Previous encounters between the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland

Friday’s international between the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland will be the sixteenth meeting between the two countries. Of the fifteen games played between the sides thus far, Ireland have won seven, drawn three and lost five.

The first encounter took place on 5^th May 1935 at the Stadion Rankhof in Basle. The national team in this era were known as The Irish State. The team had no manager. Instead a team of selectors were responsible for selecting the first eleven.

A year earlier the Swiss had reached the Quarter Finals of the World Cup, losing 3-2 to Czechoslovakia. The Czechs went on to the final and were only defeated after extra time by eventual winners Italy which meant that a tough proposition lay in store for the Irish, with the side eventually going down 1-0 as a result of a penalty converted by Walter Weiler.

The Boys in Green got their revenge a year later however, defeating their Swiss counterparts 1-0 at Dalymount Park. The solitary goal scored by Arsenal’s Jimmy Dunne.

Indeed, Dunne would be the sole goalscorer in another victory over the Swiss a year later. The Stade de Suisse in Berne proving a happier hunting ground than the Stadion Rankhof two years earlier.

Ireland’s fourth game against Switzerland in four years was also their finest. The teams resumed battle at Dalymount Park and the Irish recorded an emphatic 4-0 win thanks to goals from Jimmy Dunne, who was then playing with Shamrock Rovers, a double from St James’s Gate’s Paddy Bradshaw and a score from Shamrock Rovers’ Tom Donnelly confirming the rout.

The sides did not meet again until 1948 when the Swiss recorded their first victory on Irish soil with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a solitary Alfred Bickel goal.

The countries were then drawn together alongside the Soviet Union and Turkey in qualification for EURO 76 with both sides winning the respective clashes in front of their home supporters. Ireland’s 2-1 victory at Lansdowne Road came courtesy of goals from Mick Martin (Manchester Utd) and Ray Treacy (Preston Norht End) while the Swiss reply credited to Kurt Muller. A late Rudolf Elsener goal was the difference in the return game in the Stade de Suisse. A valiant effort by the Irish who just fell short in the group, finishing runner up to the Soviet Union by a single point.

Alan Kelly is the only national manager to have a one hundred per cent win ratio and he earned this by defeating Switzerland 2-0 in a Lansdowne Road friendly in 1980 – Don Givens (Birmingham City) and Gerry Daly (Derby County) getting on the scoresheet.

The two countries were again drawn alongside each other in a competitive qualifying group for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Once again, the Soviet Union were in the pool and the group was completed by Denmark. Despite defeating Switzerland 3-0 at Lansdowne Road, courtesy of Frank Stapleton (Manchester Utd), Tony Grealish (West Bromwich Albion) and Kevin Sheedy (Everton) and a 0-0 draw in the Wankdorf Arena, Berne, Ireland finished third in the group and failed to qualify.

In 1992 Lansdowne Road hosted a friendly between the two, a match where Eddie McGoldrick and Tommy Coyne made their debuts. Indeed, Coyne scored in his maiden outing, equalising after Ronnie Whelan had scored an own goal. John Aldridge came on with ten minutes to go and scored a last minute penalty to ensure a 2-1 win for Ireland.

Tensions were high the next time the countries met at Lansdowne Road as this was Ireland’s first home match since Roy Keane had been sent home by Mick McCarthy in Saipan. Despite a second round appearance in the World Cup, an opening group game defeat by Russia put Ireland in a delicate situation. Hakan Yakin put the Swiss ahead, but parity was restored when Ludovic Magnin put through his own goal. However, on a night of high drama, an 87^th minute strike by Fabio Celestini gave the Swiss a 2-1 win and was to prove to be Mick McCarthy’s last game in charge of Ireland.

Brian Kerr took over as manager of the national team and Ireland still had a chance to qualify for EURO 2004 when they travelled to Basle for the last game of the group. Despite all the optimism, Switzerland won 2-0, goals from Yakin and Alex Frei, ending Irish dreams of qualification.

For the second tournament in succession Ireland and Switzerland were drawn in the same qualifying group. This time for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Ireland returned to Basle for their second group game and took an early lead through Clinton Morrison (Birmingham City). Alas, once again Hakan Yakin was to be the thorn in an Irish side and his equaliser meant the game finished in a draw.

Similar to EURO 2004 Ireland took on Switzerland in their final group game with qualification still live however, unfortunately like EURO 2004 Ireland were unable to get the victory they needed. A scoreless draw at Lansdowne Road meant Ireland finished fourth in the group behind Russia, Switzerland and Israel leading to Brian Kerr’s contract as manager not being renewed.

As one can see the encounters between the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland have not been short on drama and excitement by any stretch of the imagination. Here’s to a great game and best of luck to both in EURO 2016 in France.