Switzerland's winning mentality kicks in

Switzerland's 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup triumph suggested that something exciting was happening with youth football in the country, and this summer it will be the turn of the Under-21 crop to impress. They booked themselves a place at the UEFA European U21 Championship finals by defeating Sweden in the play-offs and, with the tournament in Denmark now less than four months away, UEFA.com sat down with coach Pierluigi Tami to discover Switzerland's secret and discuss their next step.

UEFA.com: How important is this tournament for the development of young players?

Pierluigi Tami: It's very important. Tournaments like this make you grow; they give you experience and you learn to play important matches. I think you're lucky to make it to a final tournament like this. For a player, it's something he'll surely never forget. It's important for his development and growth.

UEFA.com: What qualities do you need to be successful in such a tournament?

Tami: A tournament is always different to qualification. During a tournament, you stay together for a few days and play your matches in a short space of time, with a squad that's not used to staying together. I think you can achieve your objectives if you are a team, and if you're able to share these moments. If a team has reached a final tournament like this, it means those qualities are there.

UEFA.com: What characteristics did you see in your team during qualifying?

Tami: The capacity to adapt, as we changed a lot. We used about 35 players. Some changes were necessary due to injuries, while others happened because players changed clubs and weren't playing on a regular basis. Switzerland is a small country; there is talent, but those talents can sometimes get into the senior team too early. This year we provided a lot of players to the senior team and we're happy about that, but above all we're happy that we still managed to achieve our goal of qualifying for Denmark.

UEFA.com: How much hope lies with youth football in Switzerland after winning the U17 World Cup and then beating Sweden in the U21 play-offs?

Tami: Those were very important victories and they built our confidence. Switzerland needs success like that. The Swiss Football Association has been working hard for many years, but it's not just the association: the clubs also work hard in terms of development. Winning an U21 tie against a strong team like Sweden increases confidence, and I think this success breeds a hunger for more success. You learn how to win and winning makes you want to win more and gives you that winning mentality.

UEFA.com: Has it been difficult for the Switzerland team to create a winning mentality?

Tami: It is difficult, because in Swiss culture what counts the most is security. I think we now have youngsters in our national teams who are no longer satisfied with just participating; they want to achieve significant goals which, until a short time ago, were unthinkable. It's good that it's like that and it's good that they have big ambitions. To be modest is fine, but it's also important to have ambition.

UEFA.com: What are your objectives for the finals in Denmark?

Tami: The tournament is still a long way away, but it's clear that Switzerland are not the favourites. We do have ambitions, though: our aim is to qualify for the semi-finals.

UEFA.com: Would it help to be able to call up senior players like Valentin Stocker and Xherdan Shaqiri, who have played in the UEFA Champions League?

Tami: If I could have those two players, I'd welcome them with open arms. I don't know if they'll be part of our team as Switzerland are involved in EURO 2012 qualifying. They play for the senior team now, so that's an issue that needs to be discussed with [Switzerland coach] Ottmar Hitzfeld. But obviously the addition of players like that would improve our team's potential.

UEFA.com: How is your relationship with Hitzfeld?

Tami: Ottmar Hitzfeld always follows our matches very closely. Our relationship is very good. I also had the privilege of working with Ottmar as an observer during the World Cup in South Africa, so there is a good relationship. When it's time to select the team, we will discuss it.

UEFA.com: Will this tournament be the team's biggest challenge yet?

Tami: Absolutely, yes. It's the most important tournament and it's the first important final tournament they'll have played in. We have a few very young players in the team and although some of them have already experienced the U17 World Cup, the U21 European Championship is a very important stage in their development.