Switzerland picks 3 teenagers in final Euro 2016 squad

Posted May 30, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Swiss forward Granit Xhaka, left, challenges for the ball with Belgian Axel Witsel, center, next to Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, right, during a friendly soccer match between Switzerland and Belgium, at the stade de Geneve stadium, in Geneva, Switzerland, Saturday, May 28, 2016. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) The Associated Press

LUGANO, Switzerland (AP) - Switzerland has three 19-year-olds in its final European Championship squad of 23 players that features new Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic was expected to pick Basel forward Breel Embolo, and on Monday also selected teenagers Nico Elvedi and Denis Zakaria.

Elvedi, a defender with Borussia Moenchengladbach, and Young Boys midfielder Zakaria both made international debuts on Saturday in a 2-1 loss to Belgium in Geneva.

Zakaria takes a holding midfielder's place left vacant when Petkovic left out former captain Gokhan Inler over a lack of playing time at Leicester.

Petkovic also omitted defenders Philippe Senderos and Silvan Widmer, and midfielder Luca Zuffi, who had been on the provisional squad.

Switzerland's final warmup match is against Moldova in Lugano on Friday.

Switzerland is in host France's group at Euro 2016 along with Albania and Romania.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Roman Buerki (Borussia Dortmund), Marwin Hitz (Augsburg)

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Michael Lang (Basel), Johan Djourou (Hamburger SV), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Fabian Schaer (Hoffenheim), Francois Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg)

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Watford), Blerim Dzemaili (Genoa), Gelson Fernandes (Rennes), Fabian Frei (Mainz), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke), Denis Zakaria (Young Boys)

Forwards: Breel Embolo (Basel), Haris Seferovic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Admir Mehmedi (Bayer Leverkusen), Eren Derdiyok (Kasimpasa), Shani Tarashaj (Everton).

Belgian Jordan Lukaku, left, challenges for the ball with Swiss forward Xherdan Shaqiri, right, during a friendly soccer match between Switzerland and Belgium, at the stade de Geneve stadium, in Geneva, Switzerland, Saturday, May 28, 2016. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) The Associated Press

Swiss head coach Vladimir Petkovic waits for the start of a friendly soccer match between Switzerland and Belgium, at the stade de Geneve stadium, in Geneva, Switzerland, Saturday, May 28, 2016. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) The Associated Press

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