Still the little swiss | NZZ

The fact that the coaching question was asked at the last press conference has something to do with the fact that Vladimir Petkovic shines with his absence. (Laurent Gillieron / Keystone)

The day after the bitter outing of the World Cup in the second round of the final round, the old rink seems a little more outmoded than she's in. reality and odor of sticky rubber mats seems even more severe. For three and a half weeks, officials and players talked to the media, eating habits, hope for the feat in the quarterfinals, their loved ones and dreams of the cup's big surprise of the Swiss World

a few hours ago, 2000 kilometers in the powerful arena of St. Petersburg. And the World Cup, it already smells of old rubber and reminds a piece of history like leafy plaster. Sleep again, then eat the usual food again, get on the plane again, then all the players, officials and their media companions at home with their loved ones.

Not everything is as bad as it seems the day after tomorrow

"Believe me, I see negative things right now, cruelly negative," says Peter Gilliéron. The president of the association is sitting on the podium. Gilliéron knows the state of mind of all journalists and probably the questions you ask away from home in Switzerland. Gilliéron is an old fox, he knows how to record moods and moderate so that in the end, all are a little happy and dissolve bad mood and severe criticism in the near. "We wanted to say goodbye to the tournament with our heads in the air, and now we are going to become kinky," says Gilliéron. So he looks at the story, which also says that not everything is as bad as it seems the day after the missed opportunity. "I remember there were times when we did not qualify for the finals," says Gilliéron. "As president, I have to have a broader perspective – and she says: The last few years have been good, the direction is good, the development too." So, Vladimir Petkovic remains Swiss national coach? "This is not a problem for me or for the association," says Gilliéron

Peter Gilliéron, President of the Swiss Association. (Gillieron / Keystone)

Gilliéron knew that this question would come, it appears as regularly as Valon Behrami takes the ball to the opponent. The fact that the question of coaching is asked, but also the fact that Petkovic sees no reason to conclude a little to take stock and after a night of reflection has once again put his point of view on the subject. appearance of his team.

When the Swiss miserably failed in South Africa in 2010 under its predecessor, it was different. And in 2014, the association also rented a large room in a luxury hotel in São Paulo to answer questions. The predecessor Petkovics was: Ottmar Hitzfeld. Petkovic had always refused to leave the shadow of Hitzfeld at the beginning of his time as national coach. "He always said, Ottmar here, Hitzfeld there," said Petkovic. It would have been an "act of presence" and it would have been an opportunity to emerge from the shadows. But it is so that Petkovic is engulfed by the shadow.

Lack of fire and arrogant trust

He had given some hints about the causes of the bloodless outbreak against the Swedes. If you re-listen to the conversation with Swiss television, there is this phrase that could explain the reasons for the failure. "Maybe it was my fault if I could not give the team the necessary emotions," Petkovics said. The reluctance to face the Swedes, the lack of fire, the arrogant confidence in his own talent and genius – that's what Petkovic will have to work on in the future.

"The last willingness to force happiness on our side – it was a bit absent," says Stephan Lichtsteiner.The captain, who has not played because of a ban, s & nbsp; Sits in front of the wall of the sponsors in the rink instead of Petkovic. "We wanted to write the story, we did not do it." Maybe it was a little lacking of energy, and knowing that having a good day was "a bit difficult." On that day, he could neither confirm nor deny that he would continue in the national team, he did not know what to do. first had to do "analysis." But the trend is "going on," said the 34-year-old Valon Behrami, Johan Djourou and Blerim Dzemaili want to remain international players, but Gelson Fernandes has not not commented.

"The last desire to force happiness on our side – it was a bit lacking," says Stephan Lichtsteiner (Laurent Gillieron / Keystone)

Many things to Analyze

It is thus that the journey from Switzerland to Russia ends in the moldy hall of Togliatti, which will take time, "we analyze this, of course," says Gilliéron. There will be a lot to analyze, about the energy budget of a tournament, or about the ability to be ready when it is important. For example. The Swiss will fly to Switzerland Saturday in Samara for their eating habits and loved ones. In Samara on Saturday, the Swedes play against England in the quarterfinals. The Swiss will hardly continue this game.

While waiting for the last appearance of the Swiss delegation, the journalists have spent time with press conference games, during this time they can very well imitate the Petkovic sound. And those who walked a little in the hallway, sitting on the stands at the back of the stage, see a huge void with a podium at the end. A big podium for little Swiss.