Luxembourg celebrate centenary in style
Wednesday 19 November 2008
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Luxembourg celebrate their 2-1 win against Switzerland (©Getty Images)
The Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF) celebrates its centenary on Saturday 22 November, with star striker Jeff Strasser epitomising the dogged commitment that has characterised the first 100 years of football in the Grand Duchy. "Despite always being rank outsiders, it's an honour for me to play for Luxembourg," he said. The FLF now boasts 109 clubs and over 30,000 licensed players, and will mark its anniversary with Wednesday's international friendly against neighbours Belgium.
First fixture
The FLF was admitted to FIFA two years after its formation and oversaw its first international match on 29 October 1911, a 4-1 defeat against France. Their have been plenty of successes, both moral and tangible, since. After joining UEFA in 1954, Luxembourg marked its 50th year as a FIFA nation with a first international victory, with Ady Schmit claiming a hat-trick in a 4-2 FIFA World Cup qualifying win against a Portugal side featuring Eusébio in 1961. Warming to their task, they triumphed 3-2 on aggregate in a two-legged 1963 tie against the Netherlands as part of the 1964 UEFA European Championship, despite playing both legs away from home for financial reasons. That win put Luxembourg in the last eight, where they lost to Denmark.
Czechs defeated
The EURO '96™ qualifiers were to provide further encouragement for Luxembourg. Coached by current FLF president Paul Philipp, they won 1-0 home and away against Malta and beat the Czech Republic by the same margin, with Guy Hellers - now Luxembourg's coach - scoring the only goal. "I watched the EURO '96™ final between Germany and the Czech Republic and saw how the Czechs, our qualifying opponents, just missed out on winning the title," remembered Philipp. "That made our success against them even better."
'Motivation enough'
Great results have continued to come in recent years. Luxembourg beat Belarus away from home in a UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier, and Alphonse Leweck and Strasser both scored as Hellers' side registered a 2-1 win against Switzerland in Zurich in a FIFA World Cup qualifier just two months ago. The 34-year-old Strasser now needs one more cap to match Carlo Weis's record of 88 for Luxembourg and continues to be inspired by international football. "Despite always being rank outsiders, it's an honour for me to play for Luxembourg," the FC Metz man said. "Having the opportunity to represent your country should be motivation enough for any player."
Official approval
Recent successes reflect the FLF's increased efforts in encouraging young players through its academy in Monnerich, and the nation hosted the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. A women's national team was established in 2003, and the nation has produced some top match officials too, including Alain Hamer, the fourth official at the opening game of UEFA EURO 2004™, and UEFA Champions League referee Luc Wilmes. The FLF may represent one of UEFA's smaller nations, but in terms of spirit and style, it continues to punch well above its weight.
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