Switzerland squad are lacking Stiel

SWITZERLAND coach Koebi Kuhn has left injured captain Joerg Stiel out of his 19-man squad to face Russia in next week’s critical Group 10 qualifier.

Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Stiel has a knee injury and will miss the group leaders’ trip to Moscow on September 10. He could also miss Switzerland’s last Group 10 match against Ireland on October 11.

Kuhn has handed spots both to FC Basel midfielder Benjamin Huggel and FC Thun striker Milaim Rama after they won their first caps in Switzerland’s last game, a 2-0 friendly defeat to France last month.

Switzerland are still without influential playmaker Hakan Yakin, who is recovering from a groin operation.

Goalkeepers: Borer (Grasshoppers), Zuberbühler (FC Basel)

Defenders: Meyer (1860 Munich), Müller (Lyon), Murat Yakin (FC Basel), Berner (Freiburg), Zwyssig (FC Basel), Henchoz (Liverpool), Magnin (Werder Bremen), Spycher (Grasshoppers)

Midfielders: Cabanas (Guingamp), Celestini (Marseille), Vogel (PSV Eindhoven), Wicky (Hamburg SV), Cantaluppi (FC Basel), Huggel (FC Basel)

Strikers: Chapuisat (Young Boys), Frei (Stades Rennes) Rama (FC Thun).