Switzerland dancing to the Nimeley beat

Switzerland are through to the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship for the first time since they won the title in 2002 and with Kofi Nimeley pulling the strings, Dany Ryser's side are looking to repeat that triumph.

Team ethic
Nimeley played every minute of Switzerland's Group A campaign, offering a sturdy shield just in front of the back four and utilising possession quickly and accurately. His efficient style of play sums up a squad that, according to the FC Basel 1893 midfielder, has no stars. "We work as a team and prepare ourselves for each game as a group," he said. "We do it as a team."

Netherlands date
Switzerland, who play the Netherlands in the last four on Friday, finished top of their section after holding Spain to a goalless draw in their final pool game, a result that eliminated the defending champions. "It meant a lot to us because our dream was to get past Spain and make the semi-finals," added Nimeley, who was born in Ghana but moved to Switzerland shortly before his sixth birthday.

Dancing king
The midfielder scored his side's opener – a penalty – in the 3-1 win against Italy, a moment he celebrated in choreographed fashion. "My team-mate on the bench [Guy Roger Eschmann] said before the match, 'I think you're going to score today but how are you going to celebrate? I think we should work out a dance for when it happens'. I just did it for fun, but he was so sure I was going to score, so we worked on something and then got to do it."

Best position
Rehearsed dance routines aside, Nimeley was delighted to contribute such an important goal. "It was a great feeling – I've scored I think twice for my country, once with a header, one a penalty. It doesn't matter how it comes, the feeling is just as good." Although nominally a holding player, Nimeley lists some of the finest attacking midfielders of recent years as his heroes including Paul Scholes, Zinédene Zidane, Xavi Hernández and "especially Michael Essien, as I think my best position is defensive midfield".

Crowd support
Nimeley feels the game against the Netherlands will be "interesting because we have two different types of playing system" but is hoping the support from the large crowds in Germany will spur him and his side on. "I'm really excited about the fans, the people coming for every match. The atmosphere is great – you see that Germany is a football country." A nation that Nimeley hopes will get to see him dance at least one more time.