- travelsportblog
FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualified Team: Switzerland
Football
Switzerland first played at the World Cup in Italy 1934 reaching the quarter final stage. They again reached the quarterfinal when they hosted the World Cup in 1954. Switzerland has had some brilliant players. Xherdan Shaqiri will be playing his third World Cup at Qatar 2022.
Still only 29, he has scored 23 goals for his country and features for Chicago Fire in the MLS. Switzerland’s highest goal scorer is Alexander Frei with 42 goals in 84 games and had a great run in Germany 2006. Leading Switzerland will be their captain Granit Xhaka who had a brilliant run in Russia 2018 and currently has 92 caps for Switzerland. Switzerland will need his great tackling in the midfield if they want to get out of group G.
Travel
German, French and Italian are the three official languages of Switzerland. Unless you are into Winter Sports, the best time to visit the country is from April to October.
Lucerne has covered bridges, waterfront promenades, painted historic buildings, and sun-kissed plazas with gushing fountains. Lucerne is famous for it’s music concerts. World class soloists, conductors, and orchestras converge at the annual International Music Festival in the Culture and Convention Center.
Visit famous tourist spots like the Chapel Bridge and Lion monuments, and the Swiss Transport Museum which are all a must see for history enthusiasts.
Lucerne is tucked around Lake Lucerne and is located at the bottom of the Alps mountain range. Lake Lucerne offers water sports and boat rides, or go hiking in the nearby mountains. Take a ride on the world’s steepest cogwheel rail which climbs 1635 vertical meters from Alpnach to Pilatus. From there you can grab a cable car ride to the peak of the mountain.
Zurich is Switzerland’s biggest city and a central transportation hub. This clean cut banking town has a host of cultural attractions. Start with a walking tour of the cobbled streets in the Old Town and visit the lovely shops and cafés located all throughout the city.
The mile-long Bahnofstrassee has some of the best great boutique designer stores in Europe selling jewelry, fashion, and watches.
There are over 100 galleries and 50 museums including the Swiss National Museum and the fantastic Zurich Zoo. You can also take a train ride through the city and countryside to the Uetliberg Mountain.
Lake Zurich is one of Switzerland's biggest lakes and a whole lot of fun. The lake offers boat rides, fishing, swimming and also hiking. If all that sounds too hectic just relax at the lake and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery.
Bern is the capital of Switzerland and oozes charm. Bern’s old town is a popular UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk along the cobbled streets or take in the gothic Bern Minster which is the tallest cathedral in the country. Be sure to visit the Zytglogge, a medieval clock tower that has special moving puppets, or the Rosengarten which offers stunning views from the old town center.
Art lovers will lose themselves in the wonderful galleries. Be sure to visit the Renaissance-style parliament building or the family-friendly Bear Park.
For the Foodies
Swiss Fondue is a religion. The fondue is a pot of Emmental and Gruyere cheese bubbling with white wine. You dip your cubes of bread into the fondue and enjoy spending time with friends and family.
Raclette is another cheese-centric dish especially among the French speaking part of the country. This cheese is melted under the grill, then topped onto boiled potatoes and served with pickled onions and gherkins.
Swiss wines are hardly known outside of Switzerland because they are rarely exported. Be sure to buy a few bottles to take home to your friends. The most famous vineyards are found in the hillsides around Lake Geneva.
What is your favorite part of Switzerland?
