SWITZERLAND

Switzerland's World Cup record: 1934 QF, 1938 QF, 1950 1st rd, 1954 QF, 1962 1st rd, 1966 1st rd, 1994 2nd rd, 2006 2nd rd.

How Switzerland qualified for World Cup 2010: European Group 2 Winners

The Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld (German, 60). Appointed: July 2008. WC experience: Player: None. Coach: None.

Der General is in international management for the first time, having refused the possibility to coach his national Germany in between two spells at Bayern Munich.

The Country: Switzerland have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup on three times, most recently in 1954. Since then they have reached the finals only five times.

The Swiss got the point they needed to qualify in their final match against Israel but not without a struggle - Hitzfeld's side were hanging on even after their hosts had Avihay Yadin sent off after 59 minutes. The Swiss went on an eight-match unbeaten run after a shock conquer by Luxembourg to accomplish the finals.

Hitzfeld said: "The goal was to qualify and we scored - the goal is succeed. Compliments to the whole team and to each and every player. It's another achievement for me and a dream being fulfilled, it's a present that Switzerland has given me."

Hitzfeld will expect that Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos gets more first-team action ahead of the finals but another player, Johan Djourou, could be struggling with a knee hurt that required a surgical operation with the player ruled out for six months.

The opportunities of survival will hinge on the form and fitness of team leader Alexander Frei, formerly with Borussia Dortmund and now at Basle, while Blaise Nkufo requires to keep scoring.