Fans have faith in their team

An estimated 12,000 Swiss have made the trip to Portugal Keystone

Swiss football fans have been rallying behind their team following Sunday’s goalless draw against Croatia at Euro 2004.

Thousands have made the journey to Portugal and they still believe the team have a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Switzerland face a tough test in Coimbra on Thursday against England, who lost 2-1 to France in their opening game.

The cliché of the cold and distant Swiss is nowhere to be seen on the streets of Portugal as the fans – dressed in red and white – sing, dance and shout support for their team.

Some of them travelled to England to see Switzerland compete at Euro 96, while others are attending a major football tournament for the first time.

Florian, who comes from Lausanne, spoke of the warm and friendly atmosphere in Portugal.

“People are really letting go, perhaps even more than usual because they don’t feel as if anyone is watching them,” he told swissinfo.

“But we’ll show in 2008 [when Switzerland co-hosts the competition] that it’s possible to have a party in Switzerland too,” added Florian.

Plains, trains and automobiles

Despite the fact that the Swiss are not one of the favourites and only managed a goalless draw in their opening match against Croatia on Sunday, nothing seems to dampen the fans’ enthusiasm.

Young men aged between 25 and 30 make up the bulk of Swiss supporters in Portugal, but plenty of female fans have also made the journey from Switzerland.

“We went by coach from Geneva,” explained Barbara, who lives in Basel. “It took 24 hours to get to Portugal, but we got to know lots of people on the way.”

Others who were luckier or who were able to afford it came by plane. Many fans also travelled by car or train.

Tickets

Officially, the Swiss Football Association only provided 6,500 tickets for every match. But it is estimated that there are around 12,000 Swiss supporters in Portugal.

Most of them got hold of a ticket through European football’s governing body (Uefa), a travel agent or through friends in Portugal.

“We’re staying with a Portuguese friend who lives close to the football stadium in Coimbra, and he has introduced us to the local customs,” said Gilles, a student from Fribourg.

The Swiss team say they are proud of their supporters both in Portugal and back home in Switzerland.

“I hope that it is a mutual feeling,” said midfielder Raphaël Wicky after Sunday’s match.

“It is a very special feeling to play in front of a crowd of Swiss supporters.”

“I get goose pimples to hear that 1.8 million people in Switzerland watched the match on television,” said Michel Pont, assistant manager of the Swiss squad.

“It is so encouraging to see how much support we have. The fans were wonderful in Leiria on Sunday.”

swissinfo, Mathias Froidevaux and Doris Lucini in Rio Maior

In brief

Around 12,000 Swiss supporters attended Sunday’s match against Croatia in Leiria.

About 1.8 million people in Switzerland watched the game on television.

At Euro 1996 in England around 15,000 Swiss fans watched the opening match against hosts England.