Ryf relishing 'perfect test of talent'

Having successfully guided Switzerland through a UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying campaign for the first time, Claude Ryf is confident his side can spring a surprise in Ukraine.

Long-awaited success
The Nati reached the semi-finals on home soil in 2004, losing an epic tie 3-2 to Turkey after extra time in Fribourg, but had never qualified for the final tournament until this season. Ryf, who had spells in charge of a number of Swiss clubs including BSC Young Boys, FC Wil 1900 and Neuchâtel Xamax FC prior to joining the Swiss Football Federation in July 2004, has enjoyed a fine first season in charge of the U19s. Since losing his first competitive match against Belarus at the start of October, he has masterminded victories against the Faroe Islands, Sweden, the Republic of Ireland and, most notably, four-time winners Spain, while a 1-1 draw against Belgium confirmed Switzerland's place in Ukraine.

uefa.com: You have a fantastic record in charge of the U19s, losing just one of 12 matches to date. What makes this team so strong?

Claude Ryf: We don't have any great weaknesses. We're very evenly balanced as a team and a group. We have a good goalkeeper, a compact defence, a creative midfield and a dangerous attack. There is no area of the team where we're lacking. We are at a good level in all areas, are all at the same level and that's what makes us strong.

uefa.com: Where do you see room for improvement?

Ryf: My players are far from being complete in terms of their development. Every individual must improve himself in several areas, such as explosiveness, speed, technique and tactical awareness.

uefa.com: What are your goals as you head into the finals?

Ryf: Of course we want to have a good tournament and I want to see that my team can adapt to the level of this tournament, that they can react flexibly to their opponents and that everyone pushes himself to the limit.

uefa.com: You've been drawn in Group A against England, Slovenia and Ukraine. How would you rate your opponents?

Ryf: We haven't had the other three teams particularly observed. First and foremost we want to concentrate on ourselves and summon up our full potential. You can expect every opponent to be strong at a European Championship, so we'll have to give our all.

uefa.com: How important is participating in a European Championship to the development of the young players?

Ryf: This is a fantastic event for up-and-coming young players and it's perfectly organised by UEFA. The players must push themselves to the limit if they are to pass the test. They will be competing against strong opponents who will test them in every area. Football has become very fast, which means every player must be mentally, physically and tactically at the highest level. It's the perfect test of talent and that's why we are all looking forward to it.