Ricardo Rodriguez Could Equal 13th World Cup Mark Against Qatar
ricardo rodriguez is in line to make his 13th World Cup appearance against Qatar, a start that would tie Granit Xhaka for the Swiss record. Murat Yakin has not shown his hand yet, leaving the left-back decision at the center of Switzerland’s opener.
Yakin Keeps Qatar Lineup Closed
Yakin did not reveal his planned lineup before Switzerland’s opener, and the debate centers on whether Rodriguez starts or sits. The coach can choose between a back three and a back four, with Rodriguez the natural left-back in the latter and still an option in the former.
That flexibility was on display against Jordan, when Yakin used Denis Zakaria in a back three and Switzerland won 4-1. He has also shown a willingness to shift quickly when the match demands it, as he did in the 2024 Euro opener against Hungary, when Kwadwo Duah started and scored right away.
Rodriguez, 33, Still Drives Switzerland
Rodriguez is 33 and has made 138 international appearances since first making his mark on the national team 15 years ago in Wales. That match changed his role immediately: Reto Ziegler was sent off, and Rodriguez took over at left-back.
He remains one of Switzerland’s most experienced defenders, and Yakin said the squad is built to handle more than one structure. “I have a team that can play different systems. The players know how we play; that’s the most important thing. We have experienced players in defense and midfield who quickly know what to do.”
Xhaka Leaves Room for Surprises
Granit Xhaka said he does not know whether Rodriguez is on the bubble, and added that the coach sometimes likes to provoke one player or another a little bit to get them to show a bit more. Johan Manzambi is another lineup option, but Rodriguez was listed among the possible starters for Qatar.
If Yakin goes with him, Rodriguez will not just enter another World Cup match. He will also draw level with Xhaka for the Swiss record in World Cup appearances, a mark that would underline how long he has stayed in the middle of Switzerland’s biggest decisions.
