Injury blows for Swiss football team

Trossero (right) must do without Chapuisat and several other key players Keystone

Switzerland will be without four of their strongest attacking players for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against the Faroe Islands and Slovenia.

Following forced withdrawals by Ricardo Cabanas, Léonard Thurre and Hakan Yakin, coach Enzo Trossero has now learned that he will definitely be without Grasshoppers Zurich striker Stéphane Chapuisat.

Chapuisat, who was only able to play in last Saturday’s league championship decider against St Gallen after taking painkillers, pulled out of the squad after speaking to team doctor Roland Biedert on Monday.

“It’s not going to happen,” Chapuisat said. “My ankle is heavily swollen and I’m going to need two to three weeks rest.”

Even without the influential Chapuisat, the Swiss team are not expected to struggle greatly in Saturday’s away match against the minnows of the Faroe Islands. But the absence of Chapuisat and the other players could be felt in Basel four days later when Switzerland play host to their strong rivals from Slovenia.

Alex Frei, Johann Lonfat and Sébastien Fournier are also to undergo further medical tests before the game in the Faroe Islands. But all three are still expected to be fit for the match.

Trossero, who has had to contend with some staggering injury lists during his time in charge, can at least take some comfort from the return of captain Ciriaco Sforza following the Bayern Munich midfielder’s own lengthy lay-off.

swissinfo with agencies