Match 16: Spain-Switzerland (Pre-Match)

Re: Match 16: Spain-Switzerland

Spain vs Switzerland, now this is a match I am really wanting to see especially now, because I have never seen these countries face off before ever, and now that it is finally going to happen, judging from 2006 where Switzerland during Germany 06 were the only team not to concede a single goal at the tournament until they lost in a penalty shootout to Ukraine, I see this happening in 2010 where they won't concede a goal as well. Spain & Switzerland, this will be a very tough match for both teams, but Spain is just too good right now #1 team in the world right now and Spain are such heavy favorites to win the World Cup, so I see them beating Switzerland 3-1

 

Re: Match 16: Spain-Switzerland

Referee: Howard Webb (United Kingdom)

 

Re: Match 16: Spain-Switzerland

Frei injured like two years ago before the Euro. It's unsure whether he will be on board tonight when Switzerland will be flying to South Africa. U-17 world champion Nassim Ben Khalifa might replace him, but I think he went on vacation

 

Can't wait to see Espana take the field. What a collection of players...hopefully this group will kill that "Choke" Mentality of the past.

 

what about Francesc Fábregas?

Derdiyok will fill in for Frei in Switzerland.

 

With Alex Frei out these should be our starting eleven:

GK: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg)
LD: Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria)
CD: Stéphane Grichting (Auxerre)
CD: Philippe Senderos (Fulham)
RD: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio)
LM: Tranquillo Barnetta (Leverkusen)
CM: Gökhan Inler (Udinese)
CM: Benjamin Huggel (Basel)
RM: Valon Behrami (West Ham)
FW: Eren Derdiyok (Leverkusen)
FW: Blaise Nkufo (Twente)

Behrami is also questionable and could be replaced by Gelson Fernades (St. Etienne)

I'm not holding my breath, a tie would be tremendous...

 

It's their best ever chance to win the World Cup, their first game is only a couple of days away but where are all the Spain supporters! Seriously even with the political divisions and all you would think there would be a few more... I mean the Madrid and Barca boards are some of the most active on BS.

 

Too bad Torres is still not match-fit, otherwise no reason Del Bosque should drop a midfielder [Iniesta] and shock them by starting Torres alongside Villa upfront.

 

We are sticking to our own boards

 

There are actually very few Spanish supporters here on this site. Most of the posters on the Madrid and Barca boards aren't really Spanish supporters. They may hope we do well because of some of the players but that's about it.

Plus there really isn't much to talk about until the games begin and we play ours last.

 

We'll have two starters out for this one - Frei and Behrami. Instead we might play with a midfield of five and only one forward:

GK: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg)
LD: Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria)
CD: Stéphane Grichting (Auxerre)
CD: Philippe Senderos (Fulham)
RD: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio)
LM: Gelson Fernandes (St. Etienne)
CM: Gökhan Inler (Udinese)
DM: Benjamin Huggel (Basel)
CM: Pirmin Schwegler (Frankfurt)
RM: Tranquillo Barnetta (Leverkusen)
FW: Blaise Nkufo (Twente)

Yep, a tie sounds pretty good right about now!

 

Wow, I didn't think Argentina played poor at all...that Nigeria GK played the game of his life is what happened.

 

I agree, Argentina looked quite impressive but for their finishing. Higuain especially missed a couple of great chances.

 

Spain I see them beating the Swiss here, I mean Spain they are just a well-oiled machine right now as well look at the players that they will have in Xavi, Torres, Villa, Casillas, Pique, Sergio Ramos, David Silva, Senna, Xabi Alonso, Capdevila, etc., and with a great tactician behind them in Vicente del Bosque who has turned Spain around into a team that is hard to beat, I see them barely edging out the defensively disciplined Swiss in a 2-1 victory

 

Spain's training session

Images from Spain's training session held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday.

 

Re: Spain's training session

 

You want to talk big fishes playing bad...Brasil anyone...embarrasing really to be 0-0 at the half.

 

Switzerland's training session

Images from Switzerland's training session that followed Spain's workout.

 

Re: Switzerland's training session