I really hope that you enjoy the match. To be honest, I am worried about Wales. For some of the logistical info that you asked about. The train schedule is here with prices and everything that you will need. http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm I think that the nightlife is a little more vibrant in Zurich. If you catch one of the last trains out of Basel after the match you will be in Zurich by 1am at the latest. That would give you 7 hours to kill before you need to be at the airport. Make sure that you but a ticket from Zurich Airport. There is a train that stops at St. Jakobs Park in Basel, but I do not know which line it is on. There is a Tram that goes there as will. http://www.blt.ch/FahrplanundLiniennetz/BLTTram/BLTTram.aspx For the Hostel: http://www.swissbackpackers.ch/ http://www.youthhostel.ch/home.html?L=1
I'm interesting how the following 26 lads will develop over the next 2 years and keep an extra eye on them... Only 5 were in the squad in South Africa. For Shaqiri, Derdyiok and Gelson, I guess things should be getting better yet over the next two years and if not injured they're safe for the EC. For Senderos, he needs playing time again. And for Djourou I'm wondering if he can ever be back with his injury. Good recovery to him. From some others who had had difficult years like Gygax, Dzemaili, Vonlanthen, Chiumiento and Esteban, I wonder if they can overcome everything and play themselves in the team. Wish them all the best anyway. For all the other young players, I just like to follow their development and maybe one or the other can make it in the NT over the next years Gygax (Lucerne) Xhaka (Basel) Shaqiri (Basel) Abrashi (GC) Affolter (YB) Prijovic (Sion) Pasche (YB) Rodriguez (Zürich) Mehmedi (Zürich) Feltscher (Bellinzona) Chiumiento (out of contract) Vonlanthen (out of contract) Dzemaili (Parma) Derdiyok (Leverkusen) Esteban (Rennes) Nassim Ben Khalifa (Wolfsburg) Kasami (Palermo) Seferovic (Fiorentina) Siegrist (Aston Villa) Djurou (Arsenal) Senderos (Fulham) Sead Hajrovic (Arsenal) Gelson Fernandes (St-Etienne) Veseli (Man City) Daprela (West Ham) Fernandes (Boavista)
Fifa.com also has a friendly listed for 17 November in Geneva against Ukraine. Here is what their schedule looks like: Austria - Switzerland 11/08/2010 Klagenfurt Friendly Switzerland - Australia 03/09/2010 St. Gall Friendly Switzerland - England 07/09/2010 Basel Continental Qualifier Montenegro - Switzerland 08/10/2010 Continental Qualifier Switzerland - Wales 12/10/2010 Basel Continental Qualifier Switzerland - Ukraine 17/11/2010 Geneva
I'd add Stocker, F. Lustenberger, Hochstrasser, S. Koch, Steven Zuber, Yann Sommer, Buff, Rolf Feltscher, Kusunga and Steven Lang to that list. I think Steven Zuber will be one of this year's ASL revelations.
We cant forget Gavranovic neither. He's been scoring a lot for Schalke in The pre season. Keeping an eye on Wüthrich and Wiss as well. Can't forget Toko who had a great spring
you're right about Gavranovic... I would like to see a call for him and Ben Khalifa in attack for the upcoming friendly. Together with Frei and Derdiyok And I would like to see a call for Kasami and Rodriguez as well...
The swiss press seem to take for granted that Pirmin Schwegler will replace Huggel. I certainly hope Ottmar keeps his options open when it comes to the central midfield situation and maybe take look at the way Germany in The WC. Again, I can't stress enough how important Abdi and Dzemaili could be for us. My wet dream is a 4-2-3-1 German style with these two plus Inler (of course) as our equivalent to Schweini-Khedira-Özil. If Dzemaili stays injury-free and Abdi get's to play alongside Inler, Hitzfeld's an idiot if he doesn't try this out
I thought Huggel 'retired' from playing football years ago! But at least manager(s) of Switzerland have finally realised that. NB: I was never too sure what his use to the Nati was supposed to be - apart from fouling and giving away free-kicks in dangerous positions. Out with the old. In with the (young) new!
