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CONFOUNDED >>>> Thierry Henry contemplates the 0-0 draw with Switzerland as he leaves the pitch

Web Exclusive | The World Cup | France v Switzerland How France Learned the Truth About Swiss Neutrality The Crimson Tide hits Stuttgart to prove they are les Bleus worst nightmare and grind out a 0-0 draw By BRUCE CRUMLEY subscribe to TIME Printable Version email this story Japan: Soccer Samurais Are Left Feeling Blue

Posted Wednesday, June 14, 2006; 11.42BST
You know that Swiss reputation for discretion, quiet, calm, and an almost apologetic aversion to public displays of patriotism? Obviously, no-one told the swarms of boisterous, red-clad Swiss fans who invaded stoic Stuttgart to see their team takes on les Bleus in Tuesday's Group G match.

Even before they made their way to the spiffy Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion north of the city, the veritable red tide swept into the centre of town, and turned the usually serious and work-minded Stuttgart into an explosion of crimson celebration. By the time that joyous bunch had packed themselves into what looked to be 75% of the 52,000-seat stadium, the pockets of les Français didn't stand a shouting chance.

It was a scene reflected on the pitch too, where the Swiss played a solid, scrappy game that only suffered as many hot French scoring situations (four) as it created before the goal of Fabien Barthez. Though Swiss players ground down into what looked like passive periods anticipating the game's eventual 0-0 draw, their own fans didn't let the Helvetians play opossum long. Indeed, when they weren't chanting "Hep Suisse" (sounding oddly like the French cheer for Thierry Henry), the crimson wash exploded in unhappy boos to protest their side's sudden lack of aggressiveness. And that, perhaps, was the only down side of Tuesday's game establishing Switzerland as a serious footballing challenge to any rival: in playing up the level once again of les Bleus, Swiss supporters also showed flashes of the fair weatherdom that makes France fans so difficult to take seriously. Still, the tie game — and the point taken away from it — seemed to satisfy Swiss players and fans as much as it did disgust the French.

You'd think les Bleus would be used it by now, given their steady role in helping Switzerland's transformation from a push-over favorite for larger footballing nations planning friendlies before major campaign to a real concern for that same traditional soccer powers in qualifier and tournament matches. Indeed, no country has gotten a closer look at the Swiss ascent as the French (whose footballing fortunes have suffered an inverse evolution). In the 2004 European championships in Portugal, for example, an aging and tired France struggled for most of their group match with the scrappy Swiss until two late goals put the French atop 3-1. In qualifying play for the current Cup, meanwhile, the French again found themselves paired with the Swiss, and could only work out a draw both at home and win in Bern — and even then, due mostly to an inspired personal performance by now-injured Djibril Cisse. No wonder, then, that as when asked last year if he had any preferences for teams he'd prefer to face in group play many this summer, his reply was "Anyone but the Swiss".

Could this be simply a matter of the "petits suisses" getting inside doubting French heads? Not even close. First off, Swiss play — and gutsy character — has been getting more respect all around. Forced into a play-off match with Turkey for one of the final World Cup spots, for example, team Switzerland not only had to score its way back from virtual elimination twice — it also literally fought off a quasi-riot at the end of the match when infuriated Turkish players, coaches, and fans got more than just a bit physical. (Why FIFA failed to ban international matches in Turkey for at least a few years remains a mystery.) But they prevailed in courage and with balls in the cage — which is why they are in Germany now. Pro clubs have also taken note of the increasingly impressive Swiss. Defender Philippe Senderos is a mainstay of English club Arsenal, and Raphael Wicky, Traquillo Barnetta, and Philipp Dengen all shine in the Bundesliga. Striker Alexander Frei has become one of the leading scorers in the French league for Rennes. It may not be long before Switzerland's pro league — along side those of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal — become one of the continent's "second-string" championships that the French mistakenly think themselves above.

For now, however, there are more important, uh, Swiss to fry. Though South Korea now leads Group 3 ahead of the tied France and Switzerland, both of those teams feared Tuesday's match as by far the most difficult they'd see in this initial round. Time — and the following three games — will tell, but the momentum from this match of neighbors has to be behind the Swiss. If they continue improving as they have, and playing as they did Tuesday, the Swiss have every reason to expect this Cup as their full and final arrival among the heavyweights of European and world soccer. Time, then, for their fans to lose the booing thing ... .

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