Switzerland will start their FIFA World Cup warm-up
schedule with the visit of Jamaica on Friday.
The Swiss have a short programme of fixtures compared to
many of their World Cup rivals, with just Peru left to face before their
tournament gets underway against Ecuador on June 15.
It could be argued that the relative lack of preparation
prevents Ottmar Hitzfeld's men from having the opportunity to slip out of the
form that has seen them become one of international football's form sides over
the past few years.
Switzerland have not lost a competitive fixture since a
2-0 defeat to Wales in 2011, and are the only team to beat World Cup hosts
Brazil in their last 19 matches.
But Hitzfeld will be forced to do without experienced
campaigner Tranquillo Barnetta and Zurich striker Mario Gavranovic, who are currently
recovering from hamstring and ankle injuries respectively.
"Gavranovic now begins again with the running
training and next week should be able to train with the team again," said
the national coach, who is set to retire from football at the end of the
tournament and will be replaced by Vladimir Petkovic.
And there was even better news of Barnetta, with Hitzfeld
adding: "I'm assuming that he is fully fit again this weekend.
"The fact that we have a couple of ailing players is
normal."
Jamaica, who will use this fixture as preparation for
forthcoming Caribbean Cup and Copa America campaigns, have only once qualified
for a World Cup - in 1998 - so Switzerland will surely view Friday's match as a
chance to reacquaint themselves with their team-mates ahead of an undoubtedly
tougher tie against Peru.
Hitzfeld feels the competition for places is greater now
than it was ahead of the 2010 finals, in which Switzerland failed to progress
from their group despite springing a major surprise by beating Spain - who went
on to win the tournament - in their opening game.
"We have trained incredibly intense in Weggis over
the past four days," he added. "Competition is greater than four
years ago before the World Cup in South Africa.
"We must lay the foundation for Brazil here."
Culled from Soccerway
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