The yellow press from England
SWISS TEAM ON COW-A-MAN BONUS TO BEAT ENGLAND
Jun 17 2004
By Jeremy Armstrong And Paul Byrne
FIRED-UP Switzerland will be playing for cow and country when they take on England tonight.
The Swiss players have been told they are in line to get a cow each if they win the crucial Euro 2004 clash in Portugal.
It is, apparently, a traditional gift for sporting triumph.
Defender Bernt Haas, 26, said: "If we win, maybe we will have 23 cows waiting for us at the airport when we get home."
England go into the game with hooliganism once again hanging over them after two nights of violence in the Algarve.
Last night PM Tony Blair condemned the troublemakers as a "tiny minority". He said: "They bring shame upon our country and shame upon the vast majority of decent English football fans who simply want to enjoy the game."
The violence has added to the pressure on England after their agonising defeat by France - and the Swiss know it.
Their own pin-up, defender Murat Yakin, 29, even taunted England captain David Beckham.
He said: "My English is not very good, but the Swiss team are good. We can beat England and we are not scared.
"Beckham is not playing that good, and we think the score will be good for us."
And the mood at the Swiss team camp in Obidos is in marked contrast to the tight security surrounding England.
Wives and families happily mix with the players, and the media were even invited into the hotel yesterday to take a dip.
Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz, 29, said: "We are not a big team and that is why we do not call for all the security that England like having. It is more relaxed for us and enjoyable.
"The pressure on England is now so great after they lost to France.
"They have to beat us otherwise they are going out.
"Nobody expects us to get past the first round but we are very focused."
England boss Sven Goran Eriksson said his team was also "totally concentrated".
"My players were wounded on Sunday.
"After the game their heads were down but since then I've not seen that at all.
"I'm quite sure that the players are a bit angry and want to get revenge."
