Northern Ireland U21 boss Roy Millar

Captain Sammy Clingan of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford goalkeeper Alan Julian earned the main plaudits against a strong and physical Swiss side.

Clingan nearly won it for Northern Ireland late on when he shot just wide.

However, the best chance fell to the Swiss when Davide Calla hit the woodwork in the eighth minute.

Calla shot against a post from close range and could only watch as the ball ran back across the face of goal.

Goalkeeper Diego Benaglio caused panic in his own box when he dropped a cross from Mark Hughes on 10 minutes but the ball was eventually cleared for a corner.

Reto Ziegler thenfound David Degen inside the box and only a very timely tackle from Mark McCrystal prevented him from shooting on goal.

Northern Ireland began to come into the game late in the half, Hughes with a flying volley just over the crossbar following a corner and then Kevin Braniff stung the palms of Benaglio with a close range shot.

Pat McCourt, who had looked Northern Ireland's main attacking threat on the left wing, was withdrawn at half-time with Hibernian striker Dean Shiels replacing him.

It was Switzerland though who began the second-half the better side with Alan Julian twice having to save from the dangerous Philipp Degen in quick succession.

As both sides began to run out of ideas the incessant rain made it almost impossible to play attractive football and the game turned into a midfield battle.

Julian was called into action on 71 minutes, saving from David Degan.

Eight minutes later the same player fired a powerful shot into the side netting.