VS. This one has been sold out for weeks, and could end up being the decisive game for the championship... Basel perspective For Basel, there can only be a win. They can close the 3 point gap to GC with a win, but still have to hope that GC loses extra points in the remaining games. GC has the advantage if points are even, due to being "winter champions." Basel has just gained extra confidence with the cup win and hopes to carry it over to this game. GC perspective Anything but a loss is a good result, a win would almost certainly seal the championship. Will Marcel Koller play for a win or a tie? -- a very delicate decision. While GC was able to prepare for this game for over a week, Basel had the play the cup final on sunday. Basel must also be getting tired from a very long season (CL etc.) and Grasshoppers will be ready to take advantage. Hopp GC!!!
Nathan, Nice preview. In the cup match, Xamax was so weak that FCB did not get any real kind of test. Let's hope they are overconfident going into Friday night. Just got my hands on some tickets )along with some colleagues at work). It should be a good one...
Good to hear that you managed to get some tickets Chris. How did you get them? For what side? I envy you - I wish I was home for this one... Enjoy the game. This should be Swiss soccer at its best. We expect a detailed match report.
This is a huge game to say the least. A detailed report is in order. GC defense had better be up to the task. Basel has scored 14 goals in its last three games. Any way to see the game in the US? I know that is a dream, but I had to ask it.
One of my colleagues has a connection to the club. We're in the GC fan zone nearest the tram tracks...not the best tix in the house but much better than watching on SAT1. I'll do my best to get a few digi pix and a report. Perhaps I can have my wife record the match and I can pass the tape along to you guys. I'll let you know soon if this is possible. Do you have PAL capability on your system in the States? Chris
I know a place where I can get the tape transferred I think. I am not sure what the quality of the copy would be like. The PAL (Europe) and (SECAM) tapes don't work on US VCR's. I taped the 98 WQ Final in french and sent it back to the States, forgetting it was in PAL format. I wanted to keep the emotion of the french announcers, something that was not available in English. My mom found the tape, played it, saw that it was static and threw it out thinking that it was broken. Sad day in my home.
The GC fan zone eh? (Estrade Ost) -- Those are general admission for regular season games, so I advise you to be there early (gcz.ch does as well). Looking forward to those digi pix... Thanks but no thanks. I could just make my family record it. Besides, I should be home pretty soon.
Come to think of it, don't bother to send the tape. It is not woth the trouble of getting it transferred. Thanks for offering.
From cnnsi.com Notes - Due to the massive security precautions, this is the most expensive league game ever. Hooliganism by Basel fans is expected and GC is prepared. After the 1-1 draw mentioned in the article, some a-holes from Basel set 2 trams on fire. Similar behavior is expected tomorrow, especially with a Basel defeat. - Basel has been talking trash all week, including president Werner Edelmann: "GC played terrible in the Uefa Cup - if they would've beaten PAOK, then Switzerland would've had 2 CL spots next season." Uhmmmm....seems to me Edelmann doesn't know how the Uefa system works. The only way Switzerland would've had 2 CL spots this year is if Basel would've won the Champions League. After next season, Switzerland will have 2 spots, so I don't know what Edelmann is crying about. - Boris Smiljanic has been talking trash as well, expect a nice welcome tomorrow you schmuck (Judas!) - Of the 17666, about 5000 will be Basel fans. - Mihai Tararache is back for GC. Tararache will make sure that H. Yakin will have a horrible time tomorrow as playmaker. Looks to me like Basel is nervous as hell. Hopp GC!
Possible line-ups for both teams: Grasshopper Club Zürich Borer; Schwegler, Castillo, Gamboa, Spycher; Tararache, Mitreski; Baturina, Cabanas, Nuñez; Eduardo. FC Basel Zuberbühler; Haas, Murat Yakin, Smiljanic, Atouba; Barberis, Cantaluppi, Chipperfield; Hakan Yakin; Rossi, Gimenez. Referee: Massimo Busacca (A good choice in my opinon. In the last game in March, Austrian Konrad Plautz did not have control over the game at all. He stated: "I've never experienced anything like this in Austria. Not even the international games I've officiated come even close to the intensity between these two teams"
What about Urs Meyer? He seems to be a more than capable official. That is a nice article in cnnsi.com. It is nice to see Swiss soccer mentioned, for the casual reader it is now possible to know about the game. Can I dream by saying ESPN should pick this one up! I know it would never happen, but it would be nice.
The top item on UEFA.com's homepage. http://www.uefa.com/footballcentral/news/Kind=2/newsId=69539.html
The bigger perspective From todays JournaldeJura: "The issue of the race for the title directly concerns the two Romand clubs in the final round. If Basel is champion again, Neuchâtel Xamax will qualify for the 1st round of the UEFA Cup as a finalist of teh Swiss Cup. In fifth place, Servette is the biggest supporter of the Grasshoppers. If the Zuricois win, the 4th place will be synomonus with the UEFA Cup. Bue ther Servettiens can not repent through the Intertoto Cup. Opposite of FC Barcelona, Servette renounced the oppourtunity to play in this competition. A regrettable choice made by the former trainer"
Boy, am I pumped for this one - I'm even wearing my '96 GC jersey for good luck. I will follow the match on Radio Z, and the fcb matchtacker. The game just started...It's on! Hopp GC!!!!
10' Some early pressure by Basel. From the sound on the radio, the atmosphere is very intense at the Hardturm.
No problem, 14' It seems GC survived Basel's early attacking. Cabanas and Eduardo with some chances now.
A great start for GC. Can they hold on and add to it. With Basel knowing that they are playing for the Championship tonight I expect they will throw everything forward.
Halftime Yeah, I expect an offensive inferno by Basel in the 2nd half. That in return opens up room for counter-attacks. Nunez and Eduardo both have the speed and ability to increase the lead. Only 45 more minutes... HOPP GC!
Whoa, apparently Cantaluppi and Cabanas both got sent off just before halftime. Cantaluppi went after Cabanas and got red-carded -- Ref Busacca lost the overview and undeservingly sent off Cabanas as well... Freaking great. We could've had an extra man! Other cards: Atouba (yellow) Petric (yellow)
Re: Possible line-ups for both teams: No, I don't think Austria has anything that compares to this. The biggest club rivalry is Austria Wien - Rapid Wien. They met three times this year, drawing 14k and 10k in Rapid's Hanappi Stadium and 10k in Austria's Horr Stadium. Just not the same as this...
2nd half has started. Let's go GC - time to bury those pharmaceutical assclowns... DIE NUMMER EINS, DIE NUMMER EINS, DIE NUMMER EINS DER SCHWEIZ SIND WIR!