Senderos thinks Swiss can show true selves at WCup

GENEVA (AP):

Philippe Senderos believes that arriving at the World Cup will help Switzerland's players forget about their recent struggles and help the team find their true identity.

On touching down in South Africa on Thursday, Senderos thinks the pressure the defensive-minded team faces at home to play an attacking style of football will disappear.

"Here in Switzerland they expect us to play like Spain or Barcelona. There's a lot of pressure behind us," Senderos told The Associated Press after a 1-1 draw with Italy on Saturday.

Switzerland have gone five straight games without a win - all played at home - though fans' impatience was eased by an improved performance against the world champion.

Four days earlier, the Swiss were booed off the field in Sion after a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica.

"The fans expect a lot of the Swiss team and sometimes it can be a bit wrong," Senderos said. "We have to know who we are - we are a small country. We have players who play abroad in big teams, but we have to realise we have to play to our qualities."

Senderos believes their best quality, displayed during an eight-match unbeaten run in qualifying, is a solid defensive unit crafted by coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.

The Arsenal defender accepted that losing to Costa Rica was "a little setback" to confidence and praised Hitzfeld for protecting his squad from the nation's rising anxiety.

"He's really experienced, so he takes these things really calmly and tries to give confidence to the players," Senderos said.

Tough opening

Switzerland's next challenge is not to play like, but against, Spain. The European champion and their Barcelona playmakers Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez offer a tough opening on June 16. Group H also includes Chile and Honduras.

"We have been talking about this World Cup for a long time, so now we just want to get out there and start playing," Senderos said. "We're very confident that we're going out there to take our chances."

Hitzfeld has allowed his players two days at home with their families before flying to Johannesburg.

The veteran German's only injury concern after the Italian test is Valon Behrami. The West Ham midfielder will test a strained left thigh muscle during a public training session at Zurich's Letzigrund stadium on Wednesday that serves as a send-off for the squad.