Switzerland Euro 2016 team profile: Granit Xhaka key as Swiss aim to play role of dark horse

World ranking: 15

Best European Championship finish: Group stage - 1996, 2004 and 2008.

How they qualified: The Swiss made up for missing out on the 2012 tournament by progressing from Group E, nine points behind winners England. They beat San Marino 7-0 on the penultimate qualifying matchday to confirm their place.

Fixtures: Group A - Albania (11 June), Romania (15 June), France (19 June)

Squad -

Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer, Roman Burki , Marwin Hitz

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner, Nico Elvedi, Michael Lang, Johan Djourou, Steve von Bergen, Fabian Schar, Francois Moubandje, Ricardo Rodriguez

Midfielders: Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili, Gelson Fernandes, Fabian Frei, Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Renato Steffen, Denis Zakaria

Forwards: Breel Embolo, Haris Seferovic, Admir Mehmedi, Eren Derdiyok, Shani Tarashaj.

Expectations: Switzerland have never made it beyond the group stage at a European Championships but the talent on offer makes it near-inconceivable that such a record will continue in France. A squad containing players littered across Europe's finest divisions – Juventus' Stephan Lichtsteiner and new Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka being the stand-out names – and the momentum from an encouraging display at the World Cup should ensure they break new ground this summer and slalom their way to the sharp end of the tournament.

Manager: Vladimir Petković's inauspicious arrival into the hotseat with the Switzerland national team, following dismissal by Lazio, didn't help the prospect of replacing Ottmar Hitzfeld –who had just delivered another appearance in the knock-out stage at a World Cup. Despite an early loss to Slovenia in qualifying, the Swiss have recovered but recent friendly losses to the Republic of Ireland and Belgium have tempered expectations.

Prediction: Quarter-finals – Should Petkovic's side take advantage of their favourable group stage draw, then it should be plain sailing until the last eight where they could run into defending champions Spain. Either Poland or Ukraine are likely to await in the round of 16, neither of whom should provide a stern test.