When it comes to football Switzerland is better off than neighbouring Austria, but in the year prior to the UEFA EURO 2008™ there is not much between them. Like the Austrians, the Swiss Football Association, SFV, team concluded 2007 with a negative result. The Swiss lost their last international match of the year 1-0 to Nigeria at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium on November 20. Thus the year ended as it began -- in February the Swiss had lost 3-1 to Germany in Duesseldorf. Altogether coach Jakob Kuhn’s squad recorded five defeats, one draw and four wins. Their goal tally was 15-16 in 10 matches. The past year was not encouraging, but despite difficult opponents they fared a lot better than the Austrians.

The “Nati” had lost only three matches in the two previous years, without including the penalty shoot-out against the Ukraine during the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. The fans in Switzerland accept they may have to face worse outcomes. After the 1-0 defeat by Nigeria the crowds unleashed a chorus of catcalls in Zurich. The spectators had shown their displeasure in the same manner after the 1-0 loss to the USA in Basle in October. The Zurich defeat for Kuhn’s team came with a goal scored by Nigeria’s defender Taiwo in the 79th minute.

This defeat cost the Swiss team three places in the world rankings. They dropped to 44. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, when they reached the knock-out stage, the Swiss held an unexpected 13th place. Without competitive matches, however, any team has difficulties retaining its position in the world table. Germany, 2006 bronze medallists, had lost their position among the best twenty prior to the World Cup. There can never be as many points gained in international friendly matches as in qualifiers, which Switzerland and Austria, as co-hosts of the UEFA European Football Championship™ 2008, did not have to partake in.

Despite the many players who were missing due to injuries at the time of their losing matches, the future is not looking brighter. Ranked 44th, Switzerland is last but one among the 16 teams that will play at UEFA EURO 2008™ - only neighbouring Austria is ranked below them. “Hopp, Schwyz, Hopp”, the cheering war cry that rang out during the FIFA World Cup™ in the summer of 2006, could perhaps rally the “Reds” to rekindle past glories. At the moment the fans are not happy. It is somewhat understandable that they failed to score against Nigeria, coached by former German national coach Berti Vogts. The two Swiss top scorers, Alexander Frei and Marco Streller, were missing in front of just 12,700 spectators. In addition, Benjamin Huggel, Philippe Senderos, Xavier Margairaz and Patrick Mueller had to be replaced; Tranquillo Barnetta had not fully recovered from a bout of flu; Philipp Degen was injured in the ninth minute and had to be substituted.

“Koebi” Kuhn has 40 players on his list for the UEFA EURO 2008™. Twenty three have to be nominated in May. Kuhn experimented a lot, often forced to do so by injuries. He tested new players, made many substitutions in a few matches. “But he has hardly learned anything”, wrote the distinguished Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung, NZZ, in its analysis of the year. “Perhaps he too, will arrive at this (not new) observation. Switzerland does not have 40 international players. And it may well be assumed that the principled Koebi Kuhn does not accept 40, but rather the usual 15 names fixed in his head”, was the NZZ conclusion.

Similar to Germany prior to the FIFA World Cup™, the Swiss internationals are being tested more physically than previously. Their new fitness specialist is Otmar Keller. “Practically every player of the 40 has been intensively checked. Since October we have been repeating tests. In the meantime we have built up a good picture to prompt detailed recommendations for training”, said Adrian Knup, who has been supporting Kuhn as the new team manager since May.

As in all other countries who will participate in the UEFA European Football Championship™ finals, Switzerland, on this cold last weekend of November, looked to the future after the 2008 summer festival. As of the autumn of next year Switzerland will meet Greece, Israel, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg in the qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. This was the result of the draw in Durban, South Africa.