Switzerland

Switzerland are one of the more tactically flexible sides at this tournament. Manager Murat Yakin has more recently returned to the 3-4-3 possession shape that saw them to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, but the 4-2-3-1 we know them for (from virtually every international event the last decade) was their preferred qualifying shape. In any case, the spine of the team has remained constant with Gregor Kobel in goal, Manuel Akanji and Nico Elvedi in the central backline positions, Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler in midfield and Breel Embolo up front; it's the parts around them that have changed.

While Yakin's team sheet on any given day will depend on the opponent and player form, the one riddle he has seemingly been attempting to solve with many of these changes is how best to integrate Johan Manzambi, who has had an excellent season with SC Freiburg and can play literally any midfield or forward position. In the 3-4-3, he will likely operate as one of the no. 10s behind Embolo; in the back four shapes, it's a bit more open as Switzerland have a number of natural wide options in Fabian Rieder, Dan Ndoye, Michel Aebischer and Rubén Vargas to name a few. Another recent wrinkle in the most recent friendly against Australia was a 4-4-2 with Manzambi and Burnley striker Zeki Amdouni paired up front. If there's one team at this World Cup that won't line up the same way twice, Yakin's Switzerland are as good a bet as any.