Hitzfeld delivers Switzerland stunner at WCup

Spain came to South Africa as one of the favorites to win the World Cup,but maybe someone forgot to tell Ottmar Hitzfeld.

The veteran German coach orchestrated the World Cup’s biggest upset so far Wednesday,leading Switzerland to a 1-0 win over the heavily favored Spaniards. Hitzfeld’s defensive tactics to crowd Spain out of midfield and onto the wings paid off in the victory. The Swiss were under pressure throughout the match,but they held on after taking the lead through a goalmouth scramble that ended in a goal by Gelson Fernandes in the 52nd minute. He tapped in a loose ball after Spain’s Gerard Pique clattered into Eren Derdiyok.

“I’m fully aware that we made history and it will go in the record books,” the 61-year-old Hitzfeld said,making no apology for his heavily defensive game. “I’ve always said that there is a first time for everything.

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“We wanted to push the Spanish onto the wings and force them to make high crosses … We knew we could defend well that way. After we scored,I thought that we could bring it home.”

At the end of the match,Hitzfeld calmly congratulated his players and shook hands with Spain coach Vicente del Bosque and defender Carles Puyol,as 3,000 Swiss fans,some ringing cow bells,celebrated in the stands at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Hitzfeld said hard work shown by his players had caused the upset.

“It’s a great feeling to start off with three points taken off a tournament contender. They were three unexpected points,” he said. “We put in a strong performance.”

Players returned the compliment.

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“He’s brings a lot of experience to the team and gives us a good mentality,” forward Blaise Nkufo said. “His plan worked.”

Switzerland topped its qualifying group to make it to South Africa,with just one loss in 10 games,pushing Greece to the playoffs.

“We have solidarity in this team that I’ve never seen in a team before,” Fernandes said. “You need a bit of luck to beat Spain and that’s what we had. We ran a lot and worked very hard. I’ll probably realize how important this is after my career,” he said.

The Swiss were also without captain Alexander Frei,kept on the bench with a right ankle injury.

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Frei’s replacement,Eren Derdiyok,said the win gave his teammates confidence before their next Group H match against Chile. Both teams lead the group with three points.

“The coach said we need to stay compact to win this game and I think this is one of our best games with him,” Derdiyok said. “When you win against Spain it’s also something from the coach that he made right,his job.”

Switzerland center back Philippe Senderos limped off the pitch in the 36th minute,after spraining his right ankle. Hitzfeld said he would be examined at a hospital for a possible ruptured ligament.

“It would be a big blow to lose him,” the coach said.

Swiss fans,meanwhile,were jubilant.

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“I am very relieved. The goal was a fantastic feeling” said Mike Duerig,a South African born to Swiss parents,who carried a trombone to the match.

He added,keeping a straight face: “The result was obvious. The Spanish had no chance.”