Weak showing by Switzerland. They should still beat Honduras to advance out of the group but that will be Endstation
When Von Bergen went off and 'Big Phil' came on I said to myself 'Oh dear' The rest is history. Hitzfeld made the classic mistake of starting with the goal-scoring subs from the previous game. I'm guessing/hoping that Hitzfeld will play Schar/Barnetta/Stocker/Drmic. I can't imagine Aston Villa getting excited about Senderos. He was fine as an 18-22 year old, but has declined every year since. Remember that it was Von Bergen (on as a sub after Senderos went off injured early on) and Grichting that defended so well v Spain in 2010. Ah well, it's Honduras again. Please not another 0-0 - or worse?
The Swiss should win this one. I think that they can overcome the Hondurans, but the question remains will they even be able to play in the Round of 16 after the draining match that Manaus will be.
As we get closer, I am getting more nervous. I would love a quick goal or two, the sit back and kill the match off.
Here is the line-up for the Swiss: Benaglio Rodriguez-Djourou-Lichtsteiner-Schaer Shaqiri - Dzemaili-Inler-Mehmedi Xhaka - Drmic
Well, I/Hitzfeld was half correct in team changes. Fresh from my winning bet on Costa Rica @66-1 to win Group D at the expense of UK 'media favourites' England/Italy/Suarez I can only hope that my 100-1 bet on Switzerland to win the WC is still 'in play' after the Honduras game.
Nice 3-0 win. Goal one was great. Goals two and three were great passes and finishes. Up next Argentina.
Interesting how many Albanians on that team. Never hear of them as particularly great soccer players - don't bite my head off, I'm not in Euro so I'm not very familiar with the soccer out there.
The team is a great sampler of who is living in Switzerland right now. Of the 8 million in CH, there are about 1.5 to 2 million non-Swiss. Some are refugees, some are ex-pats, etc. What this team is forcing the Swiss to do is to rethink what it means to be Swiss. Albania is a decent soccer team, but they lack resources, training, etc. By these kids growing up in Switzerland, they were surrounded at an early age by a solid youth soccer program on the club and national level. That helps a lot. So what we have here is good natural talent mixed with good training at an early age (many of the younger players were U17 World Champs) and the ability to play 1st team soccer in a domestic league where the top teams do well in European Competition. That leads to a good National Team.
See my recent post on the Albania thread. Albania could be the next Switzerland i.e. rising up the FIFA rankings - much to the surprise of UK football media pundits (who haven't got a clue about anyone unless they play in the Prem League/Champions League) Needless to say they never bet on Costa Rica winning GpD @66-1
As ever Rob - I agree with you. Nice result yesterday. Our media wanted Ecuador to qualify though - but hey!
It shouldn't come into the equation. I have a sneaky feeling that the next game could put an end to our media's obsession (now that England are out) with Messi. Hope I'm right - but won't be betting on it? ;-)
Seems I've upset a 'moderator' on the England thread and my days could be limited on here. I promise not to post (If allowed) on the England thread until ECQ2016 starts. Said 'moderator' is presumably expecting a 6-0 win to England (v Switzerland Home and Away) Given that 98% of my posts have been on here rather than 'hapless/overrated' England threads I'm surprised at his/her comments - but such is life on message boards. As ever, Hoppschwiiz! (if that's allowed by England moderators) NB: Who 'moderates' the moderators?
The Swiss played exactly as they wanted. Make Argentina do all of the work, counter. Xhaka had a great chance in the first 10 min. They also had good chances all through the match. Too bad that Litchensteiner was dispossessed at the midfield. I think Diego would have saved at least one. Great World Cup. Come on Euro 2018, the Swiss will be scarry good.
Ah yes! Let's just concentrate on beating England in the 2016 ECQ's Shame about hitting the post in the final minute(s) v Arg (much to the delight of our 'Messi obsessed' media) If it ain't Roooooooney - it's Messi as far as they're concerned!
hi guy, i'm here to promote a documentary i am doing currently about my experience of the world cup 2014 i had in new york city. i went to places all over to watch the games. i had a fantastic time. i documented my experience and i am here to leave you with a trailer of the documentary and will be premiering later in august. hope you guys enjoy it when it's uploaded. for switzerland, i went to one game. their game against ecuador. the finish was absolutely nuts.