Switzerland defender Philippe Senderos has declared the time is right for his unfancied nation to make a real impression in the World Cup.

Just a draw against South Korea in Hanover on Friday will be enough to book a place in the knockout stage and victory will see Kobi Kuhn's side win Group G.

The Arsenal defender, who is still only 21, is convinced his team-mates are good enough to make the slogan on the team bus - "it's Swiss o'clock" - a reality.

He said: "We are a young squad but we have a good spine of experienced players and we are all learning quickly at the highest level.

"We played well against France and showed everyone we can compete with the big teams in the competition. Now we want to continue that and go through.

"When we played friendlies before the finals we didn't play against lower-ranking teams. We played against Italy and the Ivory Coast and showed we could compete against those teams and give them problems."

A 0-0 draw with ailing France was followed by a 2-0 victory over Togo - results that were then replicated by the Koreans, who are managed by former Rangers and Holland boss Dick Advocaat.

Switzerland's superior goal difference, plus the expectation that France will beat Togo, means the Koreans have to win to be sure of staying in the competition.

Senderos insisted the Swiss would not even attempt to play for a draw.

He said: "We know for them it is like a final as they have to win if they want to make sure of going through.

"When you play against a team that has to win you can't just wait in your own half, especially against a team like Korea, who have a lot of qualities.

"We are expecting a high-tempo game and that they will try to put us under pressure in our half. But we are a team that also attacks and we have ambitions.

"We can't be sure of getting to the next round but we are sure of our qualities and we will give our best tomorrow night."

The Koreans reached the semi-finals in 2002 and boast experienced Premiership-based players in Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung and Lee Young-Pyo of Tottenham.

Senderos said: "We know a few of the Korean players because they play in England and we have been studying them. We know from the last World Cup that they have great ability."

The group winners will take on Ukraine in the next round should the eastern Europeans not stumble against Tunisia, or Saudi Arabia pull off an almighty shock against already-qualified Spain.

Kuhn admitted he was keen to avoid in the in-form Spanish.

He said: "We hope to be playing against Ukraine. I think we are going to have to win this group."