Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos was named in Switzerland’s World Cup squad despite his lack of regular action over the last two years.

Senderos has found first-team appearances hard to come by despite loan spells at AC Milan and Everton, but national team coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes the 25-year-old deserves a chance to go to the World Cup.

He said: “Philippe has always repaid us with good performances.”

The German largely kept faith with the players who booked Switzerland’s place in South Africa, calling up West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami.

Hitzfeld did make one surprise addition in the form of Xherdan Shaqiri, an 18-year-old Kosovo-born winger who plays his club football for Swiss side Basle.

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (Zurich), Marco Wolfli (Young Boys)

Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hannover), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria)

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (West Ham), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne), Benjamin Huggel (Basle), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basle)

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexander Frei (Basle), Blaise Nkufo (FC Twente), Marco Streller (Basle), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne)

June 16  Spain (15.00 BST)  Win 12/1, Lose 1/3, Draw 43/10
June 21  Chile (15.00 BST)  Win 27/11, Lose 6/5, Draw 12/5
June 25  Honduras (19.30 BST)  Win 5/6, Lose 15/4, Draw 13/5

To win World Cup: 250/1 (totesport, SportingBet)