MATCH 03 PREVIEW : LESSER LIGHTS HOPE TO SHINE

Chapuisat the star
Kuhn's talisman in Portugal is striker Stéphane Chapuisat. At 34, Chapuisat is in the twilight of a splendid career that has brought acclaim as a national hero. The legs may be slower, but Chapuisat remains a subtle, intelligent front-runner. Alexander Frei - a prolific marksman for Stade Rennais FC in France last season - partners him in a potent attacking combination of power and stealth.

Hakan Yakin's role
Against Croatia, Hakan Yakin will be crucial in supplying the ammunition to Chapuisat and Frei from a position behind the front two. The skilful Yakin, now with VfB Stuttgart after excelling in Europe with FC Basel 1893, is the fulcrum of Switzerland's attacking play.

Vogel recovered
Elsewhere in a 4-3-1-2 formation, PSV Eindhoven's Johan Vogel - recovered from a thigh injury - takes the vital holding role in midfield, while Patrick Müller of Olympique Lyonnais and Basel's Murat Yakin - brother of Hakan - are an uncompromising central defensive pairing. However, defensive stability has been a recurring problem in a stuttering warm-up campaign - something that Croatia are ideally placed to exploit.

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