Switzerland have`the Stiel to qualify

IRELAND have been warned against being lulled into a false sense of security after Switzerland’s failure to claim all three points in Tirana at the weekend.

While the Swiss let a slim advantage slip against the Albanians, their players believe that no team in Group Ten will emerge from the Eastern European country with maximum points.

“It is not easy to play in Albania,” said keeper Jorg Stiel. “The circumstances are very difficult, the pitch, the crowd and the build-up. In the past, results for teams like Germany, England and Finland have shown that.”

Stiel, who despite his 34 years is only playing his second season in goal for the national side, points to the fact that both Ireland and Russia have still to visit Tirana and after that, a point might seem like a good return for the Swiss. Despite dropping two points on Saturday, the keeper is still confident that Switzerland can qualify automatically from the group.

“It is a difficult draw for Switzerland. If you look at the group, there are no small teams. When you play against Albania, it is not easy. This draw, for us, is as difficult as for anyone else. Russia and Ireland, for me, are favourites, but I still think we can win this group. We can win against Russia and we can win against Ireland. We have as good a chance as anyone.”

So, what happened in Tirana?

“We conceded a goal in the 60th minute but up until then we were the better side and should have scored a second goal. Their free-kick was taken very quickly and we didn’t have time for a wall, so maybe it should have been re-taken,” he says.

The Borussia Monchengladbach custodian had to be at his best to deny Albania a late winner, however, and the Swiss were content with the point that leaves them topping the Group by that margin from Russia.

They certainly seemed happy yesterday, in the midst of a light training session at Malahide United’s windswept complex in Dublin’s northern seaboard. While the training veered on the playful side of serious, the Swiss showed the few curious locals what they could do with a ball at their feet.

Portmarnock certainly makes a change from Albania, the most poverty-stricken nation in Europe.

However, there is also a steely aspect to this Swiss team, as Stiel shows when asked about the Irish.

“There is a different footballing mentality here than in Albania and it is not easy either coming to Ireland.

“We saw them in the World Cup and we know that they have a good team. There is a lot expected of this team, because of their performances in the World Cup.”

Despite such praise, the Swiss custodian was not overly surprised by the Republic’s loss to Russia in the campaign opener.

“Okay, Russia beat Ireland well but Russia have a new team, they have a lot of young players, good players who came through after their World Cup run. And it is always possible to lose in Russia, they are always a good team.”

Such powers of youth is also echoed amongst tomorrow night’s opponents. Switzerland under-21s, under the coaching of Kuhn, made it to the semi-finals of the European Championship. They are finally starting to see some of the fruits of progress at under-age level, while the relative success of Basel in the Champions League has found a place for Swiss soccer on the footballing map.

“This year was a good year for Swiss football. In the U-21 European Championships, we reached the semi-final. We are a small country, but there is a good quality of young players, like Ireland.”

Although not the biggest of goalkeepers, Stiel is not bothered whether playing against big men, in the Niall Quinn mode, or smaller, nippier strikers like McCarthy’s regular duo. But, he does admire the prowess of Shay Given.

“He is a very good goalkeeper. Goalkeepers in Britain and Ireland have a special style from other keepers, they have a different way of playing within the box, I like his style, he is a very good player.”