Northern Ireland vs Switzerland (21/03/2025)

THE SQUAD: SWITZERLAND WORDS: IAN PARKER

GREGOR KOBEL GOALKEEPER

YVON MVOGO GOALKEEPER LORIENT (FRA)

PASCAL LORETZ GOALKEEPER LUZERN AGE 21 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 The uncapped Loretz is seen as one of the brightest young goalkeeping prospects around, having established himself as Luzern’s number one at the age of 20.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND (GER) AGE 27 CAPS 10 GOALS 0 Although a product of Grasshoppers’ academy in Zurich, Kobel has spent his entire career in Germany. Played for Hoffenheim, Augsburg and Stuttgart before signing for Borussia Dortmund in 2021.

AGE 30 CAPS 10 GOALS 0 The Cameroon-born Mvogo came through the ranks with Young Boys in Bern before joining RB Leipzig in Germany. He then went on loan to PSV Eindhoven and subsequently joined Lorient.

AURÈLE AMENDA DEFENDER EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (GER) AGE 21 CAPS 1 GOALS 2 Grew up in the Young Boys system and made his debut aged 18, going on to play in the Europa Conference League. Signed for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2024.

LUCAS BLONDEL DEFENDER BOCA JUNIORS (ARG)

ERAY CÖMERT DEFENDER REAL VALLADOLID (ESP)

AGE 28 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 A new name in the Swiss squad, Blondel was born in Buenos Aires to a Swiss father and has spent his entire career to date in Argentina, playing for Atletico Rafaela and Tigre before joining Boca Juniors in 2023.

AGE 27 CAPS 17 GOALS 0 A two-time Swiss champion with Basel, Cömert moved to Spain with Valencia in 2022 before loan spells with Nantes and now Valladolid. Helped Switzerland to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2020. *ON LOAN FROM VALENCIA

STEFAN GARTENMANN DEFENDER FERENCVÁROSI (HUN)

ALBIAN HAJDARI DEFENDER LUGANO

MIRO MUHEIM DEFENDER HAMBURGER SV (GER) AGE 26 CAPS 1 GOALS 0 On the books of Chelsea as a youngster, Muheim returned to Switzerland on loan with Zürich before joining St Gallen. Joined Hamburg in 2021, initially on loan before a permanent move followed in 2022.

AGE 28 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 Gartenmann is another new face in a Switzerland defensive unit missing Manuel Akanji through injury. He played at youth level for Denmark but never received a senior cap. Spent last season on loan at Aberdeen before signing for Ferencváros.

AGE 21 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 Hajdari was snapped up by Juventus while still a youth player, although he later spent time on loan with Basel’s Under-21s. He was then loaned to Lugano in 2022 and found a more permanent home.

RICARDO RODRIGUEZ DEFENDER REAL BETIS (ESP)

ISAAC SCHMIDT DEFENDER LEEDS UNITED

CÉDRIC ZESIGER DEFENDER AUGSBURG (GER)

AGE 32 CAPS 125 GOALS 9 By far the most experienced player in a squad missing so many familiar names through injury, Rodriguez has been a fixture in the Swiss side

AGE 25 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 Schmidt joined Leeds from St Gallen last summer. All seven of his Championship appearances for Leeds have come off the bench, with his only starts in the FA Cup.

AGE 26 CAPS 4 GOALS 0 A three-time Swiss Super League champion with Young Boys, Zesiger moved to Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga in 2023. Joined Augsburg on loan in January. *ON LOAN FROM VFL WOLFSBURG

since making his debut against Wales in 2011.

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NIR V SUI