"I hope the ligaments are not damaged, that there is no fracture," Hitzfeld was quoted as saying by Swiss news agency ATS.

"I believe Alex will be on the flight with us tonight for South Africa even if it's a bad injury.

"He perhaps will not be ready for the first match but I will be able to call upon him after that."

Switzerland open their Group H campaign against European champions Spain. They will also take on Chile and Honduras.