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Letter from Switzerland: Skiing nation goes crazy on football (Wednesday, 13 November, 2002)
Just before the Basel v Liverpool match in the European Champions' League , the front cover of Switzerland's mass circulation 'Blick' newspaper was entirely red and blue, the colours of Basel football club. "Go for it, Basel Boys", read the headline. It marked the culmination of eight weeks in which the Swiss, not normally great lovers of the beautiful game, went football crazy.
Go for it, Basel Boys 
| | Blick newspaper |
It started when Basel unexpectedly beat Celtic to gain a place in the European champions league. But the delight then was tempered by realism. "Look at the draw," said everyone, "Spartak Moscow, Valencia, and - this with a sharp intake of breath and a shake of the head - "Liverpool!" But Basel surprised everyone again, beating the Russians, and holding their own against Valencia and Liverpool.
When it came to the final match last night, all they had to do to qualify for the last 16 - something no Swiss team has ever done before - was to draw at home with Liverpool. But still, no one really believed it was possible. When the team from Anfield flew into
Basel, Michael Owen, Dietmar Hamman and the rest were met by awestruck Swiss journalists. Just the fact that Liverpool were playing in Basel at all seemed like a dream.
But, when Basel scored in the opening minutes, the dream became pure fantasy. Half time, and Liverpool were losing 3:0. Swiss television, which recorded its highest ever ratings during the match, took the trouble to tell viewers just tuning in that the amazing score was indeed correct, and not some sort of technical mistake. The Swiss minister for sport came on, grinning from ear to ear, "Its wonderful, fantastic, its good for football, its good for Basel, its good for the country, its even good for the government".
But that was just half time...in the second half, Liverpool fought back. After their first goal, one Swiss commentator remarked through gritted teeth: "Well I suppose 3:0 would have been a bit boring, but personally I could have lived with it:" The second Liverpool goal brought the entire Swiss nation to the edge of their seats, the third, and they were on their knees in front of the television screen. Five minutes to go, and another goal from Liverpool would have ended Basel's dream.
But then, the final whistle, and Basel had done the unthinkable, knocked mighty Liverpool out of the Champions League, and qualified as one of Europe's top 16 teams. Grown men hugged each other and cried, even the usually cynical we've seen it all TV cameramen were wiping their eyes. This morning, on my way to work, everything seemed normal and quiet again....except, nearly everyone was carrying a newpaper, folded to the sports page...red and blue again....and nearly everyone was smiling. The sports minister was right; football really is good for Switzerland.
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