Exit does not dishearten Gross

By Svend Frandsen

FC Basel coach Christian Gross hailed his team's final UEFA Champions League heroics as they secured a last-gasp 2-1 victory against Juventus FC - only for the visitors to progress at their expense.

Campaign ends with victory
The Swiss champions had needed a 4-0 or five-goal win to go through, but despite optimism in the local press, that was always a pipe dream. Nonetheless, they responded to Alessio Tacchinardi's early goal with a Mario Cantaluppi equaliser before the break, and Christian Giménez turned in a corner in the second minute of added time to end Basel's campaign with a victory.

Juventus go through
However, it is Juventus who take the quarter-final berth behind Group D winners Manchester United FC, as the Italians have a better record in head-to-heads between themselves, Basel and RC Deportivo La Coruña, all of whom finished level on points. Nonetheless, Basel's achievement in coming third in the group, adding the win against Juventus to their beating of Deportivo and draw with United, cannot be understated, as it is easily the best performance by a Swiss side in the tournament.

'We have grown incredibly'
Gross admitted as much after the game, saying: "We won the match against a world-class side, and when we look back at our campaign we have grown incredibly throughout this tournament. Our match against United was the most promising in terms of tactics and composure on the pitch and shows that have learned from our mistakes."

'Players were fantastic'
He added: "This victory gives us plenty of hope for the future. The players were again fantastic along with the crowd but the club now have to develop further to remain at this level." Indeed, Basel's positive tactics under Gross, combined with consistently assured performances from the likes of Murat Yakin, his brother Hakan and strikers Giménez and Julio Hernán Rossi deservedly took them to this stage past the likes of Liverpool FC and FC Spartak Moskva.

Visitors relax
Their fervent home support also played a part - clearly shown today, as Marcello Lippi's otherwise impeccable defensive formation was undone, although Juventus always looked safe after Tacchinardi's long-range goal put them ahead. The Juventus coach admitted his side relaxed after that moment, already looking ahead to the last eight, and allowing their hosts the initiative, only occasionally moving up a gear.

'Brave effort'
"Tacchinardi's opening goal made us calm, knowing that qualification was safe," said Lippi. "We relaxed in the second half knowing that we were already qualified and allowed Basel into the match. I can only praise Basel for a brave effort. The emphasis was on qualifying for the next round." Alessandro Del Piero's introduction midway through the second half after a six-week absence through injury and illness did give Juventus some impetus, but Basel continued to press and had the best in an exciting finale.

'Tremendous boost'
"We couldn't have asked for anything more", said Basel goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler. "Of course we knew that we could no longer qualify but it is still a tremendous boost to win against a side like Juventus because they are leading in Italy and it reinforces our belief that we are truly almost unbeatable on this pitch - even against the best. Juve is Juve but in Basel everything is possible and we gave everything."

Fully deserved
Basel indeed did give everything, and it may not have been enough to take them through, but as throughout this tournament, they showed that they fully deserved their place among Europe's elite.