Switzerland has star power in striker Ramona Bachmann
This will be the first World Cup for Switzerland. But that doesn't mean it's an easy group to beat. Though there might not be much depth, the team's core group of players play for some of the top foreign clubs. And they're coached by Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who played in three World Cups for Germany, including a runner-up finish in 1995.
Key Players
Lara Dickenmann:Dickenmann, 29, leads the Swiss with 40 goals and 98 caps. In 2004, she enrolled at Ohio State and became one of the Buckeyes most decorated players in history, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors three times. The midfielder played for French giant Olympique Lyon and led the club to five league titles two UEFA women's Champions Leagues. She currently plays for VfL Wolfsburg.
Ramona Bachmann: Bachman is the reason Switzerland is a dark horse contender for this summer's World Cup. The fearless 24-year-old striker has scored 32 goals, has 59 caps, and has been playing professionally for eight years. She's been compared to Marta and can often be seen taking on three or four defenders at a time.
About the team
Coach: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
Though Switzerland has never been to the World Cup, the team has a heck of a former player as its coach. Voss-Tecklenburg played in three World Cups with Germany in 1991, '95 and '99, won the German championship six times, the German Cup four times and a European championship with the national team. She's been the Swiss head coach since 2012.
How they qualified: First in UEFA group play
Number of appearances: 1
FIFA world ranking: No. 19
Fast fact: Switzerland was the first European team to qualify for the World Cup.
Schedule (ET)
June 8; 9 p.m., Japan, Vancouver
June 12; 6 p.m.; Ecuador, Vancouver
June 16; 1 p.m.; Cameroon (Edmonton)