to Deportivo La Coruna in Spain. Premier League appearances. His last international goal came against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin in September 2019. He signed for Newcastle in 2018 and has made 66 AGE 28 CAPS 20 GOALS 1 Widmer spent five years in Serie A with Udinese before returning to Switzerland with Basel. He made the move to Mainz in July. Widmer made his senior international debut in a 4-0 win over San Marino in 2014 and started three of Switzerland’s games at Euro 2020, including both of the knockout games. ULISSES GARCIA DEFENDER YOUNG BOYS AGE 23 CAPS 1 GOALS 0 A late call-up to the squad following the withdrawals of Kevin Mbabu and Loris Benito. Born in Portugal, the left back was raised in Switzerland and was a regular for the Under- 21s. Has won back-to-back league titles with Young Boys. Made his senior Swiss debut off the bench against Greece last week. SILVAN WIDMER DEFENDER MAINZ

AGE 26 CAPS 34 GOALS 0 Another BVB player, central defender Akanji has been a regular for the Bundesliga giants since moving from Basel in 2018. He has ranked in the top five for passes completed in the Bundesliga in back-to-back seasons. Also known as a maths whizz who can swiftly solve complex equations.

JORDAN LOTOMBA DEFENDER NICE AGE 22 CAPS 2 GOALS 0

A full back who can operate on both sides, Lotomba made Four Four Two’s list of the Best Teenagers in the World in 2017. He moved from Young Boys to Ligue 1 club Nice in 2020 and made 30 top flight appearances – 24 of those starts – last term. Both of his appearances for Switzerland prior to this window were in friendlies. STEVEN ZUBER MIDFIELD EINTRACHT FRANKFURT AGE 30 CAPS 41 GOALS 8 Zuber came through the ranks at Grasshopper before moving to CSKA Moscow and then Hoffenheim. The midfielder is now contracted to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. No-one created more assists at Euro 2020 than Zuber, who laid on four goals for his Swiss team-mates during their run to the last eight.

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NIR V SUI