ZURICH -- Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri is the star player in a youthful 23-man Switzerland squad selected for the World Cup.
#INSERT type:image caption:Xherdan Shaqiri will lead from the front. END#
The oldest player picked by Ottmar Hitzfeld on Tuesday is central defender Steve von Bergen, who turns 31 five days before the Swiss open play on June 15 against Ecuador in Group E.
The Swiss also play France on June 20 and Honduras on June 25.
Forward Josip Drmic was picked the day after joining Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year contract from newly-relegated Nuremberg of the Bundesliga. Drmic's new club teammate, forward Eren Derdiyok, and Fulham midfielder Pajtim Kasami were left on a stand-by list of seven players.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Yann Sommer (Basel), Roman Buerki (Grasshoppers).
Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Michael Lang (Grasshoppers), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Fabian Schaer (Basel), Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Johan Djourou (Hamburger SV), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo).
Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Valentin Stocker (Basel), Tranquillo Barnetta (Schalke), Gelson Fernandes (Freiburg), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad), Josip Drmic (Bayer Leverkusen), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich).
Standby: Marwin Hitz (Augsburg), Timm Klose (Wolfsburg), Silvan Widmer (Udinese), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Pajtim Kasami (Fulham), Fabian Frei (Basel), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen).