GERMANY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Bad Bertrich have renamed themselves the 27th Swiss Canton in honour of the Swiss team coming to stay for the World Cup

Record ID: 873044

  • Title: GERMANY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Bad Bertrich have renamed themselves the 27th Swiss Canton in honour of the Swiss team coming to stay for the World Cup
  • Date: 11th May 2006
  • Summary: CLOSE UP: EXTERIOR OF HOTEL FUERSTENHOF SIGN
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • City:
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAWBVVW321M84J4TSLMG5BHEOH
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: After failing to qualify for the previous two FIFA World Cups, Switzerland has made amends by claiming a place at the 2006 tournament in neighbouring Germany. And to show them how pleased they are that the Swiss team is coming to stay with them, Bad Bertrich has renamed their village the 27th Swiss Canton.
    "We always try to think up quirky things here," said the Hotel Director Walter Hecker on Wednesday (April 12th). "Calling ourselves the 27th Swiss canton was a nice surprise for the Swiss team, they took it warm-heartedly. The whole town will be putting on a big Swiss programme while the team is staying here."
    Bad Bertrich might only have just under a thousand inhabitants, but the village is hoping for big things from the footballers visit.
    "The region's profile is being raised by the team's visit - they have heard of it in Switzerland at least now. We hope that their visit also brings more publicity for us and for the whole region," Hecker said. "It is enough for us for a few eyes to be turned towards little Bad Bertrich."
    And the Swiss may well be scrutinizing their neighbours' welcome party intensely, Switzerland is due to host the 2008 UEFA European Championship jointly with Austria.
    The tournament in Germany will be the first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1994 for the Swiss. they made it to the round of sixteen on their last finals appearance at USA 1994, but fell 3-0 against Spain. The current youthful team will be hoping to achieve at least as much in their country's eighth appearance in the World Cup, and some observers believe they have the potential to emerge as the surprise package of the tournament.
    "It is a great pleasure for us all, we are very excited and hope that the Swiss team can get as close to the final as possible," Hecker told Reuters TV.
    The Swiss team combines youth with more experienced players. In goal is the veteran Pascal Zuberbuhler, while Hamburg's Raphael Wicky stamps his authority on the midfield. Arsenal's Senderos and Bayer Leverkusen's Barnetta bring international experience, while forward Alexander Frei from French first division outfit Stade Rennes has already proved his worth.
    The Germans won the World Cup in 1954 on Swiss soil, so maybe it is up to the German hosts to give the Swiss a chance this time round. "For our part we shall do everything in our power to make sure they can," said Hecker.
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