Switzerland - Albania 11 June [r]

Here is where we stand right now:
Switzerland 5 9
Russia 5 7
Republic of Ireland 5 7
Albania 5 5
Georgia 4 4

Ireland-Georgia and Switzerland-Albania are today.
Both have major implications to the teams playing. If Ireland wins, they could move to first if the Swiss loose. The Swiss should get three points and be at 12 points, with Ireland at 10.

The rest of the schedule:
06 September 2003
Republic of Ireland-Russia
Georgia-Albania

10 September 2003
Russia-Switzerland
Albania Georgia

11 October 2003
Russia-Georgia
Switzerland-Republic of Ireland

Today's game will be streamed on rsr.ch in french. Go to the listen live section and click on it.

 

According to the announcers, the fans are about 50% Swiss and 50% for Albania. I think that Switzerland is the only place where Albania could have a home field advantage out of Tirana.

 

The best possible situiation for Switzerland would be a quick goal. That would silence the Albanian supporters, and relieve some of the pressure. Albania needs to win to keep any hope of qualfying for Euro.

I wonder how Rama will be treated if he gets into the game.

 

Henshotz is playing. Lets hope that he is in match form and ready for a Euro qualfier!

 

Frei shoots over the bar. The Swiss team sees to be taking the game to Albania.

 

Albania seem to be pushing forward with more.

Yellow card to Albania. Haas was hacked down.

 

The announcers have complimented the Albanian team for their organization.

According to the announcers, the roads are a mess and quite a few of the fans can not get to the stadium.

 

H. Yakin has a good shot turned away corner.

 

Gooooooooool!!!!!

Haas off a corner frm H. Yakin! This is a great way to start!

 

11' minute goal forces the Albanians to over their defense and start to attack.

 

Hakin Yakin gets hacked down. Yellow card to Albania.

2nd in 13 minutes.

 

Bad foul by Haas in the 15th.

 

Chapuisat and Frei combine for a 2v1 rush. Chapuisat gives a poor first pass and the Albanian keeper gets the ball.

 

Frei is just onsides, but he and Chapuisat can not combine on a quick pass.

 

Swiss give up a dangerous counterattack. But the defense holds. Yakin gets fouled again.

 

Albania scores to make it 1-1. 23 minute.

 

Here are the teams:
Switzerland: 1-Joerg Stiel; 2-Bernt Haas, 4-Stephane Henchoz, 5-Murat Yakin, 3-Bruno Berner; 6-Johann Vogel, 7-Ricardo Cabanas, 8-Raphael Wicky; 10-Hakan Yakin; 11-Stephane Chapuisat, 9-Alexander Frei.

Albania: 1-Foto Strakosha; 2-Elvin Beqiri, 3-Geri Cipi, 11-Adrian Aliaj; 18-Klodian Duro, 6-Besnik Hasi, 14-Altin Lala, 13-Ervin Skela, 8-Arian Bellaj; 19-Alban Bushaj, 17-Igli Tare.

Albania has started to take the match to the Swiss.

Frei leads a counterattack, but nothing comes of it.

 

M. Yakin saves a hard shot.

 

Albania almost puts another one in, but the shot goes out to the side.

Alexandre Frei put one in!!!!!!!!!
3 goals in two matches!!!!!!!!!

 

H. Yakin gets the assist. That makes it 2-1. Come on Switzerland, hold off the Albanians. Cabbanis picked up a little stinger.

 

Chapuisat has a nice run, but the Albanians stop it, and start a counterattack. A bad foul by Albania.

 

Final Score:
Switzerland 3 Albania 2

Match Report for Uefa:

http://www.euro2004.com/competitions/euro/fixturesresults/round=1579/match=69057/report=rp.html

Here is what the group looks like now.
Group 10 Pld Pts
Switzerland 6 12
Republic of Ireland 6 10
Russia 5 7
Albania 6 5
Georgia 5 4

 

An interesting analysis about the Swiss side:

http://www.uefa.com/trainingground/news/Kind=1/newsId=74479.html

 

Here is the situiation:
If Ireland and Russia tie in Dublin:
The Swiss need to win one of the final two matches to qualify directly for Euro 2004.

If Ireland wins:
The Swiss have to win one of the final two matches.

If Russia wins:
The Swiss need to win one of the final two matches.

There are other possibilities, but one win would do it.