Switzerland

Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld

World Ranking: Eighth

How they qualified: Cruised to top spot in their World Cup qualifying group, claiming 24 points from a possible 30 in their unbeaten run against the likes of Norway, Iceland and Slovenia.

Fixtures: Ecuador (15 June), France (20 June), Honduras (25 June)

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)

Forwards: Josip Drmic (Nuremberg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Expectations: After providing the shock of the competition four years ago in beating eventual winners Spain in their first game in South Africa, Ottmar Hitzfeld's side enter this competition as a side not to be taken lightly.

Related

One of the most decorated coaches in Bundesliga history has assembled a side who completed their group qualifying campaign at a canter and will feel confident of escaping a group devoid of stand-out quality. While words such as' disciplined' and 'organised' are terms that still bear resonance with the Swiss, the rise of one or two formidable attacking outlets leaves them well placed to join France in the next round.

Star man: Josip Drmic - The 21-year-old was on a one man mission to keep Nuremberg in Germany's top flight last season but despite his haul of 17 league goals the club were relegated. A remarkable season has already earned the 21-year-old a move to Bayer Leverkusen and with service from Xherdan Shaqiri and Grant Xhaka to rely on in Brazil, he will have the opportunities to enhance his growing profile.

Prediction: Second round: Although it was a 0-0 draw with Honduras that denied them a place in the knock out stages four years ago, a well-drilled Switzerland side should be able to see off their challenge and that of Ecuador this time around. Whichever France side decide to show up this summer, it should be enough to see Hitzfeld's men guarantee themselves a place in the second round.