Point will put Swiss in control, says Kuhn

DESPITE dropping two valuable points in Tirana at the weekend, Swiss coach Jakob “Kobi” Kuhn believes a draw in Lansdowne Road tonight will keep Switzerland in pole position to qualify for Portugal in what is already shaping up to be a very tight group.

Once again yesterday, Kuhn had to face a raft of questions from the large contingent of disgruntled Swiss journalists upset at the way their team’s lead evaporated in Albania. Kuhn was insistent that any return from tonight’s game will leave Switzerland in the most favourable position in the group.

“A draw will be much better for us than for Ireland,” said Kuhn, who answered questions confidently in three languages. “And it is a result we are capable of getting. Unlike the Albanian game, where they just defended for 90 minutes, the Irish will have to attack because they lost in Moscow. That will leave it open for us to counter-attack.”