Vaduz have nothing to lose

By Marco Keller

None but the bravest gambler would back Liechtenstein's FC Vaduz in their UEFA Cup second qualifying round tie against Besiktas JK tonight, but the Rheinpark side - who play in the Swiss second division due to the absence of a professional league in Liechtenstein - are no longer a pushover.

Top spot
After four games of the new term, Mats Gren's team - who qualified for Europe by winning the Liechtensteiner Cup - are leading their division with ten points, having scored ten goals and conceded just one. A 4-0 win at FC Lugano last weekend certainly pleased the coach. "This is how I like it," said Gren.

Near misses
In the past two seasons, Vaduz have narrowly failed to make it into Switzerland's top tier. Back in May, it looked like their chance to step up had finally come as they drew 1-1 at FC Schaffhausen in a promotion/relegation play-off. However, they were to lose 1-0 in the home leg.

New coach
None the less, that defeat has not dampened their ardour. A new campaign has brought new optimism - and a new coach in 41-year-old Gren. The Swede made his name in Switzerland by scoring four goals on his debut for Grasshopper-Club in 1986, and would remain in Zurich for the rest of his playing days.

Steady progress
Grasshoppers also took him on as a coach after he retired - starting with the youth teams before he was elevated to assistant coach to Alain Geiger. Vaduz is his first job as a senior coach, and he is determined to build a reputation for himself in Liechtenstein.

Dacia defeated
He made a fine start as his side eliminated Moldova's FC Dacia Chisinau in the first qualifying round. Having won 2-0 in the home leg, Vaduz clung on to lose 1-0 in the return. It was not pretty, as the coach conceded. "The best thing was that we qualified," he said.

Besiktas tie
Yet, after they were paired with Turkish giants Besiktas, any pressure on Vaduz evaporated. Reaching this stage is an achievement in itself. Progressing any further seems unlikely. As defender Michael Stocklasa admitted: "We don't have anything to lose."

Sizeable opposition
Having seen Turkey beat the Liechtenstein national team 5-0 and 3-0 in qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2004™, Besiktas could be excused for anticipating an easy night in Liechtenstein. However, underestimating Gren's side may prove to be a mistake.

Foreign legion
Stocklasa is one of seven Liechtenstein internationals in the Vaduz squad, which also contains a surprising array of foreign talent, not least Swiss midfielder Sandro Burki and his countryman, forward Goran Antic. Meanwhile, Brazilian striker Gaspar Odirlei De Souza has shown he can be dangerous too.

Gren optimistic
With a solid defence, Vaduz might do enough to unsettle their illustrious opponents, and Gren hopes his charges can do some damage. "We have to play quicker when we go forward," he said. "If we can do that, I'm optimistic that we can do ourselves justice against Besiktas and in the league."

Home support
Vaduz can bank on an enthusiastic crowd for tonight's home leg - 2,000 tickets have been sold and media interest is intense. Many may only have come to see former Bundesliga star Ailton in the flesh, but if they stick around they might just see one of the greatest upsets in the tournament's history.