True: I have a couple groups that I would like to present for the Swiss: The Good (maximum possibility of advancing) France CH Finland Lithuania Liechtenstein Andorra The Bad Spain CH Israel/Ireland Slovenia/Cyprus Kazakhstan Luxembourg/Malta
Gruppe A: Deutschland, Türkei, Österreich, Belgien, Kasachstan, Aserbaidschan Gruppe I: Spanien, Tschechische Rep., Schottland, Litauen, Liechtenstein
Ouch for all three teams. I think the Swiss can get second and possibly challenge the English for the top. The key to this group is Wales. If the Welsh can take points from the English, CH has a chance. It looks like Austria and Turkey for the second spot. It is amazing to see how far Belgium has fallen. Liechtenstein best hope for points is against Lithuania. The following 12 dates are reserved for group matches in qualifying: a) 3/4 and 7 September 2010 b) 8/9 and 12 October 2010 c) 25/26 and 29 March 2011 d) 3/4 and 7 June 2011 e) 2/3 and 6 September 2011 f) 7/8 and 11 October 2011 The following dates are reserved for the play-off matches between the remaining eight runners-up: a) 11/12 November 2011 b) 15 November 2011
I'm happy with the draw as it will lead to some decent media coverage of Switzerland. Mind you, the UK media are still perpetuating cliches of cuckoo clocks, chocolate soldiers, swiss rolls.......and Nazi Gold. Dear oh dear. I do wish they'd *move on* and realise that Switzerland has changed - especially from a footballing perspective.
Capello will be having nightmares about the Swiss. I like this site for its informative nature and lack of 'abuse'. For the latter, all I have to do is post 'Swiss stuff' on certain English messageboards. By and large I fly the 'Swiss footballing flag' elsewhere. Here's a link to my current 'residence' and discussion about Euro 2012: http://www.owlstalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=122787&st=0&start=0 It would seem that I'm having trouble convincing them. That said, the abuse is mild compared to what I've received in the past on other messageboards. Anyway, have a read of the three pages or so and see what it's like to be a Swiss fan living in England.
Interesting article about the selection of dates for the matches: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/08/england-wales-euro-2012-fixtures My favorite line; He may try to avoid qualifying games in June 2011, knowing that Bulgaria and Montenegro can get uncomfortably warm at that time of year.
That's why England pay £5million a year for his services. He sure knows a thing or two about 'south central' european temperatures in June - but I doubt that he (or other 'England fans') have much idea about the Swiss NT though.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footba...a-win-win-situation-for-wales-91466-25808947/ Very intersting Welsh perspective. I love it when people say that the Swiss are no good because they drew against Israel on the last day of WCQ. All the Swiss needed to win the group was a point, and they played for it. If that is the match that people look at, yes they looked bad in that one. But if they look at either of the Greece matches, they looked really good.
Never underestimate the 'UK footballing media' to underestimate any country that their assorted favourites play against. From what I can deduce about their punditry: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are *always* going to be the 'last four' in any World Cup or European Championship. Funnily enough, that never seems to happen though.
At least they haven't mentioned the home game against Luxembourg yet! Hey, depeched I'm an 'England fan' and I know quite a bit about the Swiss NT. Don't tar everyone with the same brush - otherwise you'd be no better than the British red tops! LL
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-switzerland-austria&prov=ap&type=lgns Switzerland will travel to face Austria in an Aug. 11 warm-up match before beginning their qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championship. The Alpine neighbors said Wednesday they will play at Klagenfurt’s Woerthersee Stadium—one of the tournament venues when they co-hosted Euro 2008. Should be a nice way for both teams to start the qualifying.
Group G could not decide on the fixtures themselves when they conveyed today Zurich there will be a draw. Should be interesting. The draw will take place next week in Israel.
Fixtures decided: 07/09/2010 Austria - Kazakhstan ... Stadium: Stadion Salzburg, Salzburg (AUT) 08/10/2010 Austria - Azerbaijan ... Stadium: Ernst Happel, Vienna (AUT) 12/10/2010 Belgium - Austria 25/03/2011 Austria - Belgium 29/03/2011 Turkey - Austria 03/06/2011 Austria - Germany 02/09/2011 Germany - Austria 06/09/2011 Austria - Turkey 07/10/2011 Azerbaijan - Austria 11/10/2011 Kazakhstan - Austria 08/10/2010 Montenegro - Switzerland 12/10/2010 Switzerland - Wales 26/03/2011 Bulgaria - Switzerland 04/06/2011 England - Switzerland 06/09/2011 Switzerland - Bulgaria 07/10/2011 Wales - Switzerland 11/10/2011 Switzerland - Montenegro 03/09/2010 Liechtenstein - Spain 07/09/2010 Scotland - Liechtenstein 12/10/2010 Liechtenstein - Czech Republic 29/03/2011 Czech Republic - Liechtenstein 03/06/2011 Liechtenstein - Lithuania 02/09/2011 Lithuania - Liechtenstein 06/09/2011 Spain - Liechtenstein 08/10/2011 Liechtenstein - Scotland
07/09/2010 Switzerland - England Basel 08/10/2010 Montenegro - Switzerland 12/10/2010 Switzerland - Wales Basel 26/03/2011 Bulgaria - Switzerland 04/06/2011 England - Switzerland 06/09/2011 Switzerland - Bulgaria 07/10/2011 Wales - Switzerland 11/10/2011 Switzerland - Montenegro The England match does not suprise me that it is in Basel, but I thought the Wales match would be in Berne or Geneve. Oh well. I am betting Bulgaria in Geneve and Montenegro in Berne.
BBC just announces that Wales will be in Basel. Interesting stat from the article: Wales have never beaten Switzerland away or have never scored in three visits to play the Swiss. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/8753835.stm
Oh dear. That isn't the sort of stats I like to read. The UK media were saying that Switzerland had never beaten Spain. Look what happened next! I fear Wales (rather than England) in this group. Wales have a young and keen side whereas England are just a bunch of ageing no-hopers with massive egos and salaries. I hope Switzerland will match Wales in the 'youth and keeness' department, but that's down to the manager to clear out some of the ageing 'deadwood' seen at the World Cup.
Alrite lads, just wondering if you can help me out. Im travelling over for the Switzerland v Wales game with 5 friends. Basically we've booked our flights from manchester to zurich our flight lands in zurich around 10 o'clock your time. Then we're flying back the next morning and have to be back at zurich airport for about 8 o'clock. My questions are; Whats the easiest/cheapest way of getting back and to, Basle and how much will we be looking at roughly? Would we be better off spending the night in Basle or Zurich? Would there still be trains running after the game or would there be one early enough to get us to our flight in the morning if we stayed in Basle? Which is the better night out? Any tips on a cheap hotel/hostel nearby? The standard really isnt a problem as i'd imagine we'll only be getting our heads down for a couple of hours if at all. Any other words of wisdom? Any help will be much appreciated Cheers lads P.S great result against Spain top effort.
3 September 2010 Switzerland will play against Australia in St. Gallen. I would anticipate a very young, european based Australian side. I would also like to see some new players in there for teh Swiss. The England match is only 4 days later.