Qualifier 1
21.09.1988, Stade Municipal (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 1-4 Switzerland
Goals: Türkyılmaz 2 (1 pen.), A Sutter, B Sutter.
Line-up (4-3-3): Corminbœuf – Tschuppert, Weber, Geiger, Mottiez – Favre, Hermann (c), Andermatt (Lei Ravello 70) – B Sutter, Türkyılmaz, A Sutter (Bonvin 79)
Res: Brunner, Birrer, Zwicker.
The Swiss make it look easy in Luxembourg. Lucien Favre made his comeback in the national team midfield after more than four years out! The match was also defender Thomas Tschuppert’s final ever international. He had been brought in to do a job on Luxembourg’s quick forward Robby Langers. Switzerland were three up at half time, scored another early in the second half, and let the hosts pull a goal back within the final ten minutes.

Qualifier 2
19.10.1988. Belgium 1-0 Switzerland
Line-up (4-3-3): Corminbœuf – Mottiez, Weber, Geiger, Schällibaum – Favre, Hermann (c), Andermatt (Bonvin 76) – B Sutter, Türkyılmaz, Zuffi
The first half is probably as bad as it gets, with Switzerland being swept past by Belgium and lucky to escape with only 1-0. Poor tactics is to blame, with pressing in total shambles. And this was not the venue to play an ambitious 4-3-3. Things improve after the break as Belgium take the foot off the pedal, and Favre and Hermann suddenly have a lot more time on the ball. Türkyılmaz even came close to grabbing a leveller at the end, but it is a well deserved win for the home team.

Above: Switzerland entering Heysel Stadion.

Friendly
14.12.1988 Egypt 1-3 Switzerland
Goals: Zuffi 2, Hermann.
Line-up: Brunner – Marini, Wehrli, Weber, Birrer – Piffaretti (A Sutter 50), Koller, Hermann (c), Favre – Zuffi, Brigger
An impressive win against a plucky Egypt side, and Jeandupeux told media he was particularly happy with the team cohesion. Well-known figures Wehrli and Koller were back in the national team frame after long absences. The match saw the debut of full-back Birrer, who is reported to have had a decent game. Man of the match was Marini, who ran the Egyptian left side ragged. Geiger (club), B. Sutter, Bickel (both inj.) and Türkyilmaz (marriage) had all withdrawn from the squad. Unused subs were Corminboeuf, Tschuppert, Colombo and Knup. The formation was a 4-4-2, signalling a potential change in Jeandupeux’s tactics.

Friendly
04.04.1989: Hungary 3-0 Switzerland
Line-up (4-4-2): Brunner – Marini, Birrer, Weber, Wehrli – Favre (A Sutter 66), Koller (B Sutter 59), Hermann (c), Colombo – Türkyılmaz, Zuffi.
Jeandupeux gave debut to 20 year young Lugano midfielder Colombo, as the home side scored twice in the first half. This was a poor rehearsal ahead of the difficult trip to Portugal, where most of these players would be expected to feature.

Qualifier 3
26.04.1989. Portugal 3-1 Switzerland
Goal: Zuffi
Line-up (4-3-3): Brunner – Mottiez, Weber, Koller, Birrer (Ryf 73) – Marini, Favre, Hermann (c) – B Sutter, Zuffi, A Sutter (Türkyılmaz 56)
Switzerland manage to stifle the home side during a dull first half, but suffer from conceding three times after the break. There was no Geiger at the heart of the defence, and midfielder Marini had been instructed to keep a close watch on Rui Barros. Due to a lot of left-footed players in the starting eleven, the Swiss seemed to be lacking in balance.

Team news
Manager Jeandupeux was sacked from his position after the defeat in Portugal. The Swiss federation found his replacement in Uli Stielike, the West German libero and midfielder who had ended his playing career in Switzerland with Neuchâtel Xamax. No doubt an exciting choice, but Stielike had no experience as a manager.

B friendly
16.05.1989: Switzerland B 0-2 England B
Line-up: Lehmann – F. Rey, Fischer, Schepull, O. Rey (Hottiger 72′), Burri, Häusermann (A. Baumann 8′), Baumgartner (R. Sutter 72′), H. Baumann, Lorenz, Nadig.

