Croats and Swiss standing up for the small fry

Swiss defender Patrick Mueller (L) and forward Johan Vonlanthen warm up during a training session yesterday. - AFP

LISBON (AFP) - Croatia and Switzerland will be standing up for the small fry on Sunday when they meet in Leiria north of Lisbon in their opening Euro 2004 Group B match.

Given the eagerly awaited encounter between holders France and England the same day in Lisbon both the Swiss and the Croats will find themselves in the shadow of their more illustrious footballing cousins. But both will also know that decisive results in both games would put the winner of their own clash at the Magalhaes Pessoa stadium in a strong position to advance to the last eight.

The Croats came third at the 1998 World Cup but have struggled to live up to the reputation of that side and their coach, former Austria helmsman Otto Baric, dragged the side to the finals via the playoffs.

"We respect our opponents, however, as they have played alongside each other for some time and are a cohesive group," said Baric, who Friday brushed aside worries about the absence through injury of goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, who tore a thigh muscle in training.

Second-choice shot-stopper Tomislav Butina replaces Pletikosa but Baric insisted: "Butina is an excellent goalkeeper. I have every confidence in his ability.

"I am feeling pretty relaxed about things. I think we have done our homework."

Switzerland also have an injury worry and coach Jakob Kuhn is keeping his fingers crossed that midfield anchorman Johann Vogel can recover in time from a thigh injury.

Another Swiss problem is their country's mix of languages - something which could create a headache when swift instructions are barked in crowded penalty areas.

Defender Stephane Henchoz of Liverpool, noting the Swiss German, French, Italian and assorted dialects the squad speak said the issue was a source of some concern.

"It's a difficult thing to get used to and we do end up with the French-speaking players and the German-speaking players not mixing.

"It certainly doesn't help our chances."

Nonetheless, 61-year-old Kuhn says the Swiss believe they can spring an upset, even if their final warm-up saw them creep embarrassingly past minnows and neighbours Liechtenstein by the only goal last weekend.

Kuhn, nicknamed 'Kobi', says an attacking tandem of 34-year-old veteran Stephane Chapuisat, who played in the 1994 World Cup finals, and the highly rated Alexander Frei can steer them through the opening phase, though Chapuisat has not scored since September 2002 in the national colours.

"I think the Liechtenstein business did us good though we are not creating enough chances or scoring enough goals," Kuhn admitted, though it was his decision not to include in-form Twente Enschede striker Blaise N'Kufo in the squad, selecting Johann Vonlanthen from the under-21 side instead.

 -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News