I think the rest of the teams in the group were unlucky to get Montenegro from pot 5. Their ranking is very false and they're comfortably the strongest in that pot. They don't seem to be troubled by losing Jovetic to long term injury either.
very poor showing by the swiss. the result at HT was lucky yet.... Hitzfeld gets bad critics and he is also very unhappy with some players. Usually he is always protecting the players... A sign he's a bit nervous people compare the match to the poor showings against Luxembourg and Honduras and other matches lately... Others say that all the swiss players except Ziegler and maybe Von Bergen and Inler and Shaqiri I guess are too slow, especially Derdiyok and Frei. I've to say the last really exciting match was the famous 4-2 against Turkey. And it's always more exciting when Behrami is in the squad. And Shaqiri could be a starter as well. And we need another partner for Inler in midfield. And why not bringing Kasami and Rodriguez in the squad. Ben Khalifa should get call ups as well, although he is not playing with Wolfsburg and although he seems a bit shy yet. like Hitzfeld, I cannot understand why defenders get yellow cards for protesting. Lichtsteiner should stop with that. He is quite a good player, but that just has to stop. It's much worse with the Degen's... he had one good action, but please do not call him up again until he learns not waiving his arms at every referee decision. This makes the referee angry against the whole team and is totally unproductive
He should be, the match against Montenegro is huge. The Swiss could find themselves in a very difficult spot if they lost that one. They need at least a point there, and they can not afford to slip up against Wales or Bulgaria. This has been one of my gripes. Fabien Frei, Hotchstrasser, Constanzo, Sutter, and some of the younger players are faster. You could put the friendlies against PR China and Scotland in that mix. The away victory in Greece was exciting. But that match in Istanbul, even before the brawl was amazing. I say bring up a lot of these guys for the Ukraine match. Let Ottmar really experiment. Throw Stefan Frei into the mix as well. His club season will be over by then. Lichtsteiner is a very good defender, but he does need to calm down with the arms.
I'm beginning to have serious doubts about Ottmar, I don't feel anything at all has gotten better since Köbi left and that's a really bad sign since the player material has gotten better. What the hell was Hitzfeld thinking, starting Margairaz?? Wasn't it obvious how tired he got vs the Aussies in the friendly? Now, how exactly was he physically going to put up with England in a competetive game? For me Margairaz is just like Huggel or Cabanas, they just don't cut it internationally. Case closed (or it should be) I think Hitzfeld tactical frame of mind is still back in the 90s, if he wants this team to be more succesful he should adapt, experiment and not be so one-dimensional, why not look at his home country? About Frei, it's clear he is not the player he was. What's even more worrying right now is that ALL our strikers seem to be extremely dependent on tactics, attacking partnership, having the coach's full support. I'd love it if Daprela will become a regular at Brescia, Ziegler is not so good that he is to be considered the unchallenged nr 1. About Schwegler, he is definitely not the right partner for Inler. It's kind of like playing Wicky and Vogel. It's so sad that Dzemaili is so injury prone. Djourou, Dzemaili, Stocker, Abdi, Ben Khalifa, Kasami, Daprela Don't forget the friendly win vs the Dutch a few years a go!
Oh dear, It seems that Hitzfeld still thinks that Frei and Streller have something to offer to the Nati. I know I'm repeating myself, but the 'donkey' Frei and the hapless Streller are seemingly only on the field of play to miss easy chances and give away fouls (esp Streller) What is the point of those two? Yes, I know they've done well in the past, but it's *now* the present. The sooner Hitzfeld pensions off those two has-beens, the better. If the Swiss aren't careful I forsee a sharp drop in their FIFA ranking. Much better to introduce more U-17's/U-19's/U-21's to the squad rather than faffing around with 'experience' That said, Derdiyok hasn't done much lately, but at least Shaqiri offers hope - as does Ben Khalifa (assuming he gets 'nationalised') But I suppose Hitzfeld would rather give Frei and Streller another game.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i6LQhlLi_n_UrrWK04FH5hEa_I6A Albert Bunjaku out for 6 months with right knee injury. Surprised?
Not that it really matters but Switzerland (882) is now 21st in the World Rankings. 6. (7) England (1191) 40.* (73.) Montenegro 684. 54.* (43.) Bulgaria 556 84.* (84.) Wales 382
Cluj uses two subs in the 53'. Both are midfielders, one an attacking. Basel wanted a handball on a corner kick in the box, nothing given. Streller picks up a yellow a moment later at the top of Basel's box for a foul.
Basel with around 20 min left. Basel is starting to push harder for the 2nd goal. They are leaving holes at the back and Yapi had to come back and save a goal.
FT Cluj wins. I have a feeling this match will be like the away match at Fulham last season. It will come back to bite Basel.
Guess who's injured!? Behrami, will probably miss the next two EC qualifiers, that means we go the entire right flank missing. Replacements? Christian Schwegler should be called up, not for the starting XI but for the bench. Gaetano Berardi is definitely an alternative as well, right now he's first choice for Brescia in the Serie A (the U21 NT need him more though), Ph Degen is still injured. The questions are, who will start at right-back; Sutter, Gelson or Shaqiri, who will start in right midfield? My bet is Gelson in defence and Shaqiri in midfield, D. Degen is an alternative as well. Hopefully Margairaz won't ever be called up again and as long as Padalino is not getting any playing time, neither should he. Don't break your own rules, Ottmar!
I wonder of Behrami has missed more NT matches that he has been eligible for than not. I would be tempted to go with the Gelson and Shaqiri. Degen and Sutter do tend to work well together at YB, too bad the rest of the team is not at this moment.
Wales is starting a search for a permanent head coach. Bryan Flinn has been appointed as caretaker, and might get the job. They want a new coach by Christams. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footba...hunt-is-on-for-new-wales-boss-91466-27294879/ Rumor has it that Wales wants Ryan Giggs to be the manager, but SAF has said that this will not happen while he is still playing at Man U. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footba...r-ryan-giggs-says-ruud-gullit-91466-27294880/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/9036524.stm Bellamy might miss the Swiss match due to injury.
-as the Montegro match is Friday next week, I think we will have the call-up tomorrow... -what if Kasami scores tonight against LS ? for me, he should get a call for the A-team. And Rodriguez in defense as well -the U-21 is playing the playoff against Sweden, tough.