Qualifier 4
07.06.1989: Switzerland 0-1 Czechoslovakia
(3-5-2): Brunner – Schepull, Weber, Koller – Marini, Hermann (c), Geiger, R Sutter (Türkyılmaz 58), A Sutter – Halter, B Sutter (Zuffi 72)
Former Swiss manager Paul Wolfisberg acted as caretaker for this match, with Stielike sitting beside him on the bench. They saw a home side able to hold on the ball, much thanks to a dynamic midfield composition with Geiger in a lead role, but almost unable to create any goal chances. It was probably a mistake to field both Halter and B. Sutter on top, leaving Türkyılmaz as a substitute.

Friendly
21.06.1989 Switzerland 1-0 Brazil
Goal: Türkyılmaz (pen.)
Switzerland (3-4-3): Brunner (Lehmann h-t) – Weber, Koller, Schepull – Marini, A Sutter (R Sutter 56), Geiger (c), Baumann – B Sutter (Burri 84), Türkyılmaz (Zuffi 74), Chapuisat (Piffaretti 62)
Uli Stielike secured a big scalp in his first match as Switzerland boss. The home side were very fortunate, as the visitors, who fielded a decent side with players like Ricardo Gomes, Dunga, Alemão and Valdo, missed some gilt-edged opportunities, as well as having a perfectly good goal (Gerson) ruled out for offside. And the penalty from which Türkyılmaz scored the only goal of the game five minutes into the second half was a big mistake by the Dutch referee. Well worth noting that the Swiss were without regular captain Hermann and another strong midfielder in Favre, and four players won their debuts on the night.

Qualifier 5
20.09.1989 Switzerland 1-2 Portugal
Goal: Türkyılmaz (pen.)
Switzerland (4-3-3): Brunner – Rey, Weber, Geiger, Baumann – Piffaretti, Hermann (c), Favre (Herr 78) – B Sutter (Zuffi 69), Türkyılmaz, Chapuisat
With defeat went Switzerland’s last chance to qualify for the World Cup. Even a win would only have left a vague hope, but they appeared to be on their way to a good result when taking the lead through a highly debatable Türkyılmaz penalty in the first half. The visitors made some tactical changes and came good in the second half, with left-sided forward Futre in particular being a thorn in the Swiss’ side. Debutant Rey at full-back was exposed. Piffaretti had a decent game in midfield. Chapuisat did well in his second international appearance out wide left. Stielike’s first qualifying match.

Qualifier 6
11.10.1989 Switzerland 2-2 Belgium
Goals: Knup, Türkyılmaz
Switzerland (3-4-3): Brunner – Herr, Geiger, Baumann – Piffaretti, Hermann (c), Koller, Bickel – Douglas (Knup h-t), Türkyılmaz, Chapuisat (Hottiger 79)
The Swiss nullify the threat of the normally so attacking-prone Belgian side before the break, and then twice go ahead during an eventful first part of the second half. Switzerland, without a few players due to injury, only struggled when the visitors turned the screw, but in the end came away with a deserved point. Interesting to see Türkyılmaz with Chapuisat and Knup for the first time.

Qualifier 7
25.10.1989 Czechoslovakia 3-0 Switzerland
Switzerland (3-5-2): Brunner – Geiger, Herr, Weber – Heldmann, Baumann, Koller (Lorenz 70), Piffaretti (Andermatt h-t), Hermann – Bonvin, Türkyılmaz
This performance isn’t as bad as the score suggests. For large parts of the match, Stielike’s side is playing level with the Czechoslovakians, with the crowded midfield largely dominant and Bonvin and Türkyilmaz exploiting the channels. However, they pay the price for not attending to Bíleks gifted right peg – twice – and the last goal is somewhat ridiculous. The score perhaps still reflects some difference in quality, after all, and the story of Switzerland’s doomed campaign.

Qualifier 8
15.11.1989 Switzerland 2-1 Luxembourg
Goals: Türkyılmaz, Türkyılmaz
Switzerland (3-5-2): Brunner – Marini, Geiger, Herr – Heldmann (Schepull 59), Hermann (c), Koller, A Sutter (Bonvin h-t), Baumann – Knup, Türkyılmaz
Nothing but a win would suffice to see the the Swiss round their disappointing campaign off. There had been a boost in their previous home match, but Luxembourg proved to be stubborn, themselves recently having been boosted from a near miraculous draw in Belgium. 3-5-2 had not been a good recipe for the first half, and so they were back at 3-4-3 when Stielike introduced Bonvin for the start of the second half. He would get the equalizer as his shot went in on the near post, and later Knup would set Türkyılmaz up for his fifth goal of the qualification. Hermann had an improved midfield performane, and Geiger was excellent from his libero position.