Road to Qatar: how Switzerland qualified for World Cup 2022 - in pictures

We look at how Xherdan Shaqiri and Co sealed their spot at the finals

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  HOW SWITZERLAND QUALIFIED FOR WORLD CUP 2022: (Group C): March 25, 2021. Bulgaria 1 (Despodov 46') Switzerland 3 (Embolo 7', Seferovic 10', Zuber 13'): Three goals in the first 13 minutes sealed the Swiss win with Breel Embolo, Haris Seferovic and Steven Zuber scoring in quick succession. Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic said: “It was a tremendous start from us. Scoring three goals so early was fantastic. We could relax a bit.” EPA

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  March 28, 2021. Switzerland 1 (Shaqiri 2') Lithuania 0: An early goal from then Liverpool player Xherdan Shaqiri was enough to make it two wins from two matches for the Swiss. “If you don’t make the most of your chances you could end up in trouble.," said Petkovic. "I was pleased with our energy but we had enough opportunities to win by a bigger margin.” Getty

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  September 5, 2021. Switzerland 0 Italy 0: A good point in the end for the Swiss as Jorginho missed a second-half penalty for the Euro 2020 winners who had now gone 36 games unbeaten. "We played as a real team tonight and with great solidity against a strong opponent," said Murat Yakin, who had replaced Petkovic as Swiss manager. "Every player pushed himself beyond his limits." AP

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  September 8, 2021. Northern Ireland 0 Switzerland 0: Haris Seferovic saw a weak first-half penalty saved for the visitors in Belfast as Switzerland had to settle for a second goalless draw in successive games. They were now second in the table, six points behind leaders Italy but with two games in hand. AP

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  October 9, 2021. Switzerland 2 (Zuber 45+3' Fassnacht 90+1') Northern Ireland 0: Two injury-time goals at the end of each half earned Switzerland a vital three points against opponents who were reduced to 10 men in the first half. Switzerland attacker Xherdan Shaqiri said: "We knew it was going to be a tough game because Northern Ireland are defensively a good team. After the red card the game opened up and it was more simple for us to play and create chances." PA

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  October 12, 2021. Lithuania 0 Switzerland 4 (Embolo 31', 45', Steffen 42', Gavranovic 90+4'): A first-half double from Breel Embolo put Switzerland on the way to a comfortable victory in Vilnius that left them level on points at the top of table with Italy after playing six games each. Reuters

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  November 12, 2021. Italy 1 (Di Lorenzo 36') Switzerland 1 (Widmer 11'): A Silvan Widmer piledriver put the visitors in front before Giovanni Di Lorenzo headed home. Jorginho blazed a last-minute penalty over the bar for Italy - his second miss from the spot in a row against the Swiss. "I think we were better in the first half, while Italy were better in the second, so the result is fair," said Shaqiri. EPA

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  November 15, 2021. Switzerland 4 (Okafor 48', Vargas 57', Itten 72', Freuler 90+1') Bulgaria 0: An unforgettable night for the Swiss after they trounce Bulgaria and Italy can only draw at Northern Ireland, meaning automatic qualification for Murat Yakin's side. "After we went 1-0 up, it was like an assembly line. And now we're celebrating," said goalscorer Noah Okafor. "I'm incredibly proud of everyone here.” AP

Switzerland made it five World Cup finals appearances in a row by qualifying for Qatar – but there were some major obstacles along the way before they booked their ticket for the Middle East extravaganza.

Their qualification campaign was just two games old when Bosnian manager Vladimir Petkovic, the most successful coach in Switzerland's history, jumped ship after seven years in the job to take over at French side Bordeaux.

Petkovic was replaced by Basel-born Murat Yakin, who had won 49 caps for Switzerland during his playing career and left Swiss second-tier side Schaffhausen to take over.

For Yakin to secure automatic qualification from Group C, it would mean knocking European champions Italy off the top spot – a feat Switzerland managed in thrilling fashion after the last round of matches.

They finished two points clear of Roberto Mancini's side, who would go on to miss out on Qatar after losing to North Macedonia in the play-offs.

Cameroon-born forward Breel Embolo would finish as their top scorer with three goals. In Qatar, they have been drawn in Group G against Brazil, Serbia and Cameroon.

In the gallery above, you can see how Switzerland qualified for the finals that kick off on November 20. To view the next image, click on the arrows or just swipe if on a mobile device.

Switzerland's fixtures in Qatar

November 24 Switzerland v Cameroon – Al Janoub Stadium (2pm)

November 28 Brazil v Switzerland – Stadium 974 (8pm)

December 2 Serbia v Switzerland – Stadium 974 (11pm)