With only three days to go before they launch UEFA EURO 2008™ against the Czech Republic in Basel, Switzerland assistant coach Michel Pont has challenged their squad to find the right balance in their mental approach to the tournament.
Young and old
Pont believes it is important the Swiss players discover "the right mix between nervousness and pleasant anticipation, tension and calmness", and that is why they have tried to get a balance of young and old in their 23-man party. It contributed to the decision to include Patrick Müller, though the young players are helped by the fact they do not share the "Swiss complex", when the national team did not give themselves a chance of beating Europe's top guns.
Same routine
"It will nevertheless now be important for the young players to make their first experiences during such a big tournament," said Pont. "We will not change our daily routines now, because expectation and pressure are already high enough on the players." There is a feeling in the Swiss camp that they have prepared well for a tournament, and that includes having watched the Czechs several times. "They have a very well-oiled team with lots of qualities when attacking," Pont pointed out. "They surely have their weaknesses as well, and we plan to prepare ourselves for those."
Barnetta returns
Midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta is expected to return to full training at this afternoon's session after an ankle injury. Defender Müller is not yet at full fitness after recovering from a torn cruciate ligament and Pont admitted: "There has not yet been a final talk between [coach] Köbi Kuhn and Patrick as to whether he is fit enough to play on Saturday."
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