Switzerland's Vonlanthen in World Cup doubt

Young Swiss striker Johan Vonlanthen, pictured March 2006, looks almost certain to miss the World Cup finals in Germany after suffering a torn thigh muscle earlier this week.

Young Swiss striker Johan Vonlanthen looks almost certain to miss the World Cup finals in Germany after suffering a torn thigh muscle earlier this week.

His likely replacement in Switzerland's squad, midfielder Hakan Yakin, arrived at the team's training camp in the northeastern village of Feusisberg Thursday.

Yakin, 29, will be on the team sheet for Switzerland's warm-up match against Ivory Coast on Saturday, coach Jakob Kuhn said.

"We have until June 12, the day before the match against France, to notify FIFA of a change in the list of 23," Kuhn explained. "We will almost certainly have to make the change."

However, Vonlanthen was adamant that he had not buried his hopes of taking part, despite warnings that it would take at least a month to shrug off the injury suffered during fitness tests.

"I still believe in it and am working hard to make it," the 20 year-old Breda striker said.

"If I am fit again in four weeks, that's alright for the second match in the group."

Vonlanthen was the favourite pairing with top goalscorer Alexander Frei during Switzerland's qualifiers last year.

Yakin would be the second highest goalscorer for the national team if he joins the current squad.

The creative playmaker was instrumental in helping Basel through European competition in recent years.

But he fell out of favour for Switzerland after a troubled recent career and only made a comeback from injury for his current club, Young Boys, in recent months.

Yakin had been left out of the squad of 23 but was included in a shortlist of stand-by players.

"I'm happy when I have an additional player who can decide a match," Kuhn commented.