SWITZERLAND : HOW THEY QUALIFIED

Even though they finished undefeated (4-0-6, 14 points) in European Group 4, Switzerland finished second and wound up in a playoff with Turkey. After winning at home, 2-0, on November 12, 2005, the Swiss dropped a 4-2 decision in Istanbul four days later in a match that was marred by violence after the final whistle. While the goal aggregate was deadlocked at 4-4, the Swiss advanced on the away goals rule (they're counted double). Marco Streller scored six minutes from time to make the score 4-2. In what is a rarity and certainly a first, the Swiss qualified without defeating a team that had a winning record. They beat Cyprus (1-8-1) and the Faroe Islands (0-9-1) twice apiece. They tied France, Israel and the Republic of Ireland in each of their two games against them.

QUALIFYING RESULTS
9/4/04 Switzerland 6, Faroe Islands 0
9/8/04 Switzerland 1, Rep. Ireland 1
10/9/04 Israel 2, Switzerland 2
3/26/05 France 0, Switzerland 0
3/30/05 Switzerland 1, Cyprus 0
6/4/05 Faroe Islands 1, Switzerland 3
9/3/05 Switzerland 1, Israel 1
9/7/05 Cyprus 1, Switzerland 3
10/8/05 Switzerland 1, France 1
10/12/05 Rep. Ireland 0, Switzerland 0