Switzerland 4 Wales 1:Valentin Stocker struck twice as Switzerland sent Wales crashing to their third successive Euro 2012 qualifying defeat tonight. Brian Flynn's side performed creditably for most of a pulsating contest at Basle's St Jakob Park but a Gokhan Inler penalty and Stocker's second finished them off in the final eight minutes.
Gareth Bale was a constant threat to the Swiss and cancelled out an early Stocker goal after 13 minutes but the hosts soon reclaimed a lead they did not surrender through Marco Streller.
It made for a miserable 55th birthday for Flynn who, in his second and final match as caretaker manager, was hoping to prove his suitability for the job full time. He now faces an anxious wait while Wales, whose qualification hopes were already in tatters, must now accept their long wait to reach a major tournament goes on.
For much of the game they had threatened to at least get themselves up and running in the campaign after losses to Montenegro and Bulgaria. They attacked at every opportunity and in Bale had a man that worried the Swiss, but defensive mistakes proved their undoing.