Swiss don't fear French, says Kuhn
Thursday, 6 October 2005 20:12Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn says his team will have nothing to fear when they come up against former world champions France in Saturday's potentially decisive World Cup qualifying match.
With just two matches remaining, the Swiss on 16 points lead France on goal difference at the top of European qualifying Group Four - although the tightness of the group means that both teams could still finish up in third or even fourth place.
"I don't think my players will have any inferiority complex to deal with when they step out on the pitch on Saturday," Kuhn said. "Particularly when you consider that we held France to a draw in the away match.
"We know not to overestimate the importance of that 0-0, because France certainly had more of the match in Paris - and more of the goal chances. But I think we also sold ourselves pretty well that night."
Profiting from the emergence of young players like 20-year-old Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos, 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta and Breda's 19-year-old striker Johan Vonlanthen, the Swiss go into Saturday's match on the back of an 11-game unbeaten run.
Their last defeat came at Euro 2004 - against the French, although Kuhn argues that the nature of that 3-1 loss can also help inspire his players ahead of their rematch in Bern.
"We played really well against the French for 75 minutes in Portugal, before being caught cold by two late goals."
The 61-year-old Swiss trainer, who last month signed a two-year extension to his contract, said his team would not be getting carried away by the absence through injury of top French strikers David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry.
"I don't think it will have any effect on the French team, and that's not meant as disrespect to either of those players," Kuhn said.
"It's just that France have three, four or even five other possible players they can call on, whether it's (Djibril) Cisse, (Sylvain) Wiltord or whoever. I think if we start looking for advantages in the opponent's injuries it will be fatal to our chances."
With attacking midfielder Hakan Yakin ruled out with a thigh injury, Kuhn is expected to rely on Grasshoppers Zurich captain Ricardo Cabanas to engineer necessary counter-attacks.
Having scored in Switzerland's last five matches, Alex Frei will again be Switzerland's main goal hope.
