Djourou returns to Switzerland squad

By foxsports
Published

Arsenal defender Johan Djourou returned to the Switzerland squad on Thursday 15 months after seriously injuring his knee while training with the national team.

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld picked Djourou in a 20-player squad to face Ukraine in a friendly match in Geneva next Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Djourou missed likely selection for the World Cup after injuring his left knee in practice for an August 2009 friendly against Italy.

Hitzfeld also called up fit-again West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami on Thursday for the first time since he was sent off against Chile in South Africa. The Swiss were eliminated in the opening group phase despite beating eventual world champion Spain 1-0.

Switzerland will be captained against Ukraine by Alex Frei in what could be his last international match in front of fans who have jeered him in recent Swiss home games.

Frei, who is Switzerland's record scorer with 40 goals, said last week he would retire from international football after a 2012 European Championship qualifier against England at Wembley next June.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys)

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Francois Affolter (Young Boys), Johan Djourou (Arsenal), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Steve Von Bergen (Cesena), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria)

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (West Ham), Gelson Fernandes (Chievo), David Degen (Young Boys), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Xavier Margairaz (Zurich), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel), Valentin Stocker (FC Basel)

Forwards: Alex Frei (FC Basel), Marco Streller (FC Basel), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne)