Switzerland beat Montenegro 2-0
Switzerland have beaten Montenegro 2-0 in the eighth and final qualification match for the 2012 European Football Championship.
Despite goals by Eren Derdiyok in the 51st minute and Stephan Lichtsteiner in the 65th, the Swiss will not be travelling to Poland and Ukraine in July. A shock 2-0 loss to Wales on Friday meant they could not overtake Montenegro to claim a play-off spot.
England thus finish top of Group G with 18 points, followed by Montenegro on 12, Switzerland on 11, Wales on 9 and Bulgaria on 5.
Switzerland won three of their qualification matches, drew two and lost three. They scored 12 goals and conceded ten.
Switzerland dominated their opponents in Basel on Friday but are paying dearly for inconsistency throughout their Euro campaign, notably a 1-0 defeat to Montenegro 12 months ago, a goalless draw with Bulgaria in March and the loss to Wales on Friday.
Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld and his team now turn their thoughts towards the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, qualification for which kicks off in September.
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