Profile

Plagued by injuries over the past year, first-choice right-back Philipp Degen also missed Switzerland's two pre-UEFA EURO 2008 warm-up games with a muscle tear. Unlike his twin brother David, however, he has been included in Jakob Kuhn's squad. The pacy 25-year-old is due to move from BV Borussia Dortmund to Liverpool FC after the tournament.

Began with FC Basel 1893, making gradual progress until he was a mainstay of Christian Gross's Swiss title-winning team in 2003/04 and 2004/05; missed 2003 Swiss Cup final win v Neuchâtel Xamax FC (6-0).

Played 12 UEFA Cup games with Basel but no appearances in UEFA Champions League.

Claimed right-back berth in national team with excellent performance away to France in FIFA World Cup qualifier (0-0) – his first competitive international; kept place for remainder of qualifiers and for all four games at finals, in which Switzerland conceded no goals.

Left Basel for Dortmund in 2005; three seasons of declining fortunes with Bundesliga club; restricted to ten appearances in injury-scarred 2007/08 campaign.

Did you know?

Degen's brother David joined him in Switzerland's 2006 World Cup squad but did not play.