Basel, May 27: Germany suffered for resting its Bayern Munich players as Switzerland forward Eren Derdiyok scored a hat-trick in a wild 5-3 victory over the European Championship contender in a friendly on Saturday.
Derdiyok exploited unusual disarray in the German defense to convert assists from the outstanding Tranquillo Barnetta in the 21st, 23rd and 49th minutes.
Defender Stephan Lichtsteiner and midfielder Admir Mehmedi added goals in the 67th and 74th to seal Switzerland's first win over its neighbor since 1956.
Germany's fightbacks were never convincing despite goals from Mats Hummels in the 45th, Andre Schuerrle in the 64th and substitute Marco Reus in the 72nd.
As a Euro 2012 pointer, the match likely has little value beyond teaching Germany coach Joachim Loew that his back-up defenders cannot yet be relied upon to play together as a group.
“The team hasn't played together in that lineup yet, but that's no excuse,” Loew said.
Germany's coach allowed his Bayern players - including goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defender Philipp Lahm and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger - the night off after their Champions League final loss against Chelsea one week earlier.
Switzerland's German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said he still believed in his home country's chances in Poland and Ukraine.
“I am convinced the Germans can win the Euro,” Hitzfeld said. “We explored some gaps in the German game. I don't think Loew is going to play such attacking football at the Euro.”
Germany is in the toughest Euro 2012 group with the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark.
Loew gave an international debut to Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper scrambled across his goal in the 15th, when Derdiyok met Barnetta's free-kick with a glancing header that looped just wide of goal.
Switzerland then stunned the visitors as longtime Bayer Leverkusen teammates Barnetta and Derdiyok twice combined to score.
Barnetta burst through and passed to Derdiyok who struck his first-time shot into the net from close to the penalty spot.
Two minutes later, Barnetta floated a cross from the left and Derdiyok rose alone to head past Ter Stegen who was poorly positioned.
“I told him not to let his head hang now. I was more angry about the defense not moving back fast enough,” Loew said of Ter Stegen's troubles.
On both goals, Arsenal defender Pet Mertesacker appeared at fault, marking no Swiss attacker yet dropping too deep to allow Derdiyok extra yards (meters) of space without fear of being offside.
The ragged German defense was almost punished again in the 30th, but Mehmedi ended a three-on-two break by curling his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Central defender Mats Hummels brought Germany back into the contest by heading in Mesut Oezil's free-kick.
Loew removed both his Real Madrid midfielders, Oezil and Sami Khedira, at the break to give his lineup a yet more experimental look.
Veteran forward Miroslav Klose quickly forced a save from Benaglio, but Switzerland extended its lead controversially in the 49th.
Again, Barnetta's delivery was met by Derdiyok, with a glancing header that clipped Ter Stegen's outstretched left arm on its way into the net.
However, television replays showed the ball also struck Mehmedi's arm as he stood in front of the German goalkeeper.
Mertsesacker missed a simple chance to score when he stumbled near the goalline instead of meeting Benedikt Hoewedes's header back across the goalmouth.
Germany closed to 3-2 when Schuerrle's swerving shot from distance eluded Benaglio.
Three minutes leader, Switzerland captain Gokhan Inler chipped a delightful pass and diminutive right-back Lichtsteiner outjumped Ter Stegen to score with a 12-yard (meter) header.
Benaglio was at fault again when he tamely parried substitute Julian Draxler's shot and Reus scored from the rebound.
The goal feast ended in the 76th when Germany was fooled by a free-kick routine. Granit Xhaka ran wide of the wall and when his shot struck a post, Mehmedi collected the rebound and poked in a fifth Swiss goal.
