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Swiss mount the heights
Köbi Kuhn's Switzerland side did not go into the qualifiers
for EURO 2004 with much of a reputation, but they emerged
with considerable credit as Group 10 winners.
Underperforming opponents
Cynics might suggest that Switzerland's success in the group
was as much down to their more illustrious peers - Russia
and the Republic of Ireland - underperforming dramatically
than any inherent brilliance in their squad, but the Alpine
nation nonetheless boast the makings of a fine team.
Resurgent nation
A Swiss triumph at the 2002 UEFA European Under-17 Championship
and the emergence of FC Basel as a major European force in
the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League was a good indication that
Swiss football was on the up again after a long spell in the
doldrums. Fittingly, it was in Basel's Saint Jakob Park that
Kühn's side finally won qualification with a 2-0 win
against the Irish.
Change of goalkeeper
In goal, the veteran Jörg Stiel has taken over from the
experienced Pascal Zuberbühler in more recent qualifying
games, but whoever gets the nod in the finals will be able
to have faith in a very strong central defensive partnership.
Defensive partnership
Basel's Murat Yakin tends to lead the line in defence with
his preferred partner Patrick Müller having forced Liverpool
FC's Stéphane Henchoz out of contention over the course
of the campaign. However, a tendency to ship a few goals when
they have an off day is an indication of the concerns over
Kühn's defensive options elsewhere.
Shielding role
Fortunately, the Swiss are able to rely up support from midfield,
with PSV Eindhoven Johann Vogel acting as a defensive shield
in midfield, to give free reign to the more attack-minded
Richard Cabanas and Raphael Wicky, who was in particularly
splendid form in that final 2-0 victory in Basel.
Dangerous Yakin
Up front, Basel's Hakan Yakin - brother of defender Murat
- is the man to look out for. Playing in a slightly withdrawn
role behind a front two, he has plenty of craft about him
and a useful knack for scoring goals as well as supplying
them. He opened the scoring in the game against Ireland after
just six minutes.
Veteran striker
The preferred front two boasts the evergreen Stéphane
Chapuisat who has been the mainstay of the Swiss attack for
a number of years. Despite approaching his mid-30s, the striker
remains a potent threat and, with Yakin's presence guaranteeing
some space for the two main strikers to work with, he continues
to score goals and cause opposition defences problems.
Young pretender
However, the real danger man during the qualifying campaign
was Alexander Frei. A full ten years younger than Chapuisat,
the striker has struggled to find the net for his French club
side Stade Rennnais FC but cannot stop scoring for Switzerland.
He averaged a goal every other game in qualifying, including
two in a 2-2 home draw against Russia.
Fluctuating form
Performances in 2003 were not quite on a par with those at
the start of their campaign, when a 2-1 win in Ireland marked
their rise to the top of their qualifying group. Indeed, there
was some cause for concern in the performance in Moscow which
saw Kühn's ripped apart by a reinvigorated Russia to
lose their only qualifying game of the campaign 4-1.
Team spirit
However, with a good few months to work on their big-match
temperament before the kick-off in Portugal, Kühn will
be hoping that his side can rediscover the determination -
and receive some of the good fortune - that saw them reach
the finals.
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