Defender Nef recalled to Switzerland squad

Defender Nef recalled to Switzerland squad

Published Nov. 4, 2011 1:20 p.m. ET

Defender Alain Nef was recalled to the Switzerland squad on Friday after a two-year absence for friendlies against the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Nef last played for the national team in a World Cup qualifier against Greece in September 2009.

At 29, he is the oldest player in coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's 21-player squad to face the Dutch in Amsterdam on Nov. 11, then travel to play Luxembourg four days later.

The team includes FC Basel's trio of attackers Xherdan Shaqiri, Fabian Frei and Granit Xhaka.

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Hitzfeld's team was eliminated from the 2012 European Championship, but has been drawn in Europe's weakest qualification group for the 2014 World Cup. It will play Norway, Slovenia, Albania, Cyprus and Iceland.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich)

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Johann Djourou (Arsenal), Steve Von Bergen (Cesena), Alain Nef (Young Boys), Timm Klose (Nuremberg), Reto Ziegler (Fenerbahce), Ricardo Rodriguez (FC Zurich)

Midfielders: David Degen (Young Boys), Valon Behrami (Fiorentina), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Leicester), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel), Fabian Frei (FC Basel)

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Innocent Emeghara (Lorient), Admir Mehmedi (Zurich), Granit Xhaka (Basel)

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