Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is not relying on England to beat Montenegro and is fully focused on getting the job done against Wales.
Wales and Switzerland lock horns in a Euro 2012 Group G qualifier at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea with the visitors still in with a chance of making the play-offs.
Hitzfeld’s side are third in the group with eight points from six matches, three behind Montenegro, who host leaders England in Podgorica.
With two matches left in the group stage, Switzerland will hope to pick up maximum points and also need Montenegro to slip up, but Hitzfeld is not concerned with that.
We had a difficult start (to the qualifying campaign) but I have always believed in my team, Hitzfeld said.
We have the chance to qualify for the play-offs. We want to win against Wales. We do not want to rely on England beating Montenegro.
However, Hitzfeld is aware that Wales, who have no chance of making the play-offs, will prove to be tough opponents in front of their own supporters.
Wales are a very strong team and everybody is talking about Gareth Bale, but they also have Aaron Ramsey, Steve Morison, Craig Bellamy and others, he said.
Wales are strong in offence and in defence and can be dangerous if we give away free-kicks.
Hitzfeld, who took over the coaching role of the Swiss side in 2008 and led them to the 2010 World Cup finals, is also pleased with his team s progress since South Africa.
We have been undefeated for almost one year, Hitzfeld said. After the World Cup we lost a number of players and some retired, but I am happy with the quality of our young players
We have some very young players and also players who are 27 or 28 years of age, so I am very happy with the mixture of players in our team.
These days young players are more mature than they were 20 years ago. I am happy with the education of footballers in Switzerland.
