Group Four Switzerland v FranceAndrew Fifield explains why Ireland's chances may depend on how well Philippe Senderos plays

Amid the crescendo of boos that poured down from Stade de France's towering stands, it was just possible to make out the cries of the Switzerland supporters paying homage to a new national hero.

"Senderos! Senderos!" came the chants, a salute to the young Arsenal defender who had just seemingly inched his country towards the 2006 World Cup finals by holding France to a 0-0 draw on his international debut. On the pitch, the object of their affections simply waved to his admirers and strolled off, a study in practised nonchalance.

That was almost seven months ago. This afternoon, Philippe Senderos will have the chance to enhance his growing reputation when France arrive in Berne for the rematch. After that, he will pack his bags and steel himself for the nerve-shredding encounter with the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday. Although much hinges on today's results in Group Four, a win for either side in Dublin would most likely guarantee a play-off place. Tensions in the Senderos household will be running particularly high.

The Swiss's Irish landlady, Noreen, may treat him like a son - "She cooks and cleans, drives me everywhere," Senderos admitted recently - but relations may cool if he snuffs out Ireland's World Cup ambitions.

That doomsday scenario is looming large. Having conquered the Stade de France, Lansdowne Road should hold few fears. "For his age Philippe is very strong," said the Wigan defender Stephane Henchoz, who stood firm alongside Senderos in Saint-Denis. "He performs like somebody with a lot of experience. In France, he was playing in front of a big crowd and against a big team, but he wasn't intimidated."

Prodigious progress has been a hallmark of Senderos' fledgling career. At 13, he skippered the Swiss under-15 team. At 15, he was promoted to the under-17s and duly led them to victory at the 2002 European Championships. Switzerland sealed their triumph in that tournament after holding France to a 0-0 draw and then winning on penalties. Few players have more galled the Gauls in recent years than Philippe Senderos.

Yet, his fast-tracked soccer career is not the only remarkable feature of this unassuming 20-year-old. Professional sportsmen are not be renowned for their intellectual rigour, but Senderos is different. Like many of his countrymen, the Geneva-born centre half is a formidable polyglot - speaking French, Italian, Spanish, German and English. In Arsenal's League of Nations, he assumes the role of linguistics tutor.

"When Francesc Fabregas first arrived he didn't speak any English, so he came to live with me," he revealed. "Now he can speak a bit more, although I sometimes say to him, 'Cesc, you have more work to do on the verbs'."

Senderos' linguistic skills are sharpened by his voracious appetite for reading. While many of his English Premiership contemporaries wile away the long coach journeys to matches with their noses buried in the Racing Post, Senderos is more likely to be engrossed in the latest offering from the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. "I'm very into him," he said. "I swapped books with Arsenal's masseur, told him to get into Coelho. Everyone else is obsessed with the Da Vinci Code. But I have a lot of friends who are Muslim, so I read a lot about Islam - all the monotheistic religions in fact. I don't want to read a book that undermines that."

It was apt that this ravenous bookworm should sign for a club who play at the "Highbury Library". Arsenal's stadium is within ambling distance of Islington's antique shops and book stores. Highbury's splendid art deco stands are listed buildings. The manager, Arsene Wenger, even announces his starting 11 from a wood-panelled room lined with red leather tomes. The studious Senderos was always likely to fit in.

However, the decision to uproot to north London was not easily taken. Senderos' impressive progress had been noted across the continent, and some of football's biggest names were clamouring for his signature when his Swiss club Servette announced he was available for transfer. Juventus and Real Madrid were both rumoured to be preparing offers. Alex Ferguson invited the youngster to Manchester United's game with Newcastle in November 2002 in a bid to entice him to Old Trafford.

Liverpool's former manager Gerard Houllier met the teenager at Geneva airport to talk about a possible transfer to Anfield. But, in the end, it was the lure of Arsenal - and specifically Wenger - that proved irresistible.

The Frenchman has a history of blooding young talent. At Monaco, Wenger gave debuts to the 18-year-old Lilian Thuram and Emmanuel Petit, both of whom subsequently enjoyed glittering careers. At Highbury, Wenger has promoted Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole, Robin van Persie and Fabregas, despite their tender years. Senderos is merely the latest off the conveyor belt.

"I always had enormous respect for Arsene and wanted to work for him," Senderos recalled. "I like his style. He came to Geneva to watch me play, and I made a trip to London as well. He talked to my father and I. It impressed me."

The respect is mutual. When Sol Campbell was injured in January, Wenger had no hesitation in allowing Senderos to take his place, and the decision proved wise. From the end of February, Senderos went 1,184 minutes of competitive action for club or country without conceding a goal.

Senderos was hailed by the press as the new Tony Adams, the former Gunners defender who had also begun his top-flight career prodigiously early. The future seemed bright.

This season, however, has served as a reminder that football's fortunes are fickle. Senderos was tormented by the Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in the Community Shield showpiece, the Ivory Coast international capitalising on two slips by the defender to seal a 2-1 win. Two weeks later, another Senderos error allowed Drogba to score Chelsea's winner in the teams' Premiership meeting at Stamford Bridge.

"He is 20 years old and he will make mistakes," remarked a sanguine Wenger. "Tony Adams made mistakes, but it did not affect him even a minute after he made them. It is all part of learning your job."

For the moment, Senderos is having to learn from the sidelines. He has not featured for Arsenal since that harrowing trip to west London, although his confidence is gradually returning. He impressed during Switzerland's qualifiers against Israel and Cyprus last month, and notched his first goal for his country in Nicosia. That helped maintain his impressive feat of never having tasted defeat on the international stage.

If that record remains intact after today's game in Berne and Wednesday's trip to Dublin, then Ireland's World Cup dream will have died. And Senderos may be forced to cook for himself.