Switzerland ends this tournament with an official 9th place (making it the best team of the 8 that were kicked out during the first round) but this clearly isn’t sufficient for the Swiss ambition.

The question “Considering Switzerland’s ambitions and everything that happened at this tournament, were these ambitions too high?” have been asked to the following individuals: Gérard Castella (former coach of Neuchatel Xamax), Uli Stielike (FC Sion’s current coach), Stéphane Chapuisat (former Switzerland and Borussia Dortmund player, chosen as Switzerland’s player of the century), Edmond Isoz (director of the Swiss Football League) and Alexandre Comisetti (former Switzerland player).

Gérard Castella: A full-squad Switzerland would have enjoyed a different result. There was no hope with most players who could only play at 80% of their full potential and all the misfortune that occurred. We didn’t have class and we were inferior technically. We should have been leading 2-0 against Turkey. When one sees what Turkey obtained we can have some regrets. Yet this also shows the difference between a good team and a great team.

Uli Stielike: It’s normal. Switzerland has dreamt without having the means to dream. No expert had placed the team as one of the surprise packages, same with Austria. We had false hopes in the belief that playing at home would give us an advantage. Would one have had the same ambitions had the tournament taken place in Italy?

Stéphane Chapuisat: Since it was a dream we were happy with dreaming. No surprise that we haven’t become champions. It’s a shame that the Kuhn era has ended so early. We would have needed everything to work to go farther than this. We were unlucky. After this disappointment we have to start again under Hitzfeld.

Edmond Isoz: What Switzerland did was disappointing. We should have said that we should have done better. Yet, since we haven’t done better, it’s because we haven’t done everything in the correct way and perhaps we should have done differently. Switzerland had the best team ever, considering where the players currently play. It’s not really a matter of quality.

Alexandre Comisetti: Switzerland has let its Euro pass her by. We needed all the ingredients. With an invisible Barnetta and an injured Frei, we saw our difficulties. The hardest though is that the fever hadn’t even started yet like in Germany two years before. Swiss people bought Dutch shirts to be part of the celebration anyways!

Euro 2008 is over and so are the 21 days of football craziness in Switzerland. It’s been a great success and has definitely encouraged Swiss children to play football and approach this wonderful game.
Unfortunately, our Swiss team hasn’t done too well but we can take pride in having Hakan Yakin as second topscorer (together with others) and with a general performance by a depleted team (without Frei, N’Kufo, Margairaz) that was more than satisfying.

Now is the time for politicians and administrators to state their thoughts, Samuel Schmid said: “Switzerland couldn’t have organised the event on its own. The partnership with Austria has worked and we’ve experienced an excellent football party.”

No serious incident hampered the event and, overall, it’s been more than satisfactory. A brunch at Swiss Beach on Danube ended it all (the lucky ones even got the opportunity of seeing the two presidents playing babyfootball!).

Heinz Fischer said: “Our countries haven’t reached the quarter-finals, but we’ve showed that together we could be good organisers and hosts.” Michel Platini has thanked the two countries for their effort.

Before the final Swiss Football Federation President, Ralph Zloczower had said:
“I’d like to fully return Friedrich Stickler’s compliments, because I too feel our co-operation could not have been better. I’m confident that we’re going to have an interesting and high-quality final this evening and it’s with a bit of sadness that by midnight tonight it will all be over, and UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland will be a part of history. (…) “The images of the Dutch fans is something I will never forget. I would like to thank the public authorities for the help we’ve received. All the efforts have been worthwhile and we can be totally satisfied with what we’ve achieved.”

According to statistics 2.7 million people have visited Basel, Bern, Zurich and Geneva during the tournament. And even yesterday evening the fanzones were packed with fans!
Up to 45,000 fans were in Geneva, 40,000 in Bern and the fanzones of Basel (40,000) and Zurich (100,000) were obviously rich in the colours of the Mannschaft.
A funny announcement was broadcasted by the Swiss police because the Zurich fanzone was bursting with people: “If you’re in front of a TV stay there, you’re privileged!”

The following is an article from UEFA.com concerning Basel:

The semi-final between Germany and Turkey brought the curtain down on Basel’s UEFA EURO 2008™ involvement with some terrific memories being left behind.

