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Trossero names two new players

Magnin was selected six days short of his 30th birthday Keystone Archive

Switzerland manager Enzo Trossero has drafted in two new players in his squad for the next two World Cup qualifiers. The team are due to play the Faroe Islands on Saturday June 2 and then Slovenia on Wednesday June 6.

The 23-year-old Grasshoppers defender, Bruno Gerber, and the 29-year-old Lugano striker, Joël Magnin, have both been named in the 22-man squad. Team captain Ciriaco Sforza is also recalled after a long spell out of the side through injury.

Sforza will join the team on Monday after he returns from a trip to New York with his club Bayern Munich, the newly crowned Champions League winners. The German champions are due to play on Saturday against the MetroStars in a testimonial match for former Bayern favourite Lothar Matthäus.

While the selection of Berner was widely anticipated after a string of strong performances, the choice of Magnin was unexpected.

“He is the kind of player that every team wants,” said Trossero. “He can play anywhere. What interests me is that he is can play as an attacking midfielder.”

Swiss squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Pascolo (Grasshoppers), Stiel (St Gallen), Pédat (Servette, standby).

Defenders: Berner (Grasshoppers), Henchoz (Liverpool), Mazzarelli (Bari), Patrick Müller (Lyon), Quentin (Zurich), Vega (Celtic), Zellweger (St Gallen), Zwyssig (St Gallen).

Midfielders/Forwards: Cabanas (Grasshoppers), Chapuisat (Grasshoppers), Fournier (Servette), Frei (Servette), Lombardo (Lausanne), Lonfat (Servette), Joël Magnin (Lugano), Sforza (Bayern Munich), Thurre (Servette), Vogel (PSV Eindhoven), Wicky (Atletico Madrid), Hakan Yakin (Basel).

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