Joys and Sorrows are part of the Telegraph World Cup Blog Team. The following was our first blog, written by myself. Kaje and Bazza the Bluenose are also contributing. I will re-publish all our blogs here on J&S. The delay on this one being posted was due to me being away on business.

I have been trying to get some alp with the Swiss team. As I sit here eating a Toblerone, I wonder if they can actually do well in South Africa. I’ll discuss things on the pitch in a moment, but I wonder if they will have trouble with their transport. I gather the snow fall has been minimal – so the ski’s aren’t going to be of much use.

Ok enough of the puns, what about their chances. Well looking at the group they are in, you have to say they have a very tough job. They share the group with Chile, Honduras and one of the favourites – Spain. If they are going to progress, you have to say they will need results against the former sides.

I have to confess I’m not familiar with too many players – but they do have West Ham’s midfielder Valon Behrami in the squad.

Their most experienced player is 33 year wonderfully named Hakan Yakin. He has 81 caps coming into the tournament. He has scored 20 goals for his country, which is a very respectable tally for the midfielder, (one in four). He is known as “The King” and plays as a freestyle midfielder.

His brother Murat was also an international, playing 49 for his country. He played his last international match in 2004.

The final player to mention is Philippe Senderos, the Everton defender. The defender is very good in the air and is known for putting a strong solid tackle in. If anything lets him down, it is probably that he isn’t renown for his pace. Im sure he will be solid in the back four though.

So as we enter the first weekend of the championship, all the sides think – or at least HOPE, they have a chance. In regards to the Swiss, I maybe a cuckoo – but I have a sneaky feeling they may JUST squeeze into the knockout stage.

(All puns are meant in a “loving” way, and are by no means meant to offend anyone from the wonderful country of Switzerland)