Photo: Xherdan Shaqiri should lead the line for Switzerland (Getty Images)
The World Cup in well and truly in full swing and come day four another South American outfit Ecuador will take on Switzerland in the day’s opening encounter. The Ecuadorians are a powerful team physically but they will meet their match in their Swiss opponents who are quite robust themselves as well as mobile and crafty.
La Tri finished in fourth spot which is the final automatic qualification spot in CONMEBOL reaching their third World Cup. They are capable of playing some good football and and have a few players with great quality. The Swiss were unbeaten during qualification and conceded just six times in ten games. They play a high pressing game and always look to use the channels to break on the counter.
Reinaldo Rueda should have Maximo Banguera in goal behind Flamengo’s Frickson Erazo in central defense. Walter Ayovi of Pachuca and Watford’s Juan Carlos Paredes should operate in the full back positions.
Dynamo Moscow’s Christian Noboa and Edison Mendes of Santa Fe should be in midfield with the attack being lead by Manchster United’s Antonio Valencia. He should be given support by Jefferson Montero of Morelia and striker Felipe Caicedo of Al-Jazira. Caicedo has taken on the mantle up front since the passing of Christian Benitez during qualifications.
The Swiss will have the ever reliable Diego Benaglio in goal and he should be protected by the defensive pair of Steve von Bergen of Young Boys and Basel’s young star Fabian Schar in central defense. Wolfsburg impressive left back Ricardo Rodriguez is expected to bomb forward and the same for Stephan Lichtsteiner of Juventuson the right.
Napoli’s central midfield pair of Valon Behrami and skipper Gokhan Inler will sit in central midfield and expected to push the team up, pressing the ball high up the pitch. Star man Xherdan Shaqiri of Bayern Munich should lead the attack with Hertha Berlin’s Valentin Stocker, Granit Xhaka of Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen’s Josip Drmic supporting him.
This should be a close and an exciting fixture but La Nati is expected to leave with all three points. Their professionalism, high energy and pressing game may be too much for La Tri to handle. Switzerland has great pace in attack and their counter-attacking game is of the highest order with Inler spraying passes out quickly to Stocker and Shaqiri in the channels.
Players to Watch:
Ecuador: Antonio Valencia, Felipe Caicedo,Jefferson Montero
Switzerland: Xherdan Shaqiri, Gokhan Inler, Valentin Stocker
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