The pots are out: Pot 1: Germany (holders), Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, England, Wales, Spain, Croatia Pot 2: Slovakia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Iceland, Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina Pot 3: Ukraine, Scotland, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Albania, Northern Ireland, Serbia, Greece Pot 4: Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, Montenegro, Estonia Pot 5: Cyprus, Latvia, Armenia, Finland, Belarus, FYR Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova Pot 6: Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Georgia, Malta, San Marino, Andorra
So our group is: Portugal Switzerland Hungary Faroe Islands Latvia Andorra Works for me. Portugal hasn't impressed me lately.
My thoughts as well. The main thing was to avoid Albania...but let's not go down that road (again) Keep it a 'Russian Road'
This group looks pretty good after Hungary run in the Euro's. Matchday 1 4 September 2016 Switzerland vs Portugal Matchday 2 7 October 2016 Hungary vs Switzerland Matchday 3 10 October 2016 Andorra vs Switzerland - At least it is not Hungary and Portugal in quick succession. Travel from Budapest to Andorra la Vella can not be the easiest, this is a good fixture right after @ Hungary. Matchday 4 13 November 2016 Switzerland vs Faroe Islands Matchday 5 25 March 2017 Switzerland vs Latvia Matchday 6 9 June 2017 Faroe Islands vs Switzerland - Glad that it is a summer match. Matchday 7 31 August 2017 Switzerland vs Andorra Matchday 8 3 September 2017 Latvia vs Switzerland Matchday 9 7 October 2017 Switzerland vs Hungary Matchday 10 10 October 2017 Portugal vs Switzerland I think that the last week of matches will determine the top 3 spots. 6 points from Andorra, Faroe Islands, and Latvia are a must. If they get 6 of 12 from Hungary/Portugal that would give them 24. That would be close to the best for the group.
I don't think we can expect much from the Swiss 3rd is the best we can hope for.... still hugely upset over the loss to Poland Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
Behrami has announced that he will play one more cycle for the National Team. He will contest the WCQ and hopefully the World Cup in Russia.
Portugal has announced that Ronaldo will not play. Switzerland has announced that Shaqiri will not play.
It is amazing that the most important match of the cycle could be this first one. If Switzerland looses to Portugal on Tuesday at home, they will face a very difficult cycle, one that will be difficult enough with a resurgent Hungary, and Euro 2016 champion Portugal.
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y...tional-team-are-everything-to-me-2830757.html is titled "Embolo: Switzerland and the national team are everything to me."
Great day all around with the exception of the Xhaka 2nd yellow card. Early goals from Embolo and Mehmedi. Portugal limited to 4 shots on goal. They did have an amazing 11 corners though. The other scores really went Switzerland's way. Latvia only beat Andorra 0-1. Faroe Islands and Hungary drew 0-0. Great results.
Optimism bigger than in a while! Been quite absent here but will return with a monthly form check on NT players/potential players. Tonight I'll just go through the strikers (will list Mehmedi as a winger) Seferovic: Nothing surprising here really. Hard working but goals are rare. Frankfurt are doing well though but it's their defence that's impressing. Drmic: Wow this guy just can't get a break... Been injured 6 months now but expected to be "fit" in 2 weeks. Can't see him breaking in to the Gladbach XI though so I guess he'll be on the move again. We need him back! Tarashaj: Great that he managed to get a loan move to Frankfurt on deadline day, let's see how this plays out. Still hasn't featured for them. Derdiyok: really a return to form since moving to Turkey and Kasimpasa 2 years a go. The many months he injured seem to have done him a world of good. Big move to Galatasaray in the summer and he has 4 goals in 4 League games so far. No Europe this season for his club though. He still might make it in the big league, who would have thought? And what a goal he scored my God! Embolo: Schalke has started the league really bad and Embolo is still finding his feet to put it (very) nicely... Oberlin: Loan move to Altach has been an immediate success. 6 goals/2 assists in 8 games and can he continue like this he could be the next striker debutant in the NT. We're still talking about the Austrian bundesliga though and young Dimitri hasn't played for our U21s yet so don't go crazy. Michael Frey: Back in YB and has done good so far will be interesting to watch this season. Probably next in line for a debut. Remember he was called up already 2 years a go, just before his big injury but didn't get any minutes on the pitch. To sum it up from a NT selection point of view Seferovic, Embolo and Derdiyok have sure places in the squad. Tarashaj will get more chances if he gets some playing time in Frankfurt but Frey and Oberlin are on his heels (you guys have more ideas??) . If Drmic comes back from injury well he'll back in the squad within no time, fingers crossed.
2-3 for the Swiss!!! Rodriguez with a great 2nd goal. Finally Seferovic gets a goal and Stockler with the game winner. The standings are now as follows: Switzerland 6 pots +3 Faroe Islands 4 +2 Portugal 3 +4 Latvia 3 -1 Hungary -1 1 Andorra 0 -7 I would love to see the Faroe Islands get a point at least vs Portugal. That combined with a Swiss victory over Andorra would make the Swiss up 5 points after 3 matches. That would be a dream start.
Swiss win 1-2. Andorra with a 90' goal. They are ahead, but Portugal has scored a ton more goals then them.
I'm still here. Delighted with the progress so far. Surprised to note Stocker back in the mix. I'd forgotten about him. Can anything possibly go wrong from here? 'Rolls Eyes'
Embolo is out with a possible ankle break. Early reports state 4-6 months! Xhaka with a really stupid red card on his part over the weekend.
Match vs Faroe Islands on 13 November in Luzern Keepers: Roman Bürki (Borussia Dortmund), Marwin Hitz (Augsbourg) et Yann Sommer (Borussia Mönchengladbach). Defenders: Johan Djourou (SV Hamburg), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Léo Lacroix (Saint-Etienne), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), François Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg). Fabian Schär (Hoffenheim) et Silvan Widmer (Udinese). Midfielders and Forwards: Valon Behrami (Watford), Eeren Derdiyok (Galatasaray), Blerim Dzemaili (Bologna), Edimilson Fernandes (West Ham), Gelson Fernandes (Rennes), Admir Mehmedi (Bayer Leverkusen), Haris Seferovic (Eintracht Francfort), Renato Steffen (Basel), Valentin Stocker (Hertha Berlin), Shani Tarashaj (Eintracht Francfort), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) et Denis Zakaria (Young Boys)
A few changes, Roman Bürki and Shani Tarashaj are out. They are replaced by Yvon Mvogo and Remo Freuler
Another win, that is great. 2-0 with goals by Derdiyok and Lichtsteiner. Portugal won as well, so they are right behind the Swiss. I have come to the conclusion that this Swiss team is like the Germans of old, not really flashy, they will not destroy any team, but effective. 4 out of 4, not bad. That last match day in Portugal will be very interesting.
Agree! Great start by the Swiss: Switzerland 12 pts +6 Portugal 9 +13 Hungary 7 +5 Faroe Islands 4 -6 Latvia 3 -6 Andorra 0 -12 25 March matches: Switzerland - Latvia Portugal - Hungary Andorra - Faroe Islands