Name: Tranquillo Barnetta
Age: 24
Club: Bayer Leverkeusen
International Caps: 41
International Goals: 6
Barnetta has been an ever present in the Leverkusen midfield for the last four years, impressing either as a tough tackling midfielder or winger in one of the world's most competitive leagues.
The 24-year-old started his career with Swiss side St Gallen, and his vast potential was spotted immediately.
Leverkusen signed him in January 2004 and loaned him to German outfit Hannover 96 to gain more first team experience in the Bundesliga. He was the one highlight in a disappointing 2006 World Cup for Switzerland, who were eliminated at the group stages.
However, his impressive performances paved the way for him to break into the Leverkusen first team, where he has stayed ever since.
Switzerland have a great chance to progress to the knock out stages this time around, having been drawn in Group H along with European champions Spain, Honduras and Chile.
Be sure that, if progress is made, Barnetta will be the engine driving his team's success.
THE STORY SO FAR...
No 36: Jozy Altidore
No 37: Robert Koren
No 38: Teko Modise
No 39: Simon Kjaer
No 40: Jong Tae-Se
No 41: Nadir Belhadj
No 42: Roque Santa Cruz
No 43: Park Ji-Sung
No 44: Nikola Zigic
No 45: Yaya Toure
No 46: Angelos Charisteas
No 47: Keisuke Honda
No 48: Hugo Lloris
No 49: Mario Gomez
No 50: Guiseppe Rossi
Source: DSG
