Switzerland
Group:
G
First Match:
November 24, 2022, 6 PM SGT
Stadium:
Al Janoub Stadium
Fans in Switzerland probably didn't think their team would win their group halfway through the qualification season, but after Italy lost 4 of their remaining 5 matches, the Swiss finished first.
They have made it to the tournament proper for the fifth time in a row, and the twelfth time overall, and they are hoping to improve upon their previous best of attempting to reach the Round of 16 in 4 of the 5 most recent tournaments they have participated in (the other being an elimination in the group stage).
They advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championships, where they were eliminated by eventual champion Spain on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw. They started the summer Nations League off with three consecutive losses but got their first victory with a victory over Portugal.
Key Player: Breel Embolo (Monaco)
Embolo, who is now 25 years old, has spent the vast majority of his professional career in Germany, where he has played for Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach for a combined six seasons. He relocated to the French Riviera earlier this summer after signing an SGD 17 million contract with Monaco.
In 2021, Embolo had his finest year for his country, scoring four goals in ten games, including one score in the EUROs and 3 scores during qualification.