Swiss have reasons to be cheerful about World Cup

BASEL, Switzerland, May 26: Switzerland have not exactly set the footballing world alight since a World Cup debut back in 1934, but the current Swiss team have every reason to think they can win some respect in Germany.

Seen as unlikely contenders for Germany 2006 after being pitted against France and the Ireland in the qualifiers, Koebi Kuhn's men finished as deserved runners-up behind the French. They could even have pipped the former world champions but for some poor finishing in their final match in Dublin.

Forced into a playoff with Turkey, Switzerland were again seen as underdogs but held their nerve to scrape through a bad-tempered tie that ended with a mass brawl in the players' tunnel.

Having been to ''hell'', as Istanbul's more extreme football supporters like to dub their city, and back to clinch their World Cup berth, the Swiss are unlikely to surrender easily once the finals get underway.

As well as mental resolve, Kuhn's side owe their recent successes to an impressive combination of youth, experience and studious scouting.

Talented youngsters such as Philippe Senderos, Tranquillo Barnetta and Valon Behrami -- all of whom are aged 21 or younger -- have joined the team after an ambitious youth development programme launched by the Swiss FA following their last World Cup qualification in 1994.

Another young talent, striker Johan Vonlanthen, is a doubt for the finals after suffering a hamstring injury in training earlier this week.

Although Switzerland's senior sides have between them managed just one Olympic silver medal (in 1924) and three World Cup quarter-finals (the last on home soil in 1954), many of today's players have already acquired a taste for international success in their junior days.

Senderos and Barnetta were in the Swiss under-17 side that won the 2002 European Championship while the more established Alex Frei, Ricardo Cabanas, Daniel Gygax and Stephane Grichting were among the team which reached the semi-finals of the same year's under-21 competition.

Scouting and attracting players with joint nationalities has also been an important factor: of the 27 players used during the qualifying campaign, 10 were either born abroad or came from immigrant families.

Fostering a sense of family among players of different ages and cultural backgrounds has been one of the key changes wrought by Kuhn, a 62-year-old manager who has already proved his ability with young players as coach of Switzerland's under-21s.

The Swiss will still rely on some players more than others however, with top scorer Frei and versatile defender/winger Behrami capable of conjuring up match-deciding moments.

Kuhn is unlikely to tinker much with the team's regular 4-4-2 formation, which includes a midfield diamond with Cabanas at the front and experienced captain Johann Vogel at the base.

Having already held their opening opponents France to two draws in the qualifying stages, Switzerland will fancy their chances of coming through a World Cup group that also includes South Korea and unfancied Togo.

Switzerland may have their best chance to spring an upset in two years' time when the country co-hosts the 2008 European Championships with neighbouring Austria.

With that in mind, this World Cup may turn out to be a stepping stone to greater things, though Kuhn and his team would clearly not mind if success comes earlier than planned.

REUTERS