Injuries bad timing for Swiss
Victory for the Swiss will seal their place in the finals in Portugal next summer, while a win for Russia would be the worst result for the Republic of Ireland, according to manager Brian Kerr.
Switzerland are on 12 points from six matches; Ireland with 11 from seven, Russia (8 from six) and Georgia (7 from five).
A victory for the Russians would put them level on points with Ireland, but ahead of Kerr's men based on the head-to-head results between the two sides. It would mean that Russia would go into the final game, at home to Georgia, knowing that once they get the same result (or better) than Ireland, they would be guaranteed to finish above the Boys in Green guaranteeing either a automatic place or play-off spot. If, as expected, Russia do take maximum points from the Georgia game, it would then mean Ireland would need a victory in Basle to steal the play-off spot from Switzerland.
A draw would mean Ireland would be two points behind Switzerland and two ahead of Russia going into the final game in Basle. This would mean that a victory over Switzerland would guarantee Ireland top spot in the group with a draw possibly being good enough, but only if Russia don't beat Georgia on the same night.
A Swiss victory would guarantee them top spot in the group and ensure the one automatic qualification spot and a battle between Ireland, Russia and Georgia should the win in Albania and in Moscow.
Originally, Kuhn was confident that he would be able to choose his preferred starting line-up for the match.
But attacking midfielder Hakin Yakin has still to recover from a groin operation while midfielders Mario Cantaluppi and Ludovic Magnin will now also miss the game with injuries.
In addition, Kuhn's first-choice goalkeeper and captain, Jorg Stiel, did not travel to Moscow with the rest of the squad because of a knee injury.
FC Basel goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler will replace Stiel in goal with the captain's armband going to central defender Stephane Henchoz, of Liverpool. Kuhn has so far favoured a 4-4-2 formation in Switzerland's qualifying campaign and utility player Patrick Mueller could be preferred to Bruno Berner at left full-back in Kuhn's defence.
Cantaluppi's absence could see Johann Vogel partnered by Fabio Celestini in central midfield, with Ricardo Cabanas and Raphael Wicky on the right and left of midfield, respectively. They have a chance. Russia will be without influential midfielder Dmitry Alenichev, who played on the left wing in the 1-1 draw against Ireland last Saturday in Dublin but is out for up to four weeks with a foot injury.
CSKA defender Andrei Solomatin was called up by manager Georgy Yartsev, but Yevgeny Aldonin is more likely to replace Alenichev. Solomatin last played in Russia's 4-2 win over Romania in a friendly tournament in Cyprus last February.
Spartak players, midfielder Yegor Titov and defender Yuri Kovtun, who missed the Ireland match because they were ill, are back in the squad. "The match against Switzerland has become a key encounter in this situation. Our future without any exaggeration depends totally on this game," striker Dmitry Bulykin, one of the most outstanding players in Dublin said.
Meanwhile, Tottenham forward Simon Davies said Wales can bounce back from their 4-0 drubbing by Italy with victory over Finland in their Euro 2004 qualifier. Victory will ensure Wales finish at least second in group nine and guarantee them a chance at qualifying for the finals via a play-off.
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