Defining moment
Locals will not forget in a hurry the quarter-final between the Netherlands and Russia which saw 180,000 Dutch fans descend upon the city, and local councillor Hanspeter Weisshaupt said affectionately: “The ‘Oranjefest’ on Kasernenplatz and the Dutch parade to the stadium were unbeatable in terms of spontaneity, geniality, cheerfulness and a straightforward good atmosphere.”

Huge influx
UEFA EURO 2008™ brought an estimated one million visitors to Basel, with police officers from France, Germany and Switzerland combining to ensure that the tournament passed by without significant incident. “Not separating the supporters of different teams out and allowing them to follow the games and celebrate together proved the correct decision,” explained Weisshaupt.

Spotless streets
The 650 volunteers on duty in the city also played their part in creating a positive atmosphere throughout Basel while a remarkable clean-up operation every night after matches ensured that the streets remained spotless. Some 40 tonnes of waste were picked up in the hours following the Netherlands-Russia game, but tellingly there was no sign of any litter whatsoever by the following morning.

Transport success
The all-night operation extended to transport workers in the region too, and with 80 per cent of fans in the city taking full advantage of Basel’s public transport system, traffic congestion was never a problem. Even the huge spikes in traffic at the end of the quarter and semi-final games in the city did not cause any major problems, with transport policy proving a resounding success.

‘Exemplary behaviour’
The final night proved to be a celebration for everyone involved in the city’s hosting of the six games at the final tournament, and Weisshaupt himself stayed up late to enjoy the festival of football until the very last. “The fans once again displayed exemplary behaviour,” he said. “I sat until three in the morning on Marktplatz with German and Turkish fans and we celebrated together.”

According to today’s estimates there will be around 50,000 German fans and 30,000 Turkish fans (numbers that don’t shock the authorities following the Oranje wave of last week, there were 180,000 fans in Basel last saturday).

The Swiss police considers the game a “moderately risky one”. There will be some German policemen and between 20-30 Turkish officers.

The heat and the number of people is cause of concern when it comes to alcohol consumption. Last Saturday, during the Netherlands-Russia game, 842 people required medical aid following alcohol abuse. The Basel authorities advise fans to drink enough water and to wear something on their heads.

The Basel hotels are full and there might be issues with the traffic since quite a few Germans will cross the border. Deutsch Bahn trains will increase their numbers to make access to Switzerland simpler for the German fans.

Many Turkish fans will already be in Basel: the Feldbergstrasse in the Petit-Huningue area is known as the “Little Istanbul” (hometown of Eren Derdiyok). There are over 30,000 Turks here and the smell of kebab is everywhere.
It will certainly be a long night in Basel, and hopefully a great end to Switzerland’s highly satisfying management of such an important event (to think that the Swiss team could have been there tonight!).

Following his disastrous performance in the opening game where he didn’t see a crystal-clear penalty that might have given Switzerland a precious draw and his dubious performances in two more games (including the heart-breaking Croatia-Turkey quarter-final) the Swiss Media and Press are obviously furious at the decision. Since the Swiss referee has certainly been the most reliable one during this tournament and since Switzerland had such an unlucky tournament, giving Busacca the final would have been the least to be expected.

French-speaking “Le Matin” says: “It’s a scandal just like the one in the opening game when Rosetti denied an obvious penalty caused by a touch by handballer Ujfalusi.” The choice is a political one according to the same newspaper that ignores the quality of the referees.

German-speaking Blick defines it as a “super-scandal” following the disastrous performances of the Italian referee. According to Blick the influence of the former Italian referee Pierluigi Collina was crucial in the final choice.

24-heures states that Busacca was a serious candidate for the final.

Massimo Busacca was interviewed, following the final choice for the last three games, and was mildly disappointed at UEFA’s choice: “I would have liked it to be otherwise but I still have 7 years, thus I have plenty of opportunities.”
The Swiss referee was present at the World Cup in 2006 and at the UEFA CUP final in 2007.

“There’s only the three of us (including Matthias Arnet and Stéphane Cuhat) left to represent Switzerland.” Curiously enough the “trinity” represents each corner of Switzerland: the german-speaking, the french-speaking and the italian-speaking communities.

