How many nationalities are in the Switzerland squad and what other countries could each player have represented?
Switzerland have one of the highest proportion of foreign players in the 2018 World Cup as around 65% of their squad has connections to other nations.
SWITZERLAND is just one of the many nations where foreign-born players make up a high proportion of their squads.
Attention was drawn to the multi-national nature of the squad when Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri infuriated Serbia fans by performing the Albanian Eagle celebration during their 2-1 win.
How many foreign-born players does the Switzerland team have in the squad?
There are eight foreign-born players in the Switzerland team, one of the highest in the tournament behind Tunisia, Senegal (both 9) and Morocco (17).
Three Swiss stars were born in Cameroon, with goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo, Francois Moubandje and Breel Embolo descending from the African nation.
Ivory Coast born Johan Djourou and Frankfurt midfielder Gelson Fernandes, who was born in Cape Verde, make up the African representation in the Swiss side.
Valon Behrami and Xherdan Shaqiri are both from Kosovo descent, with Blerim Dzemaili originating from the European nation of Macedonia.
What countries do the Switzerland team have connections with?
There are some stars who were born in Switzerland but have connections to other nations through their relatives.
Arsenal star Granit Xhaka was born to Albanian Kosovian parents. His brother, Taulant Xhaka, represents Albania in international football, with the two competing against each other at Euro 2016.
Josep Drmic was born to Croatian parents, while Mario Gavranovic’s parents moved to Switzerland from Bosnia the year before the striker was born.
Haris Seferovic is of Bosniak origin after his parents were born in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Manuel Akanji was born to a Nigerian father, Denis Zakaria’s parents have heritage to both Sudan and Congo, while defender Ricardo Rodriguez has a Chilean mother.
Which other countries could Switzerland’s players have played for?
- Francois Moubandje – Cameroon
- Manuel Akanji – Nigeria
- Breel Embolo – Cameroon
- Haris Seferovic – Bosnia
- Granit Xhaka – Albania, Kosovo
- Valon Behrami – Albania, Kosovo
- Yvon Mvogo – Cameroon
- Ricardo Rodriguez – Spain, Chile
- Blerim Dzemaili – Macedonia, Albania
- Gelson Fernandes – Cape Verde
- Denis Zakaria – South Sudan, Congo.
- Mario Gavranovic – Bosnia, Croatia
- Josip Drmic – Croatia
- Johan Djourou – Ivory Coast
- Xherdan Shaqiri – Albania, Kosovo