Kuhn plays down Swiss great expectations

BAD BERTRICH, Germany, June 10 (Reuters) Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn sought to play down the expectations surrounding his team today, insisting that the Swiss were not about to step up into the sport's elite.

''We will always be a small footballing nation,'' Kuhn told a media conference after facing repeated questions about his team's potential from French and German journalists.

''If we are a bit more confident this time around it is because we have worked hard on our youth development and now have a young, hungry side that wants to show something. But we will always be small, so you don't need to worry!'' Often playing in the shadows of their Italian, German and French neighbours, the Swiss have been widely tipped as a potential surprise package at this World Cup.

If they are to make it further than their stated aim of a place in the second round, however, Kuhn's men will have to improve on an unimpressive recent record against the sport's traditional powers.

Against Europe's five 'big' nations of Italy, England, Germany, France and Spain, the Swiss have now gone 18 games without a win -- with the last major upset coming with a 1-0 win over Italy in 1993 during the qualifying stages for the 1994 World Cup.

'SO HIGH' Their next chance to break the hoodoo will come on Tuesday, when Switzerland take on the French in their opening World Cup game, boosted by the fact that they twice held Raymond Domenech's men during the qualifiers.

''I have always said that when we play against France we could play them 10 times and perhaps win twice, so we have to hope that one of those wins will come on Tuesday,'' said Kuhn.

''It is wonderful that the expectations are so high and to be talked of as an outside favourite is a wonderful compliment but we also know how to assess our limitations. We are not Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, England or Argentina:'' Switzerland should be at near full-strength for their encounter with France -- the fifth meeting between the two sides in the last three years -- with right-back Valon Behrami the only major doubt.

Team doctor Rudolf Roder told reporters today that the Lazio player was still feeling discomfort from an inflamed groin muscle and would be undergoing an MRI scan later in the day.

Central defender Philippe Senderos has, meanwhile, recovered from a thigh strain and resumed full training with the team today, along with left-back Ludovic Magnin who sustained a cut nose yesterday during a training collision with Philipp Degen.

Switzerland face Togo on June 19 and South Korea on June 23.

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