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5 August 2008
MUNICH – Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld plans to introduce new players in the country’s bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The new coach said in Munich Tuesday he would be introducing his own "personal philosophy and mentality" to the national team as successor to Koebi Kuhn, who was coach for seven years.
Switzerland failed to qualify from the group stage at June’s European Championships in Switzerland and Austria, and the former Bayern Munich coach said it was time to make changes.
"When you have been in charge a long time like Koebi Kuhn, you call up players out of gratitude," he said at a Premiere television news conference in Munich..
"I will be naming some new players in order to encourage competition."
Kuhn announced well before Euro 2008 he would be stepping down after the tournament.
Hitzfeld, 59, will hold his first official news conference as Switzerland coach in Basle on Wednesday.
Hitzfeld did not name any of the players he has in mind but said he had several discussions with junior team coaches.
Switzerland are drawn against Greece, Israel, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg in the World Cup qualifying stage. The first match will be away to Israel on 6 September.
[dpa / Expatica]