1 – Switzerland has a history of accidentally attacking Liechtenstein. In 1985, they launched rockets at their tiny neighbour during a drill. In 1992, they invaded it while setting up an observation post (but apologised by sending a wine and cheese basket to the king). Again, in 2007, 170 Swiss soldiers lost their way and ended up in Liechtenstein. More than once – while practising their flamethrower skills – the military have started forest fires in the country next door. But far from being angry at these invasion, the response from the Liechtenstein government was: “These things happen”.

2  – In the two Swiss cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus, men can vote by bringing along their family sword instead of their voter ID. Appenzell Innerrhoden moreover conducts its votes by a public show of hand (or sword) in the main square.

3 – The Swiss air force only works during regular office hours, from 8AM to 6PM every day. This turned out to be problematic in 2014, when an Ethiopian Airlines plane was hijacked and entered Swiss airspace. It had to be the French and Italian jet pilots to escort it to the Geneva airport because, at 6:02AM, it was still nearly two hours before the Swiss air force came to work. Would-be airspace infiltrators take note: they also take an hour and a half break for lunch. 

4 – In 2009, the Swiss police arrested Libyan leader Gaddafi’s son, Hannibal, for aggravated assault. In response, his father responded by expelling Swiss diplomats, shutting down Swiss-owned businesses in Libya, and submitting a proposal to the U.N to abolish Switzerland and divide it between France, Germany and Italy.

5 –  According to a study by the aquatic science institute Eawag, approximately 43kg of gold are flushed through the country’s sewage system every year, for a total worth of over EUR 1.7 million. Researchers believe the tiny flecks of gold flow into the sewage from the watchmaking industries and gold refineries. Other findings include almost 3000kg of silver yearly and even rare earth minerals used in the manufacture of electronic devices.

6 – The international data code for Switzerland is CH, which stands for Confoederatio Helvetica, the Latin name for the country. Switzerland chose this code to avoid favouring any of their four official languages – Italian, German, French and Romansh.

7 – Switzerland is unique in having enough nuclear fallout shelters to host its entire population, should it ever be needed. This systematic construction in every home began in the second half of the 1960s, as a reflection of widespread fear of a nuclear strike and Soviet invasion. One of the most popular slogans at the time was: “Neutrality is no guarantee against radioactivity”. To this day, Parliament has shot down all proposals to remove the legal obligation that “apartment block owners are required to construct and fit out shelters in all new dwellings” (article 46 on the Swiss Federal Law on Civil Protection).

8 –  There is a hotel which is half in France and half in Switzerland. Its strategic position made Hotel Arbez of fundamental importance for the French Resistance during the German occupation in World War II. Because of Switzerland’s famed neutrality, German soldiers were not allowed to enter the part of the hotel which was located on Swiss soil. The hotel thus became a safe place for Resistance members and refugees alike. 

9 – If you fail your practical driving exam more than three times, you will have to see an official psychologist who can assess the reasons for your previous failures and determine whether you are fit to drive. You will also have to be assessed by a psychologist in case you repeatedly drive over the speed limit. 

10 – There is a Swiss political party called Anti-PowerPoint Party which is dedicated entirely to decreasing the professional use of Microsoft PowerPoint and other presentation softwares. Its founder seeks to initiate a national referendum to prohibit PowerPoint during presentations, and advocates the use of flip charts in its stead.

Did you enjoy learning more about Switzerland? Why not check out some more fun facts about Lithuania or Georgia?

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Swiss football

Switzerland host the headquarters of FIFA and UEFA, and therefore is the centre of the administrative part of the game.

Swiss football is a form of Germanic football, just as the Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Germany. Most closely Swiss football probably resembles German football. Hard work and tackles in defence and in the midfield, which means more room for the technical attacking midfielders to do their thing, and then big striker up front.

The difference between the German and Swiss 4-2-3-1 is that the Germans with more technically gifted players have a bit less focus on physicality in the 2 central midfielders. Khedira is simply a level over Behrami and Kroos over Xhaka in the technical game.

The reason for this is that Switzerland are expecting to not dominate all their matches, and therefore often have to have a wall of 6 physical players at the back, where the midfield aids the defence mostly. For Germany, they expect to dominate games, retain position, and need players, who are more play-makers, than play-breakers (especially Behrami). Also Dzemaili on the attacking midfield is no Özil, but as with the Nordic countries, then there is a well organised unit, which can be really hard to break.

Where do the Swiss play?

Historically the Swiss mostly played in German football, and the team was often dominated by German speakers. This is still the case today. Gladbach has a significant colony with 4 players, while Dortmund has 2, Leipzig 1, Schalke 1, Hoffenheim 1, and Frankfurt 1. All in all 10 players in the Bundesliga.

1 plays in the Swiss league, which can be a bit of a surprise as the Swiss league is normally not so bad. Especially FC Basel, who has that one player.

5 play in Italy (Juventus, Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, and Udinese), but neither seem to be Italian-Swiss. 2 in England (Arsenal and Stoke), 1 for Toulouse in France, 1 for La Coruña in Spain, 1 for Benfica in Portugal, 1 for Antalyaspor in Turkey, and 1 for Dynamo Zagreb in Croatia.

