Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn denied suggestions his side had paid the price for their negative approach after they went out of the World Cup on penalties. Kuhn's side lost 3-0 in the shoot-out to Ukraine, following a dour 0-0 draw in their second round match in Cologne.
But he insisted the Swiss were close to achieving progress, saying: "It's not complicated, we just missed one goal.
"We were there to win today but you have to accept to lose. Victory is not always on your side."
Apart from Alexander Frei's first-half free-kick, which hit the bar, Switzerland created very little, preferring instead to keep things tight against an equally unambitious Ukraine side.
 | We put in a good performance and I hope all of Switzerland is still behind us |
But Kuhn added: "It's a real disappointment - but we must get over it.
"I had a good feeling when Shevchenko missed his kick. But nothing came of it and we are on our way home."
Defender Ludovic Magnin, one of the few bright players for the Swiss, was happy with the performance and revealed he was already looking ahead to the 2008 European Championships, being held in Switzerland and Austria.
"We put in a good performance and I hope all of Switzerland is still behind us," said the full-back.
"Football is sometimes hard but we gained a lot of experience for Euro 2008 in our own country."
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