No, I'm not watching the game
The whole of Switzerland is in World Cup fever. The whole of Switzerland? No! An indomitable sports editor at Galaxus doesn't do that to himself. No, I'm not watching the game. A brief attempt at an explanation.
"What, you're not watching the game?" My work colleague Kevin Hofer, editor at digitec, looks at me, puzzled. It's 4 pm on Tuesday, just in time for the kick-off of the round of 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland, when I pack up my seven things and make my way home. "You write for the sports section. So shouldn't you? I mean, you of all people, since you write for the sports section ... you should be watching the game!" No, I shouldn't. Because I already know what's coming next.
Often not bad, but rarely good enough
I haven't missed a Swiss game at a World Cup or EURO since 1994. Georges Bregy's free kick to make it 1-0 against the USA was legendary.
Shortly afterwards, the Americans are awarded a free kick. I can still hear Beni Thurnheer saying today: "There's no second like Bregy." Eight seconds later, the ball bounces into the net. The Americans may not have a Bregy, but they do have a Wynalda. I remember Switzerland's magnificent 4:1 win over Romania in the Silverdome in Detroit. That was all in 1994, when Switzerland finally made it back to a major tournament after 28 years.
In 1996, Kubi scored a penalty in the opening game against England at the EURO to make it 1:1. Then came the European Championship 2004 in Portugal and the Alex Frei spitting affair. Four years later, Alex doesn't spit, he gets injured in the home tournament in the first game against the Czech Republic and is out, followed shortly afterwards by Switzerland
.
In 2010, Fernandes shot the Swiss into fortune against the eventual world champions in South Africa. The only game the Spaniards lost in the entire tournament, Switzerland's only victory and cause for red and white jubilation.
The team often doesn't play badly at major tournaments, sometimes even really well. In the really important moments, however, they often act hesitantly, almost timidly, and always lose. Viewed soberly, the result is devastating:
World Cup 1994 round of 16 against Spain
World Cup 2006 round of 16 against Ukraine
World Cup 2014 round of 16 against Argentina
EURO 2016 round of 16 against Poland
I watched all these games on TV. I cheered, hoped, suffered and, unlike the team, always believed that Switzerland could win an important game. In the end, I was always disappointed. Why is that? The attitude, the will?
And suddenly I'm overcome by an eerie thought: What if it's down to me in the end? That's why I've decided to simply look away. "Every time I watch, they lose." How many times have you heard this sentence or said it yourself? That's why I want to find out for sure and test this thesis. Is it me, am I to blame and does the national team lose every important game at a World Cup or EURO just because I'm watching?
I'm writing these lines on Tuesday, 3 July 2018 on the train between Zurich and Basel. As I said, I'm not watching the round of 16 final against Sweden. No idea whether Switzerland will play well or badly. In the meantime, we know the result:
World Cup 2018 round of 16 against Sweden
Same shit, different day. Thesis disproved. It's not up to me. So then, see you in two years' time.
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From radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.