Soccer: Hitzfeld makes Shaqiri surprise Swiss World Cup pick

Teenage midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri was a surprise selection in Switzerland's 23-man squad for the World Cup on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old Shaqiri made his club debut for FC Basel last July, and has played just 45 minutes of international football - in a 3-1 friendly loss against Uruguay in March.

"Shaqiri has produced some good performance for Basel and he can play several positions," Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said.

He watched Shaqiri star in the Swiss Cup final on Sunday, and said the Kosovo-born youngster could lift any team with his fresh approach.

Hitzfeld selected Philippe Senderos despite the defender being largely out of favor this season at Arsenal and on loan to Everton.

"Senderos has had only a little match practice at club level, but he has always justified my confidence," said the veteran German coach, who identified Stephane Grichting as his defensive leader.

There was no place for another Arsenal defender, Johan Djourou, who returned to action last Sunday after injuring his left knee on national team duty last August.

Hitzfeld said he placed trust in his players by picking his intended 23 for South Africa, even though FIFA set a June 1 deadline to name a final roster.

Hitzfeld retained nine of the players taken by predecessor Koebi Kuhn to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where the Swiss reached the round of 16. They lost to Ukraine in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.

Alex Frei, who was substituted in extra time of that defeat, will lead the team in South Africa and look to add to his national record tally of 40 international goals.

Midfielder Benjamin Huggel is going to his first World Cup after being suspended four years ago. FIFA handed Huggel a six-match ban for his part in violent scenes at the final whistle of Switzerland's November 2005 playoff victory over Turkey in Istanbul.

Switzerland is in Group H and plays tournament favorite Spain on June 16, Chile on June 21 and Honduras on June 25.

Hitzfeld will prepare his squad at a high-altitude training camp in the Swiss Alps, before playing warmup matches against Costa Rica, at Sion on June 2, and world champion Italy in Geneva on June 5.

Switzerland's squad:

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

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Mario Eggimann (Hannover), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria).

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (West Ham), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Benjamin Huggel (Basel), Gelson Fernandes (St. Etienne), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria).

Forwards: Alex Frei (Basel), Blaise Nkufo (Twente), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne), Marco Streller (Basel).

- AP