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History of Switzerland


Nickname(s):

Nati

Association:

Swiss Football Association

Confederation:

UEFA

Home stadium:
Head coach:

Köbi Kuhn

Assistant coach:
Captain:

Alexander Frei

Top scorer:

Kubilay Türkyilmaz, Max Abegglen

Facts & History

Contents

Team Overview

Controlled by the Swiss Football Association, the Switzerland National Football Team was created in 1895 and was one of the founder members of FIFA in 1904. Also known as the Schweizer Nati, the team played their first game against France in 1905, losing 1-0. So far, the national team has won no major trophy, but has been in constant improvement since 2004. Switzerland will be co-hosting the 2008 Euro with Austria.

Road to Euro 2008 Switzerland is automatically qualified, being the co-host of the event, with its neighbor Austria. The confederation will welcome a total of 15 games in Geneva, Basel, Zurich and Bern, including the opening game and a semi-final (both in Basel).

History

The Swiss team its first game against France in 1905, losing 1-0, in Paris. Before WWII, the team had satisfying results. They won silver at the 1924 Olympics, losing only against Uruguay.

In the 1934 World Cup, the Nati reached the quarter-finals, after wining 3-2 against Netherlands. However, they lost 3-2 against Czechoslovakia. Same thing in the 1938 World Cup: they beat Germany and reached the quarter-finals, but lost against Hungary 2-0.

In July 1946, Switzerland was chosen as hosts for the 1954 World Cup. In the Group stage, they won 2-1 against Italy and qualified for the final stage of the tournament. And again, they were beaten 7-5 in the quarter-finals by Austria.

However, the second part of the 20th Century was unsuccessful.

In 1962 and 1966 World Cups, the Nati lost all their games in the Group stage. Then, they didn’t play in any major tournaments until the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. Coached by British Roy Hodgson, they won 4-1 against Romania and draw 1-1 against the US, which was more than enough to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in 38 years! However, they lost 3-0 against Spain.

From 1994 to 2004, the Swiss team didn’t participate to any final stages.

In the 2006 World Cup, the Nati finished 1st of their group, ahead of France!! They won 2-0 against Togo and Korea Republic before losing in the Round of 16 against Ukraine in the shootout: Switzerland was the only national team in Cup history to fail to score a single goal in a penalty shootout.

They are automatically qualified for the 2008 Euro as co-hosts.

Stars of the Current Squad

Alexander Frei is a striker currently playing for Borussia Dortmund. He started his international career in 2001 and is one of the most experienced players in his national team. Named Swiss Footballer of the Year in 2005, he was also the highest goalscorer in the French league the same season. He has been the captain of the Swiss National Team since 2007, when Johann Vogel retired. He has a personal record of 32 goals in 56 appearances and he is only 3 goals short from being Switzerland's all time top scorer.

Philippe Senderos is a central defender who is currently playing for Arsenal. He made his international debut in 2005 in a friendly against France. In the 2006 World Cup, he managed to score a header against Korea. The funny part is that he broke his nose and suffered shoulder ligament damage on that goal! He has a personal record of 25 caps and 3 goals.

Tranquillo Barnetta is a midfielder playing for Bayern Leverkusen. Along with team-mates Philippe Senderos, he is part of a new generation of Swiss players, not really experienced but full of promises. He started his international career in 2004. In the 206 World Cup, he scored the second goal of his team against Togo. He was nominated for the Best Young Player Award of the Tournament. He has earned 29 caps and has scored 6 goals so far.

Pascal Zuberbuhler: This giant and experienced goalkeeper, who plays with Neuchatel Xamax, is one of the big stars of the team. He played over 200 professional games in his career, including UEFA Champions League matches when he was keeping the cage of Bayer Leverkusen. He counts 47 caps.

http://www.oleole.com/player/hakanyakin/pl5rc.html Hakan Yakin] raises two sorts of conversations. The first one is about his numerous and not so successful transfers (Paris Saint Germain, Galatasaray, Stuttgart…). The second one is about his fidelity and efficiency with the Swiss national team, with 50 caps since 2000 and his participation at the 2004 Euro and the 2006 World Cup. Yakin is famous for his technical skills.

Team Legends

Kubilay Turkylmaz is a former Turkish-Swiss striker. He is the all-time top scorer of the Swiss National Team, with 35 goals in 62 appearances between 1988 and 2001.

Max Abegglen was a member of the Swiss National Team. Indeed, he was part of the squad that won silver at the 1924 Olympics. He has a personal record of 34 goals in 68 appearances.

Most International Matches Played

Rank Player Career Dates Caps # Appearances
 

Most Appearances

Rank Player Career Dates # Appearances
1 Heinz Hermann 1978-91 117
2 Alain Geiger 1980-96 112
3 Stephane Chapuisat 1989-2004 103
4 Johann Vogel 1995-2006 94
5 Severino Minelli 1930-43 80


Most Goals

Rank Player Career Dates # Goals
1 Kubilay Turkilmaz 35 1988-2001
2 Max Abegglen 34 1922-1937
3 Alexander Frei 32 2001-present
4 Andre Abegglen 32 1927-1943
5 Jacques Fatton 29 1946-1955


Player Recognition & Awards

Alexander Frei – Swiss Player of the Year – 2005

Team Honours

World Cup Record

  • quarter-finals: 1934, 1938, 1956


European Championship Record

  • Round 1: 1996, 2004


Management

Coach: Köbi Kuhn has been coaching the Swiss National Team since June 2001. He is second in all-time matches coached for the Swiss team, behind Karl Rappan. In 2006, he announced he will retire from his position right after the 2008 Euro.

Uniforms

Important Links


References


Recent contributors

Stats

Stats