FC Vaduz boosts Liechtenstein national team

The promotion of FC Vaduz to Switzerland’s top flight league for the first time has provided a boost for the struggling Liechtenstein national team. The nation’s football structure is a setup which differs to the other European countries as they do not have their own national league, rather their clubs participate in the Swiss leagues and their only domestic competition is the Liechtenstein Championship - a cup competition. Such a structure benefits the Liechtenstein national team as it allows their footballers the opportunity to play against higher quality opposition and so they will only become better players as a result.

One team which can particularly claim to benefit the national team is FC Vaduz, who became Liechtenstein’s representative at the pinnacle of Swiss football. They were promoted from last season’s Swiss Challenge League to the Axpo Super League by finishing top of the division. Nine members of the national team are in their ranks, including defender Marco Ritzberger, and their promotion means they will face their greatest opposition ever in their history. FC Vaduz are currently lying 9th and in the relegation play-off spot but much of the season is still to be played, while Liechtenstein’s other major representatives in Swiss football are USV Eschen/Mauren in the third tier and FC Balzers in the fourth tier. Whilst the national team has largely struggled during its existence, their dire record can only improve and with Vaduz’s presence in Switzerland’s top flight it will at least provide their Liechtenstein contingent the perfect opportunity to develop.

As expected, FC Vaduz are Liechtenstein's most recognised and dominant club having won the domestic cup competition no fewer than 37 times and consecutively since 1998. A cup triumph allows the victors the chance to play European football in the UEFA Cup First Qualifying Round, with FC Vaduz losing to Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this season's competition.

Liechtenstein’s seemingly doomed bid to qualify for the World Cup in 2010 starts next month in a daunting home fixture against Germany on September 6th before a less demanding journey to Azerbaijan four days later. A replication of their 2006 campaign, where they achieved their first home and away victories in a World Cup qualifier, would indicate healthy progress and the target should be to finish above Azerbaijan. Should they reproduce their infamous home draw against Portugal from two years ago, an abrupt shock could be awaiting Germany or Russia.