Last victory 17 years ago – The Nati and the Letzigrund: It’s not love – Sport

The international matches in Letzigrund have not brought the national team any luck so far. On Friday she has to prevent relegation from the Nations League in the “Letzi”.

Letzigrund has always been linked to FC Zurich. However, the stadium is not very popular outside the club, at least in football circles. The tartan track means the pitch is further away than in traditional football stadiums. In addition, there is less atmosphere in the group.

When the Swiss national team played in Zurich, it was almost exclusively in the Hardturm until 2007. After its demolition, the performances in Letzigrund followed. But a love affair never developed between the national team and the stadium.

The Swiss were only able to celebrate at the first international match in the recently reopened Letzigrund on October 13, 2007. Thanks to goals from Marco Streller (2) and Hakan Yakin, coach Köbi Kuhn’s team beat Austria 3-1. It was to be the last Swiss victory in Zurich.

First Nigeria, then the defeat of the century

Just a month later it suffered its first bitter defeat in the “Letzi”. Switzerland lost 0-1 against Nigeria. But this was just a foretaste of the game that was to follow almost a year later.

In the third game under coach Otmar Hitzfeld, Switzerland lost 1-2 to the amateurs from Luxembourg. The defeat in the World Cup qualifier gained an inglorious cult status thanks to the preliminary reporting. “I love Luxemburgerli” was the title of a text in the Blickcomplemented by a photo by Gökhan Inler that showed the midfielder with his mouth open and holding a handful of the famous pastry.

The tabloid afterwards described the 1:2 as a “defeat of the century”. But more moderate newspapers also found clear words. Switzerland “received a slap in the face for eternity,” wrote The Nouvellistethe performance was “absolutely miserable,” he said Daily Gazette.

Will there be reconciliation?

It took 7 years for the Swiss national team to return to Letzigrund. However, there were no more serious fights in Zurich; the three appearances after the Luxembourg embarrassment were test matches. There was a 1-1 draw against the USA (2015) and against Kosovo (2022), in between Switzerland lost 0-2 against Bosnia-Herzegovina (2016).

Even if the Nations League doesn’t have the highest priority, Letzigrund is about something again after a long time. After many dismal games, reconciliation with the Zurich stadium awaits on Friday evening against Serbia – or there will be the next disappointment.