Position: Defender
Born: 15.02.83
Club: Borussia Dortmund

Philipp Degen is one of Switzerland's most promising talents in a secure defensive line-up.

The attacking right-back is assured of his place in the side at the World Cup having impressed hugely in nine of his country's qualifying games.

He made his debut in the February 2005 friendly against United Arab Emirates and since then has never looked back.

At club level Degen started his career with his local side Basle who he played for as a teenager. His talents sparked a lot of attention during his four seasons in the Swiss Super League and eventually Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund snapped him up in the summer of 2005.

This season the 23-year-old has been one of the German giants' most exciting players but was unable to help them qualify for European competition.

Degen is extremely fast with a seemingly endless energy supply which lets him run all day. He gets forward frequently and delivers precise crosses which cause opposition defences no end of difficulties.