Political influence and national narrative

Now it has become norm for European national teams to have players all over the continent, but Switzerland is a bit different. In the France article we mentioned the role of immigration and football, but there is no country in Europe as open to immigration as Switzerland, and that is evident in their national team. 7 out of 11 starters against Serbia have dual citizenship. 15 out of the 23 in the whole squad do as well.

At Euro 2008 Hakan Yakin brought Switzerland ahead against Turkey and celebrated the goal. Something which was no popular in Turkey, as Yakin was of Turkish origin. It cause controversy in football in general, as it highlighted the potential dual allegiance of players, who could choose which nation to play for. Something which is becoming more and more normal in a globalising world.

And during this World Cup Switzerland faced Serbia in the likely most politically charged game of the tournament. This is because the Swiss starting 11 included 3 Kosovar, 1 Macedonian, and 1 Bosniak, while 2 Croatians also came in from the bench, which is managed by a Bosniak. All of them of course also Swiss.

Serbia got ahead, but ended up losing to two goals from Kosovar players, who in their celebration with hands created the symbolic eagle of Albania. Something that in no way reduced tensions, and Serbia was denied a obvious penalty as well, which perfectly feed the Serbian narrative of being cheated out of their territory and victories. A lot of old bad blood resurfaced, and also from the Swiss perspective as their players where celebrating a foreign nation.

Now, all football fans agree that sports and politics should be separate. But nations and countries are political entities. National team games are competitions with a political undertone. Political symbolism is banned, but national anthems and flags are just as much political symbols as cultural symbols. And in a modern world, where half the national team might not just be of your nationality, then motivations differ.

Petkovic clearly used these motivations to his advantage. Is this okay? Well, football and politics has always been connected. Just look at the Spanish 2 top clubs. Or back to the Serbian narrative and their team. As mentioned in the England article, football is the proper arena to settle our differences, not violence or war. Hopefully one day this will also be the established standard in the Balkans, but until that day, then Switzerland plays surrogate to the small nation of Kosovo in their desire to challenge Serbian dominance. And no matter where you stand in that conflict, then the fact that this happens on the football pitch, instead of on a battlefield, should be something to celebrate.

Bad memories might be rekindled, but this has to happen from time to time, so the option of reconciliation can be tested. For some peace is just a chance to reinforce and resupply your army, therefore true peace only exists, when 2 nations can play a friendly game of football without hatred. But instead with jokes and banter. Such as France and Germany. The eternal rivals of Europe are today friends and partners. One day that might also be the case for Serbia and Kosovo, but we will only know, when we get to a day, where they can play each other in a friendly game of football without hatred, violence, booing of national anthems, and other forms of disrespect.

This is why football is so important in European culture. And the separation from politics might be limited, but we try to maintain it anyway. Politics is the brutal reality of the everyday condition, football is the 2 hours of liberating anarchy, where we can show our true selves. No matter what and who we are.

Group and expectations

Switzerland surprised many by drawing against Brazil in their opening game. As mentioned before they beat Serbia, and can now safely decide their own fate.

In the final game Switzerland play Costa Rica. The lost 1-0 to Serbia and 2-0 to Brazil, but in both games held very well for a long time. It might prove difficult for the Swiss football team to score, but Costa Rica have also not scored yet. And Switzerland are through with a point.

In the other group game Serbia need to beat Brazil to go through, or draw and hope Costa Rica beats Switzerland by 2 (leading to Serbia having the better goal-score). Brazil needs a draw against Serbia to be through, and as Brazil is a very demanding football nation, then a draw might be good enough to go through, but it is not going to be good enough for the Brazilian fans. So likely even if Switzerland lose, then they are likely still through.

Looking to group F, which Switzerland’s group is being paired with, then they will likely face Mexico or Germany, and with Mexico likely to finish top, then ending up as first or second in the group is not of paramount importance. However, it would still be a unwise gamble for Switzerland to take it easy and play too many reserves against Costa Rica. Costa Rica might not have scored yet, but if they do not get that goal, then they go home from the World Cup completely empty-handed. So you might see a more motivated Costa Rica squad, than the Swiss. And you never know with Serbia.

Against Mexico or Germany, then Switzerland are not going to be the favourite. They will throughout the knock-out stage be the underdog. And that can be something to exploit. Teams might ignore the fact that that have a strong unit and players, who have played together for many years. If they can avoid the worst of injuries to key players, then Switzerland can surprise. Just like any other European team at the World Cup.

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Switzerland has been absent only four times, in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003, always due poor results in the previous Contest.

Last year the country was represented by the band Timebelle that with the song Apollo failed to reach the final.

In Lisbon Switzerland will be represented by ZiBBZ, a Swiss duo made of siblings Corinne and Stefan Gfeller.

“Every musician dreams of performing on a stage like this some day. It takes years of work for a moment like this and we plan on enjoying every minute of it”, says indie pop duo ZiBBZ.

Did you enjoy this article? You may also like Montenegro: Road to Eurovision and Norway: Road to Eurovision

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