Swiss coach Hitzfeld ready to replace injured Streller with Bunjaku or teen Ben Khalifa

Marco Streller an injury doubt for Switzerland

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Switzerland forward Marco Streller is doubtful for the World Cup after breaking down in training with a thigh muscle injury.

The Swiss Football Association said Wednesday that coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was not optimistic that the 28-year-old Streller can recover in time for his second World Cup.

Hitzfeld is preparing to replace the FC Basel forward with Albert Bunjaku or Nassim Ben Khalifa from his standby list. Bunjaku, who plays for German club Nuremberg, would be the third player of Kosovo descent in the squad.

Ben Khalifa, now 18, starred when Switzerland won the under-17 World Cup last year. He will leave Grasshopper Zurich to join Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in July.