Despite home advantage, the Swiss could be forgiven for being a little under whelmed about the European Championships this summer.

Switzerland will be joint hosts along with Austria for Euro 2008, but a raft of injuries and poor results has done little to encourage hope amongst the squad and its supporters that they can made a genuine challenge for the championship.

The team’s recent successes have been based on the strength and organization of the defense. In the last world cup, Switzerland became the only side in the history of the competition to be eliminated without conceding a goal.  

However, since then most of the concern for the Swiss coming in to Euro 2008 is whether the defense is still as good as it was two years ago. The team has suffered a number of long term injuries to key players, whilst others have not managed to recapture the good form shown previously. 

Key defender Patrick Muller has been sidelined for much of the season after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage playing for club side Lyon. Although he has returned in the last month, questions about his fitness remain. If Muller fails to make it then the central defensive responsibilities will fall to Arsenal duo Philippe Senderos and Johann Djourou. Senderos has suffered from a recent loss of form and Djourou has hardly played since he returned from an early season loan spell at Birmingham City.

There is some positive news for Switzerland.  Key striker Alexander Frei has returned from injury and loss of form to finish the season at Borussia Dortmund with a number of important goals.

Despite these problems, the Swiss should not be too downhearted.

In the history of the European Championships, the hosts have usually done very well. Belgium are the only team not to get past the group stage of the tournament. All Swiss supporters will be hoping that this trend continues at Euro 2008.