Titan talk from Senderos

By Tim Dykes in Darmstadt

Switzerland took Europe by surprise in 2002 by sweeping their way to the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship on home soil, stirring up previously untapped interest in the country's emerging talent. The players, dubbed 'The Titans' by an enthusiastic public, found themselves thrust into the shop window, with the likes of Ricardo Cabanas, Alexander Frei and Stéphane Grichting all earning moves to the French Ligue 1.

Fresh crop
The trio have all since stepped up to the senior international side, paving the way for a fresh crop of youngsters to impress at this summer's U21 championship in Germany, against whom the new generation of Titans lost their opening game 2-1. uefa.com spoke to Swiss centre-half Philippe Senderos of Arsenal FC the day after that defeat.

uefa.com: How was your experience of the opening game against the host nation?

Senderos: We knew that Germany would come on strong so we were prepared. We tried to cancel out their strength in midfield but they played well and they played their game. We did a good game too though, and there were quite a few fans who came over. The under-21s are quite big in Switzerland and we have great team spirit.

uefa.com: The Swiss supporters take this tournament very seriously - but how crucial is the U21 championship on a personal level for you as a player?

Senderos: These competitions are very important especially because for me it's been a difficult year and a big test. I've had a back injury and a foot injury but the coach has had faith in me. The whole staff at Arsenal have been looking after me - they are complete professionals.

uefa.com: Arsenal went through the whole Premiership campaign undefeated - how frustrating was that for you watching from the sidelines?

Senderos: It was an amazing season and I did feel a part of it - I trained with them, ate with them and was in the dressing room with them all season. Now I'm fit I just want to go through that physical preparation, do well in pre-season and we'll see where we go from there.

uefa.com: Back to the present, Switzerland face the Portuguese tomorrow. How will your approach to that game differ from the encounter with Germany?

Senderos: When you play the Germans you know you have to be strong in the tackles and win all those balls in the middle. It will be different against Portugal but we don't really care about the opposition - it's important that we concentrate on our own game.

uefa.com: How much is that game affected by the absence from the dugout of your coach, Bernard Challandes, who is still serving his two-match coaching ban?

Senderos: Not much really - even if he's on the sidelines we can't hear him! But it must be difficult for him because he's someone who needs to be on the side of the pitch and needs to scream, be there with the team and live it as well. But the second coach Bigi [André Meier] likes to scream too.

uefa.com: Bigi will no doubt be screaming you on to victory in Mainz knowing that another defeat could make qualification for the semi-finals an impossibility. How are you and the team coping with that pressure?

Senderos: We have a full squad and we are a big team but Portugal are a big team too and they have to win if they want to go through, so it should be a great game. But listen, we are the Titans, so we have to be strong.