Switzerland strive to shock Germany

Supreme force
Switzerland would make the play-offs as Group 4 runners-up if they win and as one of the four best third-placed teams should they draw, easily the best performance ever by a nation who faced a two-legged tie to stay among the top nations in the 2001 edition, having only been promoted four years before. However, in reigning world and European champions Germany they face a team who have won every qualifier they have played in any competition since 1999, and who defeated Switzerland 7-0 in August 2007. Indeed, when Germany came to Switzerland the year before in FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying, they struck six without reply, and overall have won 12 and drawn one of the other of their 13 meetings, scoring 64 goals and conceding two.

Improvement
Still, Switzerland's tally of ten points from seven games is already their best performance in a women's qualifying group, tribute to hard work under coach Béatrice von Siebenthal, who is making the most of a thriving youth structure. Although Von Siebenthal is realistic about their chances, especially after losing 4-0 in a friendly in Scotland last month, she believes the right result is possible. "We analysed our last match against Scotland and have watched Germany's recent games," she said. "We know what we have to do. In the last training sessions we will focus on defensive tactics and one-on-one situations. Our goal is to get one point. We know that this will be difficult enough. Our record against Germany is negative and they won't give us any gifts, even though they have already qualified. We trust in our strength and we reassure ourselves with the phrase: 'We have no chance, so let's beat them!'"

Injured quartet
Germany, who are without injured defenders Linda Bresonik and Bianca Rech, midfielders Fatmire Bajramaj and Célia Okoyino da Mbabi and strikers Conny Pohlers and Birgit Prinz, are playing their first game since taking bronze for the third Olympics in succession, a semi-final loss to Brazil in China denying them the one major title they have never won. Long assured of a shot at their fifth straight European title in Finland next summer, Germany coach Silvia Neid is nonetheless taking nothing for granted in their last fixture of 2008. "Swiss women's football is developing very well at the moment," she said. "I'm convinced that [Von Siebenthal] will definitely have her team fired up." Striker Sandra Smisek will win her 133rd and final cap for Germany having announced her international retirement.