SAO PAULO -- The older brother of Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld died on the eve of the side's round-of-16 match against Argentina on Tuesday, according to team officials.
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Team spokesman Marco von Ah said on Tuesday that Hitzfeld ''is very sad'' but would stay with the side for its crucial game.
Von Ah added that the coach is looking ahead and ''wants everybody to do so and respect his private sphere.''
The team spokesman did not give any details of the death, although Swiss media say the 81-year-old Winfried Hitzfeld died in a Basel hospital.
Hitzfeld, 65, who has also coached the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, is due to retire after the World Cup.