Swiss have Group 10 in the bag, says Albania’s Briegel

IRELAND and Russia should forget about automatic qualification from Euro 2004 qualifying Group 10 because Switzerland have already got the group sewn up, according to Albania coach Hans-Peter Briegel.

Briegel’s Albania side were undone 3-2 by Switzerland in Geneva on Wednesday as Koebi Kuhn’s Swiss maintained their unbeaten record and held on to top spot in the group.

The Swiss are two points clear of Brian Kerr’s Republic of Ireland in the table with Russia, who have a game in hand on both sides, five points adrift of top spot.

Although Switzerland face a trip to Russia and play host to Ireland in the final group game, Briegel believes Kuhn’s side have done enough to secure qualification for the finals in Portugal next year for only the second time.

“I must already congratulate Switzerland on qualification,” Briegel said “Koebi Kuhn’s team is the best in this group.

“When I say that Switzerland is the best team in this group, I do not lie. I think it even more after this meeting.

“I know that Switzerland have still not qualified, but in my opinion their absence from the finals will last no longer than 2004. They have a very good chance and they will qualify.”

Switzerland’s only previous appearance in the finals came in 1996 when they were eliminated in the group stages.

Meanwhile, FAI Chief Executive Fran Rooney has made the stamping out of booing of players at international games a priority following the constant booing of Georgia and Rangers striker Shota Arveladze by a minority of the crowd in Wednesday night’s 2-0 victory over Georgia.

“We will look at how other Associations deal with it, get the players involved and get the media involved. We’ve got to stamp it out,” Mr Rooney said.

“The Association has already tried things. We have made announcements before which only intensified the booing and last night, Brian Kerr’s programme notes asked for no booing.

“Sometimes supporters boo a player when he makes a bad tackle or because of his attitude and I suppose that’s part of football but to boo a player because he is associated with a particular club is unacceptable.

“It is certainly the minority of people who boo. I think that sometimes people don’t even realise why they are booing and think it’s because the player maybe did a bad tackle.

“It’s not new. We’ve had it against Norway and Denmark as well and I know that it’s also a problem in other countries.

Mr Rooney also praised the majority of fans for their tremendous support of Ireland during the game. “I think the atmosphere last night was electric,” he told fai.ie.