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World Cup 2018 power rankings

By James Dudko

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Per Mertesacker of Germany holds the trophy a loft during the 2014 World Cup final match between Germany and Argentina at The Maracana Stadium on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Per Mertesacker of Germany holds the trophy a loft during the 2014 World Cup final match between Germany and Argentina at The Maracana Stadium on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
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LUZERN, SWITZERLAND – MARCH 27: Granit Xhaka of Switzerland during the International Friendly match between Switzerland v Panama at the Luzern Arena on March 27, 2018 in Luzern Switzerland (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
LUZERN, SWITZERLAND – MARCH 27: Granit Xhaka of Switzerland during the International Friendly match between Switzerland v Panama at the Luzern Arena on March 27, 2018 in Luzern Switzerland (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

19. Switzerland

Just like Japan, Switzerland will suffer from missing a marquee striker. They also won’t be helped by being in Group E along with Brazil, Costa Rica and an underrated Serbia squad.

What the Swiss can rely on is Granit Xhaka keeping the ball well in midfield. The Arsenal midfielder is steady, thoughtful and efficient in possession.

Xhaka’s wand of a left foot can help set the pace of raiding wing-back Ricardo Rodriguez free. He can also make sure mercurial forward Xherdan Shaqiri sees enough of the ball to make a difference.

A defense littered with aging players could struggle, though. Stephan Lichtsteiner is 34, while Johan Djourou is 31. Fabian Schar is at least a composed and combative presence in the middle.

Yet a lack of goals is likely to ultimately let coach Vladimir Petkovic’s squad down.

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