Tough draw for Swiss youngsters

Swiss coach Bernard Challandes (third from left) poses with Portuguese coach Agostinho Oliveira, Italian Claudio Gentile and English David Platt Keystone

Switzerland's footballers have been drawn against three top-class opponents in the Under-21 European championship finals, to be held on home soil this May.

The draw, made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, pits the Swiss against Italy, Portugal and England in Group A.

The side, managed by Bernard Challandes, will begin their campaign against England on May 17 in Zurich. Three days later, they will take on Portugal, again in Zurich, before facing the defending champions, Italy, in Basel on May 22.

Group B, which will be based in Lausanne and Geneva, includes Greece, Belgium, France and the Czech Republic. On paper, it looks much the easier group.

Expectations exceeded

The Swiss exceeded expectations in reaching the finals. In contrast to the senior squad, they topped their qualifying group, finishing ahead of Russia and Yugoslavia. They then convincingly won a two-leg play-off against Ukraine.

Their success has raised hopes of an impending improvement in the fortunes of Swiss football, which has been in the doldrums since the national team reached – and performed creditably at – the World Cup in 1994 and the European Championships in 1996.

Many of the under-21 squad – such as Servette’s Alexander Frei, Grasshoppers’ Ricardo Cabañas and FC Zurich’s Daniel Gygax – are being tipped to succeed the ageing stars currently in the senior team.

Minnows

Nevertheless, they remain minnows, and even with the advantage of home support, the Under-21 team will go into each of their three group games as overwhelming underdogs.

Qualification for the semi-finals would be regarded as nothing short of a miracle.

Both the Italians and the English are managed by former stars of their national sides: Claudio Gentile and David Platt.

by Roy Probert