Swiss look to scale heights

Getting better
Their qualification was a close-run thing this time - only advancing to Finland as a best runner-up - but as their men's youth teams have proved in recent years, Switzerland are emerging as a real force at this level. Vanessa Bürki, who had just turned 18 when she scored six goals in the second qualifying round, may hold the key to her side's chances.

THE COACH:
A player with BCO Basel, SV Sissach and FC Bern, Béatrice von Siebenthal first coached Switzerland in a competitive match in October 1997, an Under-18 qualifier against Greece. She guided the team to the inaugural U19 final tournament in Sweden, where they played some fine football and reached the brink of the last four. Von Siebenthal has been in charge of the women's football department of the Swiss Football Association since 2001 and the following year also got involved in the grassroots game.

ROUTE TO THE FINALS:
Switzerland's progress through first qualifying round Group B8 was impressive. Bulgaria and hosts Hungary were beaten 3-0, before Martina Moser's goal earned a 1-0 success against Israel. Travelling to Italy for second qualifying round Group A5, the Swiss knew they had a tough task with 2003 semi-finalists Sweden also in their pool. If the 4-1 defeat by Italy was a setback, Switzerland's recovery was spectacular with Bürki scoring four times in an 8-1 win against Serbia and Montenegro. Victory was then the minimum requirement in the deciding game against the Swedes. Goals from Bürki and Lara Dickenmann gave Von Siebenthal's side the advantage, and although Sweden pulled one back eight minutes from time, Bürki made it 3-1 in the dying seconds. Italy's simultaneous 3-2 triumph against Serbia and Montenegro meant they took automatic qualification on head-to-head results, but that the Swiss qualified as one of the two best runners-up.