Behrami on brink of World Cup exit

Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami’s World Cup may be over after the player failed to overcome a knee injury.

Behrami, who can play in defence but usually starts on the left side of midfield, has been struggling with the injury for several days and did not play in the Swiss team’s World Cup opener with France which ended as a 0-0 draw in Stuttgart.

For the moment, 21-year-old Behrami is staying with the team but team doctor Roland Grossen admitted the prognosis was not good.

Grossen told www.football.ch, the Swiss Football Federation website: “If it becomes clear that he will not be able to play for us then we will send him home.”

Behrami had a scan on the injury yesterday but there was no new diagnosis or projected recovery time given.

Behrami, who plays for Lazio, scored Switzerland’s second goal in their first leg 2-0 World Cup play-off win with Turkey.