Haunted Swiss see South Africa beckoning

Switzerland head into the final two World Cup qualifying matches with a three-point lead in Group two this weekend, anxious to wipe out memories of a disastrous Euro 2008 in front of their home crowd.

Since then they have gradually pulled into the reckoning for South Africa after a shaky start in arguably the weakest European qualifying group, thanks to one of Europe’s most successful coaches, Ottmar Hitzfeld.

But they are also haunted by memories of a shock 2-1 home defeat last year to Saturday’s opponents, lowly Luxembourg, that almost dashed their World Cup hopes.

Hitzfeld was trying to keep his side focused ahead of the away tie and a finale against Israel in Basel next Wednesday, following a rollercoaster ride since he took over the side 14 months ago.

“We haven’t reached anything and must first take care of our homework,” he insisted Friday.

The former Bundesliga-winning coach with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich has restored Swiss hopes since he took the helm shortly after they ended bottom of their group in the Euro 2008 finals.

But, with four points needed to secure certain qualification — or just three if their closest challengers Greece draw against Latvia on Saturday — Hitzfeld also knows that the tide can turn swiftly.

Despite the 60 year-old’s canny coaching, Switzerland have had a flimsy World Cup campaign.

They squeezed a fragile a 2-2 draw in Tel Aviv and then slumped to their electrifying embarrassment at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich against Luxembourg in September 2008.

Despite a winning run thereafter, another narrow 2-2 draw in Latvia last month only paid dividends because Greece also failed to overcome Moldova.

By contrast, the improving Israelis put seven goals past the hapless Luxembourgeois last month.

Hitzfeld, who established his footballing career in the 1970s as a striker in the Swiss league for Basel, is asking his players to shed the caution they have shown recently and to score goals.

“We have worked on that specially this week and now I hope for a more positive approach,” he said.

Hitzfeld has drafted Zurich and former PSV Eindhoven striker Johann Vonlanthen back into his squad to add spice down the right wing, while Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos is filling in in defence.

He can also count on the national side’s top scorer, captain Alex Frei, who suffered a knee injury early during Euro 2008 and struggled with his recovery until he returned to the Swiss league with Basel this season.

Frei said the 2-1 victory in Greece a year ago marked the turning point.

“We won the match we shouldn’t have lost to stay in the running for direct qualifying,” he said.

“The match at the Letzigrund is part of the past. I hope everyone has learned the lessons of that defeat.”

“If we win 6-0, fine. But 1-0 would be enough to make me happy,” Frei added.