He was the 4th official in the Russia-Netherlands game and often had to intervene to moderate the attitude of Guus Hiddink: “I respect the coach’s job. They have so much pressure that I try to be understanding. I have a positive personality. I’d rather leave my cards in the changing rooms. I try whistling the least possible. But when one has to …”

Concerning the match he will have to ref, that being Germany-Turkey (perhaps tougher than the final): “It might be a complicated one, especially since so many Turks live in Germany. The Turks will be motivated. Yet above all it’s the game between two teams that have played well. I don’t want to think about the issues and problems that might derive from it. I want to think of it as a positive game.”

As some of you know the Portuguese team was located at Neuchatel, Switzerland during the European tournament. The city became so packed with Portuguese fans that, to the eyes of some, it had become a replica of a Portuguese city abroad.

A Lausanne-based agency came up with the brilliant idea of creating an online parody of the Swiss town: the result was Noucastelch.
The town’s website is a near-perfect copy of that of the official one of Neuchatel written, however, in a language defined to be portugiesch, an imaginary rough portuguese dialect.

Yet that wasn’t enough for the facetious minds behind the idea: they also changed the names of the streets! Flipping through the pictures we find: La Rupital (instead of Rue de l’Hopital), Rua du Concertoch (instead of Rue du Concert) and a fictitious monument to Vasco da Gama!!!

As if it weren’t enough even the names of the bureaucracy have been translated into portugiesch!
We end up having Alano Ribeiros instead of Alain Ribaux and Pascal dos Santos instead of Pascal Sandoz! And all policemen have the same facial features as Cristiano Ronaldo!

The website has also been sending fake news such as the case of Neuchatel Xamax’s president wanting to change the club’s name to Noucastelch Xamach: “Neuchâtel Xamax est mort, viva Noucastelch Xamach!”

However, the Neuchatel authorities have threatened to sue the website creators because of violation of the federal law on copyright. Pascal dos Santos, I mean Pascal Sandoz has said: “Our objective is clear: we want to prevent them from using the unique and personal characteristics of city.”

Now that Portugal has left Neuchatel and the city has gone back to its Alpine calm who knows if the website will still be open to test the Swiss sense of humour?

How about sitting down at a café in Rua Luis Figo?

Small satisfaction for the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder who was far from being impressive (due to a pre-tournament injury) yet who contributed a lot with more passion than quality.

The fastest Swiss player was Valon Behrami who reached a peak of 30,45 km ph during the game against Turkey. The longest distance during a game was achieved by Gelson Fernandes who ran an incredible 12 kms!
In three games the Swiss team has run 323 kms, taken 22 shots on goal, obtained 17 corners and been 8 times offside.

For what concerns the poll on why Switzerland was knocked out here are the results:

There were 72 votes:
1. Loss of Alex Frei – 17 votes
2. Misfortune and Unlucky Moments – 16 votes
3. The game against the Czechs – 9 votes
4. Low quality of the team – 8 votes

It is clear that the first two reasons were crucial for such an outcome.
Thanks to all of those who participated!

Do you recall Ujfalusi’s outstretched hand during the Czech Rep – Switzerland game? The entire stadium saw a crystal-clear penalty there, except for Roberto Rosetti.

What followed were two average games between Greece and Russia and the quarter-final Croatia – Turkey (more mistakes including a penalty not given to Turkey and the extra-time conceded to the Turks to let them score a third last-minute screamer in a row) and now what?

THE FINAL!

First of all this referee has been below average throughout the tournament and during the entire Italian Championship. Secondly, since the tournament has been hosted by Switzerland and Austria (and considering the low standards of the Austrian Referee) couldn’t UEFA and the Refereeing Comittee attribute the final to Massimo Busacca who is an excellent referee and has proven to be such during two games of this tournament?

No, someone seems to lack some common sense, and all that is left to Busacca is the Turkey-Germany game: a tough one, nevertheless.

Will this choice be one to regret? For the sake of Busacca, I hope so.

Kobi Kuhn, it hasn’t been long since you resigned and the criticism are overwhelming you: Hakan Yakin
has complained about the lack of support, Fifa-Boss Sepp Blatter stated in an interview with
“Le Matin” that you should have stopped already back in 2006.
Kuhn: I don’t feel offended. However it is nice, that everybody wants to give me such an honourable farewell. However I have a completely different opinion. I’m happy about the course of events. Commenting later is always clever. I don’t have anything else to say.
How’s your private life?
Kuhn: Good, thank you. As I’ve always done during these past weeks I spend the afternoon in the Uni-Hospital in Zurich to be with my wife. Wait one second, I’m going outside (A Rega-helicopter is leaving. Kuhn stands on the balcony of the Hospital and smiles).

