Switzerland drew 0-0 with Australia in a friendly on Friday, leaving coach Ottmar Hitzfeld with goalscoring drought on his hands days before a crunch opening Euro 2012 qualifier against England.

Switzerland's top scorer Alexander Frei missed a penalty early in the second half, while Mark Schwarzer saved Australia with at least four last-ditch saves as the Swiss failed to turn their dominance into a victory.

With several first team choices already sidelined from next week's Euro 2012 qualifier against England by injury or illness, Hitzfeld fielded a largely experimental side against the Socceroos.

Schwarzer parried a scrambled effort by Swiss winger Albert Bunjaku in the 11th minute and denied Switzerland with three saves at the foot of his post at the beginning of the second half.

Australia's Lucas Neil shot over the bar from just three feet in front of the goalmouth early in the first half, while second choice Swiss goalkeeper Marco Woefli added to Hitzfeld's jitters with a fumbled save from Brett Holman on the line in the 14th minute.

The erratic Woelfli, who may stand in for Wolfsburg's Diego Benaglio against England next Tuesday, made amends with a more confident save from the Alkmaar striker in the second half.

The Swiss nonetheless dominated much of the match, with Zurich midfielder Xavier Margairaz making a strong case for a chance against England as Hitzfeld rotated his squad.

But the canny German's favoured new striking duo of 31 year-old Frei and Leverkusen's Eren Derdiyok showed little sign of overcoming a chronic Swiss goalscoring drought upfront.

Despite the defensive prowess they demonstrated in their shock 1-0 World Cup defeat of Spain and a more feisty midfield on Friday, Switzerland have scored only four goals in 10 matches.