Joy for Switzerland

Sometimes the most spectacular joy can come from what looks to be the most uninteresting of results. In this instance a 0-0 draw with Italy in Basel sparked scenes of jubilation in Switzerland, as the hosts earned a place in the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship for the first time.

Significant result
The result also meant celebration for Italy as it helped them top Group 1 but the real significance lay with the Swiss. It would not be possible to overstate the impact the hosts have made under coach Bernard Challandes. They finished second in the toughest section, defeating Portugal and more than holding their own last night with the title holders and winners of four of the last five tournaments.

Mutual satisfaction
You could easily forgive the hosts their part in the closing spell of dullness in last night's match at the Saint Jakob stadium as both teams received news of Portugal's 3-1 winning scoreline over England and appeared to agree to settle for a 0-0 draw, a result of mutual satisfaction.

Work ethic
Before that the Swiss, who had never before qualified for the final stages of this event, had again given a demonstration of their organisational qualities and strong work ethic to limit Italy's menace and threaten the most surprising result of the tournament so far. Daniel Gygax whistled a shot narrowly wide early on and his team were aggrieved when Alexander Frei went down with no penalty given.

"Really, really happy"
Afterwards Challandes said: "I'm really, really happy with this match. When the draw was made I said we would qualify for the semi-finals. It's clear that this is already success for Switzerland but I don't want to stop here. I want us to go to the end of the tournament and have the chance to continue this success."

Tough examination
However to make further progress Switzerland will have to lift themselves to another level again with France, boasting three wins out of three, providing the opposition in Basle on Saturday. Challandes knows the French team and is prepared for the tough examination awaiting his young charges. "France and Italy were my favourites to win the tournament before the start so it is no surprise that they are there," he said.

Wonderful opportunity
Holders Italy themselves impressed periodically against the Swiss. Indeed they might have scored inside two minutes, Massimo Maccarone, two-goal star of Monday's victory over England, forcing Stéphane Grichting to clear off the line after Vincenzo Iaquinta had worried Nicolas Beney in the air. Switzerland were reprieved again when Iaquinta, named in place of Emiliano Bonazzoli, spurned a wonderful opportunity when Beney's save from Maccarone offered him a gaping net with which to pick his spot.

Three suspensions
"We had opportunities to score but did not take tham and that was a deficiency in our game," said coach Claudio Gentile who has to wrestle with a problem before Saturday's semi-final with the Czech Republic in Zurich with three defenders missing through suspension.

Gentile seeks solution
To the loss of Daniele Bonera, who incurred a four-match ban after his sending-off against England, must be added Gianpaolo Bellini and Cesare Natali who both picked up a second yellow card of the tournament. "We will fight to find a solution," Gentile said. "If the players who come in really fight we can fill this gap."