|
Swiss spirits rise with Barnetta
By Steffen Potter
| |
|
|
Tranquillo Barnetta has been in fine form for
Leverkusen (¿Getty Images)
|
As Bayer 04 Leverkusen climb the Bundesliga and
advance in the UEFA Cup it is not just supporters of the German club enjoying
the moment. Switzerland fans too have had reason to celebrate their success,
as it is due in no small part to the exploits of their own Tranquillo
Barnetta.
'Extra miles'
Though still only 22, Barnetta has taken on a leading role for club and
country. Leverkusen may have lost to leaders FC Bayern Munchen on Saturday,
but his side are still in the hunt for a place in the UEFA Champions League
and through to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. "We're playing an attractive
and attacking game and we know we're always capable of scoring,"
Barnetta told uefa.com. "When you are successful, running is easier.
You do the extra miles and everyone at Leverkusen works for their team-mates."
'Focused'
Barnetta will show that same attitude for Switzerland on Wednesday when
he comes up against some of those Leverkusen team-mates in a friendly
against Germany. Simon Rolfes, Bernd Schneider and Stefan Kiessling could
all figure in Basel. "It is special to play against your team-mates,"
Barnetta said. "There has been some banter in the dressing room over
the past few days, but once the game starts you don't notice it anymore.
It will be an important game, we only have three more before the EURO
starts and Germany are probably the toughest opponent left."
'Right track'
It will be a stern test for Switzerland who have lost their past three
matches against the United States, Nigeria and England. Barnetta, though,
is not reading much into those results. "We clearly have a problem
in that we have only been able to play friendlies for nearly two years
now. Our recent performances were not as bad as the results. Take the
England game for instance, we played well, but lost 2-1. I'm not worried,
we're on the right track."
Incredible atmosphere
Now in his third season for Leverkusen, the former FC St. Gallen player
has already appeared 31 times for his country. The tenacious attacking
midfielder played in every minute of Switzerland's FIFA World Cup campaign
in Germany and as we talk it is clear how much he is looking forward to
enjoying a similar experience on home soil this summer. "It will
be gigantic," he says. "I remember how it was in Dortmund [against
Togo during the World Cup] when we had 50,000 or 60,000 Swiss fans behind
us - I even managed to score! We will have the same atmosphere in Switzerland.
Although everything will be on a slightly smaller scale - because the
country and stadia aren't as big - I'm 100 per cent convinced the atmosphere
will be as great as it was during the World Cup. It will be incredible!"
'New confidence'
The onus is now on Switzerland to produce a team to match expectations
and despite recent results Barnetta is convinced they can. "There
is definitely a new confidence within the Switzerland side. We want to
win all the time and we know we're capable of doing so. Many of us play
abroad and have gained confidence. It doesn't even matter if we're playing
the Netherlands or Germany, we are confident. In the old days Switzerland
would have just wanted to limit the damage against teams like that."
So what is the goal this summer? "To survive the group stage, which
will be difficult enough. If we can do that it won't matter who we come
up against, I would even fancy Germany then." Now that really would
make life interesting back in Leverkusen.
Euro2008.uefa.com,
25 March 2008
|
|
