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Played
May 26, 2012 5:00 p.m. IST
St. Jakob-Park — Basel
Referee:‬ A. Gautier‎
Attendance:‬ 27381‎
 

Switzerland - Germany Preview: Joachim Low expected to test youngsters ahead of Euro 2012

Xherdan Shaqiri could face off with a number of his future team-mates at St Jakob-Park as the World Cup semi-finalists gear up for next month's bid for continental glory

By Enis Koylu

More On :  Germany, Switzerland, Switzerland vs Germany
Germany, Joachim Low
Bongarts
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

SWITZERLAND

Benaglio
Lichtsteiner, Senderos, Djourou, Ziegler
Inler, Dzemaili
Shaqiri, Xhaka, Barnetta
Derdiyok
GERMANY

Wiese
Howedes, M'sacker, Hummels, Schmelzer
Khedira, Gundogan
Draxler, Ozil, Podolski
Klose

The main talking points in the Switzerland line-up will inevitably be Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, who will be playing for Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich respectively next season. Both should slot in alongside Bayer Leverkusen winger Tranquillo Barnetta in an attacking midfield triumvirate, behind Hoffenheim-bound forward Eren Derdiyok.

Valon Behrami has not been called up, leaving Blerim Dzemaili to play alongside his Napoli team-mate Gokhan Inler in midfield.

Having only recently joined the Germany squad, Joachim Low's Bayern contingent will likely start from the bench as the trainer looks to test some of his fringe players.

Tim Wiese is expected to get the nod in goal, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen could be given a first cap for the senior side, Benedikt Howedes and Marcel Schmelzer will occupy the full-back positions, with Per Mertesacker and Mats Hummels set to compete directly for a starting berth in central defence alongside Holger Badstuber in the Euro 2012 finals.

Ilkay Gundogan has impressed in training and is tipped to start alongside Sami Khedira in midfield, while Julian Draxler is anticipated to make his debut on the right wing. Fans can expect many changes at half-time as Low brings in more first-team players.

  DID YOU KNOW?

  • Switzerland quintet Diego Benaglio, Francois Affolter, Ricardo Rodriguez, Tranquillo Barnetta and Eren Derdiyok all ply their trades in Germany's Bundesliga.
  • Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld won a total of seven Bundesliga titles as a coach at both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
  • Xherdan Shaqiri has scored four goals in his nation's last six games.
  • Germany's first-ever international match was a 5-3 loss to Switzerland in 1908 - in Basel. Meanwhile, the first Germany matches after World War I, World War II, and the reunification of the country all took place against the Swiss.
  • If selected, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Julian Draxler (pictured right) will be making their Germany debuts.
  • Mesut Ozil amassed seven assists in qualifying for Euro 2012, the joint highest along with Sweden's Kim Kallstrom.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Switzerland 0-3 Germany
    19.28 %
  • Switzerland 1-3 Germany
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  • Switzerland 0-2 Germany
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Head to Head
International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ 26 May 2012 Switzerland 5 - Germany 3
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International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ 26 Mar 2008 Switzerland 0 - Germany 4
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International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ 7 Feb 2007 Germany 3 - Switzerland 1
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Last Five Matches
Switzerland
23 Mar 2013Cyprus 0 - Switzerland 0WCQE
6 Feb 2013Greece 0 - Switzerland 0FR
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26 Mar 2013Germany 4 - Kazakhstan 1WCQE
22 Mar 2013Kazakhstan 0 - Germany 3WCQE
6 Feb 2013France 1 - Germany 2FR
14 Nov 2012Netherlands 0 - Germany 0FR
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Odds
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Team News
Available Squads
1Diego BenaglioGoalkeeper
4Philippe SenderosDefender
6Reto ZieglerDefender
2Stephan LichtsteinerDefender
5Steve von BergenDefender
17Gerso FernandesMidfielder
8Gökhan InlerMidfielder
11Granit XhakaMidfielder
7Tranquillo BarnettaMidfielder
-Admir MehmediStriker
16Eren DerdiyokStriker
21Valentin StockerMidfielder
2Johan DjourouDefender
-Marc-Andre ter Stegen
4Benedikt HöwedesDefender
5Mats HummelsDefender
3Marcel SchmelzerDefender
17Per MertesackerDefender
19Mario GötzeMidfielder
8Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
9Andre SchürrleMidfielder
10Lukas PodolskiStriker
-Miroslav Klose
21Marco ReusMidfielder
2Ilkay GündoganMidfielder
31Julian DraxlerMidfielder
6Sven BenderMidfielder
15Lars BenderMidfielder
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