How they got there:No problems for the Swiss - they qualify directly as hosts.
Coach- Kobi Kuhn: Kuhn's success has been to bring through the young players he worked with in his old role as under-21 coach, though Ottmar Hitzfeld is lined up to succeed him after the finals.
Star player- Alexander Frei: A predator who has scored goals galore in club football in Switzerland, France and Germany, though an injury has disrupted his season with Borussia Dortmund and it remains to be seen if he can rediscover his form.
Tactics:Kuhn usually opts for a 4-4-2 system, with Tranquillo Barnetta providing the creativity behind the first-choice strike force of Frei and Marco Streller.
Strengths:Home advantage should be a plus, provided expectations are kept to realistic levels. A number of the squad have been playing together for over five years in the national set-up at under-21 and senior level and that togetherness is a real benefit.
Weaknesses:Sometimes the Swiss have been guilty of being too cautious - they lost to Ukraine on penalties at the last World Cup on penalties when they opted to sit back rather than take the game to a team they should have been capable of beating. They will also have the usual lack of competitive sharpness that comes with being tournament hosts.
Verdict:If they can beat the Czechs in the first game qualification is a real possibility - but if not, then neighbours Germany will prove too much of an obstacle and the hosts would most likely bow out.
If they were a band they would be: Neutral Milk Hotel
Helpful translation- "Können wir nicht Null gerade bleiben?" is "Can't we just stay neutral?"
