SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Swiss team arrive on eve of World Cup

Record ID: 455221

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Swiss team arrive on eve of World Cup
  • Date: 11th June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 10, 2010) (REUTERS) PLANE CARRYING SWISS ARRIVING AT AIRPORT CLOSE OF SIDE OF PLANE WITH "SWISS" LOGO ARMED GUARDS SECURE AREA VARIOUS OF PLAYERS ARRIVING SECURITY GUARD MORE OF PLAYERS ARRIVING PLAYERS LEAVING PASSPORT CONTROL PHOTOGRAPHER MORE OF PLAYERS LEAVING PASSPORT CONTROL COACH LEAVING AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA1L87U7RAJ5HNGH5Y6UII2CQAI
  • Story Text: The Swiss national soccer team arrived in South Africa on Thursday (June 10) at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport a day before the highly awaited tournament kicks off.
    Switzerland have been drawn in Group H, alongside three Spanish speaking nations in Spain, Chile and Honduras.
    The team, making their ninth appearance at the World Cup, will realistically be looking to fight with Chile for second place in the group as many see Spain as overwhelming favourites to top the group and possibly achieve their first win at the tournament.
    The team have lost three of their last four friendlies against Norway, Uruguay and Costa Rica, but managed a 1-1 draw with Italy on Saturday (June 5).
    The side topped one of the easiest groups in European qualification when they pipped Greece to top spot in a group that included Latvia, Israel, Luxembourg and Moldova.
    Switzerland's best achievement at the tournament has been to reach the quarter finals. In 2006, the team lost to Ukraine on penalties in the second round. Should they qualify out of Group H, they face a possible last 16 encounter with five-times champion Brazil.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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