You appear to be relaxed despite the difficult times that you’ve been through.
Kuhn: I’m an optimistic person. But I’m sure that by now people know this.

How’s the your wife’s health condition?
Kuhn: You must understand, that I don’t want to spend too many words on that. We can finally speak to each other. That is a big step forward and a huge relief for all of us.

Do you have to postpone that long-planned trip abroad?
Kuhn: It will still be a few weeks before Alice is home again. But everything will be fine with her. That is the most important thing. We still have enough time to go to other countries.

Are you still interested in the Euro?
Kuhn: Of course. I watch all of the games.

Your favourites?
Kuhn: I must say: I’m a bit of a Holland fan.
(The Nurse shouts: Germany will make it!, Kuhn laughs) They’re everywhere. Now I have to go – the next helicopter is coming.

Andy Huber

He has impressed at Euro 2008 with two solid performances during the Greece – Sweden 0-2 and Netherlands – Romania 2-0 games.
Today the UEFA commitee selects the two remaining referees for the quarter-finals and sends everyone else home.

Busacca speaks to the Swiss Media from the Referee’s Hotel at Regensdorf:
“I really hope I’ll get a chance to continue. The final? Being at a Euro is like being in a final!”

However, during the 2006 World Cup, he ref’d three games (including the 4th round game Argentina – Mexico) but wasn’t given a chance to continue.

Looking at the disastrous standard set by this year’s referee, I believe our Swiss ref Busacca has a chance. Since Switzerland, Rakitic, Petric are out, the only person to represent Switzerland is Busacca himself.

The media are obviously comparing this Croatian team with the epic 1998 team that featured the likes of Suker and Prosinecki who climbed to 3rd place at the French World Cup. However Darijo Srna said: “We are better.”

Console the Austrians!
A German travel agency offers a 10% discount on flights to Austria. The reason? Console the Austrians.
However, the motto says: “Enjoy the faces of losers.”

Fussy Ref
Despite not openly criticizing the referee’s decisions during the Austria-Germany game, Jens Lehmann shared with us a peculiar decision of the ref: “At the beginning of the game the ref asked the Austrian captain to change the white band he was wearing around his shinpad. He wanted it to be red.”

Acquitted!
According to Poles Leo Beenhakker is not the reason for Poland’s disappointing campaign. The main reasons are “the people in charge who don’t do anything about corruption”, “the players who didn’t put enough effort” and “politicians who neglect sport in Poland”.

Banned Advertisement
A Paris-based society has made an advertisement that has been censored in Austria. It represents a passionate French Kiss between a German and an Austrian fan.

Rubbish
500,000 fans have left over 95 tonnes of rubbish in the old town of Vienna. Monday evening, following Austria-Germany, five trucks emptied the public WC’s of 52,000 litres!

Swiss Holidays
Due to the early exit, the Swiss players are heading towards their summer destinations. Inler is going to stay in Braga, Portugal. Philipp Degen is going to be divided between Basel and Ibiza (quite different climates, huh?. Barnetta, Lichtsteiner, Zuberbuehler and Gygax have no idea yet! They certainly didn’t expect to have such long holidays. Alas.

Bankrupt Hotel?
France’s exit is ruining someone else’s summer. The Bleus had their lodgings at the Hotel Mirador Kempinski (Vaud – Switzerland) and were supposed to be the only guests until the 1st of July. Yet they left today and the Hotel doesn’t know whether they’ll be able to open before that date.

Fan Village fails to impress
The Fan Village in Bout-du-Monde, Geneva, has had a very low attendance. The owners of the stands had to pay the lease beforehand and have lost a considerable amount of money. They demand that they be reimbursed. The organisation was excellent in Geneva although the choice of placing a fanzone in such a remote area is a questionable one, hence the consequences.

Heat Wave approaching!
According to the Swiss Meteorological Service a heat wave is approaching. The temperature should rise to 30° on Sunday which is quite a change compared to the 15° in Romania-Netherlands. We shall see what consequences this will have on the players.