Gygax spares Swiss blushes

Switzerland 1-0 Liechtenstein
Switzerland edged past Liechtenstein in their final fixture before UEFA EURO 2004™ courtesy of a late strike from midfield player Daniel Gygax.

Added-time winner
Gygax scored from the edge of the penalty area as the game entered stoppage time to save Switzerland from an embarrassing draw with their semi-professional neighbours. The last-gasp victory came just a week before their first match against Croatia in Portugal next Sunday. The Swiss also meet England and holders France in Group B.

Jehle in form
Switzerland had numerous chances to make the game safe before Gygax struck, but Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle denied strikers Alexander Frei and Stéphane Chapuisat with excellent saves in the first half. Home coach Jakob Kuhn introduced a number of substitutes in the second half, disrupting his side's increasingly desperate attempts to break through Liechtenstein's efficient defence.

Yakin boost
However, there was some good news for the Swiss as captain Murat Yakin played a full 90 minutes after limping out of his side's defeat by Germany on Wednesday with a thigh injury.

Vonlanthen introduced
Johan Vonlanthen, the 18-year-old called up to Switzerland's squad this week after forwards Marco Streller and Leonard Thurre were ruled out with injury, came on for the last ten minutes as a substitute. Kuhn also opted to rest midfield player Johann Vogel and defender Patrick Müller.