Keeper Zuberbuehler vows to play on for Swiss

BAD BERTRICH, Germany, June 27 (Reuters) Switzerland's World Cup keeper Pascal Zuberbuehler said today he had no plans to quit international football.

''I take a lot of pleasure in my career and it is also a lot of fun to be part of this young team,'' said Zuberbuehler, the oldest member of the Swiss squad at the age of 35.

The FC Basel keeper did not concede a goal in six-and-a-half hours of play at the World Cup.

He seemed set for further heroics when he dived low to deny Ukrainian captain Andriy Shevchenko in the first of the penalties in Monday night's second round shootout.

Zuberbuehler's team-mates proved less reliable, allowing Ukraine to clinch the shootout 3-0.

UNWANTED HISTORY The result assured Switzerland of two unwanted places in the World Cup history books, as the first team to leave the tournament without conceding a goal and also the only side to miss every shot in a World Cup penalty shootout.

''Not letting in any goals was certainly something very special but it is also the most painful thing about going home,'' Zuberbuehler said. ''Now I am just looking forward to playing more football and continuing this run of clean sheets as we start our preparations for the European Championships'' Coach Koebi Kuhn also said his side would come back stronger at Euro 2008, which the Swiss are set to co-host with neighbouring Austria.

''Our team is still in the experimental stage with many young players, so I think in two years' time we will have a lot more experience,'' Kuhn said as his team prepared to leave Germany.

''Hopefully they will all be in good health and then I think you will see us holding our own against even the strongest teams.'' REUTERS DH VC1940