Hitzfeld promotes Derdiyok to senior squad
Ottmar Hitzfeld has called up Basel striker Eren Derdiyok into his squad for Switzerland's crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Latvia and Greece.
The 20-year-old Derdiyok replaces his Basel teammate Marco Streller, who is still recovering from a muscle injury that has kept him out of the national team since the first game of Euro 2008 in June.
Derdiyok was originally selected for the Under-21 squad which faces Spain in a two-legged European Under-21 Championship play-off tie.
Also on Monday, Hertha Berlin defender Steve von Bergen pulled out of the Swiss squad so he can be treated in Germany for a sciatic nerve problem. Hitzfeld will not call up a replacement to his 20-man roster which hosts Latvia at St Gallen on Saturday and travels to Greece on October 15.
Switzerland are fifth out of six their group with one point from their first two games, which included a stunning 2-1 loss at home to Luxembourg. The group also includes Israel and Moldova.
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