Profligate Swiss held in Basle
Wednesday, 8 September 2004
[1] Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland had to make do with a point apiece after a hard-fought FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 4 game at Saint Jakob Park in Basel.
Lively opposition
[2] Clinton Morrison saw his goal cancelled out by Hakan Yakin but the visitors will see it as point won rather than two dropped, despite taking an early lead, as they dug deep to counter their lively opponents.
Home injuries
[3] Swiss coach Köbi Kuhn was forced to make two changes to the side that defeated the Faroe Islands 6-0 on Saturday, with Ludovic Magnin in for Christoph Spycher and the youthful Tranquillo Barnetta replacing playmaker Raphael Wicky. Ireland, on the other hand, were able to welcome back Damien Duff and captain Roy Keane in what was almost a full-strength lineup.
Early strike
[4] Duff's first meaningful contribution led to the opening goal on eight minutes, Morrison nodding the winger's perfect centre across Pascal Zuberbühler and in at the far post. Switzerland were not slow in responding, though. Within three minutes, Shay Given was tipping a Murat Yakin drive on to his crossbar and over. Two minutes later he had saved twice with his legs as both Alexandre Rey and Hakan Yakin benefited from the vision and accuracy of the impressive Barnetta.
Level pegging
[5] Ireland's luck could not hold out and on 17 minutes Hakan Yakin capitalised on Barnetta's creativity. Another delicately weighted pass found the striker to the left of goal, and this time the former FC Basel 1893 striker made no mistake on his old home ground.
Irish relief
[6] However, in Duff and Robbie Keane, the visitors at least had reliable outlets. On the half-hour Duff crossed deep and Keane nodded the ball back across goal for Morrison. But this time Zuberbühler was his equal. Three minutes later Keane went close himself, turning wickedly inside the area before firing straight at the goalkeeper.
Tightened up
[7] After the break, though, the visitors sacrificed some of their attacking ambitions as they sought to stop Switzerland setting the pace and penning them back inside their own half. Ireland's defending was often pragmatic at best but the fact that Given only made one save of note after the break – and that from a 20-metre shot by Hakan Yakin – means Brian Kerr can claim a tactical victory if not complete revenge for their defeat here in last year's decisive UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier.
Ireland captain Roy Keane is challenged by Tranquillo Barnetta