Gunners pair in Swiss squad

Arsenal duo Philippe Senderos and Johan Djourou have been named in Switzerland’s World Cup squad.

Djourou, 19, who can play in defence or midfield, has made 12 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions this season.

Hakan Yakin is the notable absentee from Switzerland’s squad. The 29-year-old attacking midfielder has missed much of the season with a groin injury but staked his claim for a berth in coach Kobi Kuhn’s squad with some decent displays for Young Boys at the end of the campaign.

However, Kuhn has opted to go with uncapped Basle midfielder David Degen instead of Yakin.

“Yakin is a talented player, but we have a lot of other talented players to choose from,” Kuhn said.

“I watched his last couple of games and could see how much he improved under pressure. But I also have to put the team first. I spoke to him about my decision and I think he has accepted it, with a heavy heart of course.”

Alexander Frei, who was at one stage a doubt for the tournament after sustaining a serious injury on club duty with French side Rennes earlier this season, is one of four strikers in the party.

The Switzerland squad for the 2006 World Cup is:

Pascal Zuberbuhler (Basle), Fabio Coltorti (Grasshoppers), Diego Benaglio (CD Nacional); Johan Djourou (Arsenal), Ludovic Magnin (Stuttgart), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Valon Behrami (Lazio), Patrick Muller (Lyon), Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund); Xavier Margairaz (FC Zurich), Johann Vogel (AC Milan), Ricardo Cabanas (Cologne), Raphael Wicky (Hamburg), Daniel Gygax (Lille), David Degen (Basle), Blerim Dzemaili (FC Zurich), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen); Alexander Frei (Rennes), Marco Streller (Cologne), Mauro Lustrinelli (Sparta Prague), Johan Vonlanthen (NAC Breda).