Affolter and Ben Khalifa in the A-Team!!! http://www.football.ch/nm/de/Aufgeb_3107.aspx from the to watch list: Gygax (Lucerne) - back in the Nati? Xhaka (Basel) - with the U-19 Shaqiri (Basel) Abrashi (GC) Affolter (YB) - with the A-team! Prijovic (Sion) - with the U-20, more important at Sion now as Mpenza is leaving Pasche (YB) - with the U-20 Rodriguez (Zürich) - with the U-19 Mehmedi (Zürich) - got a few minutes with FCZ Feltscher (Bellinzona) Stocker, - good shape. Still too often close to a red card. Has to learn not to make 'stupid' fouls. But other swiss players also have seen red cards in important matches (Frei, Behrami etc) F. Lustenberger, Hochstrasser, - also needs to become regular and control his agressivity S. Koch, Steven Zuber, Yann Sommer - back to Basel as back up for Costanzo. His time comes after Costanzo Buff, - with the U-19 Rolf Feltscher, Kusunga Steven Lang Gavranovic - very strong preparation, what about a call? Wüthrich Wiss Toko Mustafi - with the U-20 Abeggeln - with the U-20 Kamber, with the U-19 Chappuis, with the U-19 Xhaka with the U-19 Dragan Mihajlovic Chiumiento (out of contract) - still no club, rumours about Evian where only in Switzerland, not in France Vonlanthen (out of contract) - still no club, might return to FCZ Von Bergen (out of contract) - I add him due to his unsure situation, ASSE doesn't want him. He would like to join them. But he would be more a last minute solutions if no better player is found. Dzemaili (Parma) - got a call for the Nati according to Parma's homepage Derdiyok (Leverkusen) - in the news for non-sportive reasons Esteban (Rennes) - back at Servette and fit Nassim Ben Khalifa (Wolfsburg) - good preparation: A-team !!! Kasami (Palermo) - very good preparation with Palermo, with the U-19 Seferovic (Fiorentina) - very good preparation with Fiorentinas A-team, with the Swiss U-19 Siegrist (Aston Villa) - with the U-19 Djurou (Arsenal) - played in the Emirates Cup, but is lacking match rhythm Senderos (Fulham) - starting eleven with Fulham?? Sead Hajrovic (Arsenal) - with the U-18 Gelson Fernandes (St-Etienne) - hoping next season is better for him Veseli (Man City) - with the U-19, should be a regular starter with the Man City reserves this season Daprela (West Ham) - becoming a first team regular at West Ham - ready for the A-team call Fernandes (Boavista) - removing from the to watch list as Boavista is just too far down
Dzemail also in the list, but not Frei !!!! Aufgebot Tor: Diego Benaglio, Marco Wölfli Verteidigung: François Affolter, Stéphane Grichting, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Philippe Senderos, Reto Ziegler Mittelfeld und Sturm: Tranquillo Barnetta, Valon Behrami, Nassim Ben Khalifa, Albert Bunjaku, Eren Derdiyok, Blerim Dzemaili, Gelson Fernandes, Gökhan Inler, Pirmin Schwegler, Xherdan Shaqiri, Valentin Stocker, Hakan Yakin. Frei has a light injury
Only 5 defenders? Very happy with Dzemaili and Ben Khalifa (and Affolter as well, although his form is not great) being called up. Would've left out Yakin and maybe bring in Daprela and Gavranovic, Stefan Frei would've been an interesting addition as well. Still, a lot to be excited about. Bunjaku and Schwegler really got to take their chance now, if they don't show anything special I see now reason that they should be regulars in Ottmar's rosters. Amazing that Von Bergen hasn't found a new club yet, he had a very good WC. Oh yeah, Magnin just retired from the Nati Maybe in this game we might finally see Hitzfeld try Behrami at left-back.
with Stocker, there is a 4th player in the team who was not at the WC Kasami, Daprela, Mehmedi, Zuber, Abrashi, R.Feltscher and Kusunga in the U-21. Think Kasami got a call for both the U-19 and the U-21 For Daprela, Mehmedi and Zuber it would be the first match with the U-21
I like the additions of new players. Lets hope that Ottmar is willing to use them, not just put them on the bench. I think a friendly with Austria is a great opportunity for the younger players. At the same time, I hope that the best M21 team is sent to Lugano to ensure qualification. I still would like to see Fabien Frei out there. Can we add him to the watch list?
No Gavranovic though..I'm sensing he'll join Rakitic and Petric in Croatia. Well well, you win some, you lose some. Feeling way too optimistic right now to be concerned with that, we really got a huge number of up-and-comers knocking on the NT door right now. Just waiting for the next group of players to really cement a place in the Nati
I agree that Stefan Frei would be an interesting callup at least. He is having a good season with Toronto FC. There are quite a few clubs that could use Von Bergen. I wonder what his salary demands are? With Magnin retiring from the National Team that makes 3. Blaise N'kufo,Benjamin Huggel and Ludovic Magnin. I wonder how many there will be more. I think that Streller might join them. Frei possibly.
Yup, get rid of Frei and Streller (but reinstate Gygax to the squad) and the Swiss could start surprising a few in the UK media come the EC2012 Qualifiers. "Thanks" to the 'old guard' who managed to get Switzerland qualifying from their Group games - but it's now time to move on.
well, Frei and Streller confirmed they continue - Grichting was unsure whether he wants to continue, but he decided to stay as well. Ch. Spycher also retired, so it makes 4 Yakin and Grichting now the only over-30's in the squad which faces Austria
