Inside knowledge could help Togo roll over Swiss

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RAVENSBURG, Germany, June 19: Togo coach Otto Pfister's inside knowledge of Switzerland could prove handy in their second World Cup Group G match later today.

Pfister, married to a Swiss and with a home in Switzerland, has had enough turmoil with his debutant team because of a pay dispute and could do with a bit of assistance.

''I know them inside out. If everyone is fit, it should be no surprise how they play,'' Pfister has said.

''My wife is Swiss, so I have had to watch every single qualifying match of theirs.'' Pfister, a coaching veteran who has been in charge of eight countries before Togo, has both played for and coached a number of Swiss sides and called on Piet Hamberg from Grasshoppers Zurich as his assistant.

Unlike Pfister, however, Hamberg did not return after the two walked out just before the tournament, saying they could not do their jobs with players boycotting training sessions in a pay dispute with officials.

Togo's second Group G match against Switzerland kicks off in Dortmund at 1300 GMT.

Togo lost their first match 2-1 to South Korea on June 13.

Reuters