COLOGNE, June 26 - Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn said his team's 3-0 penalty shootout defeat by Ukraine was "awful" but insisted the Swiss would bounce back from their World Cup second round exit.

"It was a matter of nerves, plain and simple," Kuhn said. "This morning when we practised penalties everybody took aim at different corners of the goal and our goalkeepers didn't stand a chance. But tonight nerves were to blame."

Boasting the second youngest squad at the tournament, the Swiss missed all three of their penalties -- the first time a team had failed to score at a World Cup.

"I have witnessed many disappointments in my career," Kuhn said when asked if Monday's result was the worst of his career.

"We will be able to work through this defeat and look back on the many positive things that happened during our campaign."

Switzerland were the only team to come through came the group stage without conceding a goal. On Monday they stretched their World Cup record to six and a half hours of flawless defending -- before the penalties made it all meaningless.

"It's unbelievably frustrating to go out after going four games without letting in a goal," said goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler.

"Ukraine sat back all night and it is very hard to do anything when your opponent plays like that."

Defender Ludovic Magnin was close to tears as he walked off the pitch following another impressive individual performance in the Swiss back line.

"It's terrible. It's so sad to lose this way but football is not always fair," he said.

"It really hurts. We played so well and then you lose the thing. Football isn't always fair. We can keep our head up and go home now. It's a giant frustration.

"We experienced something unique here. We're going home without giving up a goal. We fought like lions. We're just sorry that we didn't go further. Maybe we just didn't have enough experience. Next time we'll do it better," he added.

Switzerland can now build for the future since they do not have to qualify for their next major tournament because they are co-hosting the 2008 European Championship with Austria.

"We've achieved a lot and I think the whole of Switzerland is proud of us," said Magnin. "Now we have to pick ourselves up and look forward to hosting Euro 2008."