the first qualification matches: 06.09.2008 Israel - Switzerland 10.09.2008 Switzerland - Luxemburg 11.10.2008 Switzerland - Latvia 15.10.2008 Greece - Switzerland won't be there any more: Kuhn, Zubi, Grichting, Streller possible replacements: Hitzfeld, Zibung or Jakupovic, Eggimann or von Bergen, Esteban not needed any more: Huggel, Cabanas, ... could be called up instead: Dzemaili, Margairaz, Schwegler, Stocker, Chiumiento, ... possible comebacks: Vogel, Nkufo, ... possible starting XI: Derdyiok or Esteban instead of Streller
Re: Switzerland WC Qualification I think Grichting can still be useful and Streller we will see as we don't have many other forwards... all the replacement names are ok, as possible replacement for the goalie perhaps Leoni? Not needed: agreed with Huggel, still think Cabanas could be useful. Then I have a bad feeling for Gygax and Yakin... let's see to your list of possible alternatives, I hope to see Abdi and Ziegler. Let's see the development of Lustenberger in Germany and i thought perhaps Callà could be a new name, should he succeed at GC. I would not also forget David Degen, he could bring some vivacity. Vogel is a name to reconsider, if he manages to succeed in Blackburn because we lack experience in our midfield (too many babies...). Nkufo could get a chance, unless Hitzfeld tries new forwards but who? What about a return of Wicky? Less realistic but he could also add some experience too. Derdiyok yes, but Esteban is becoming a mirage... Perhaps Dzemaili in for Gelson?
Re: Switzerland WC Qualification Grichting is retiring from the NT on the other hand, Hitzfeld has convinced Streller to stay there are a lot of young players pushing in the first team, but who should they replace? The current squad is quite young already. I guess there won't be too many changes in the selection in the first few matches expect the obvious ones (Zubi, Grichting) and the ones coming back from injury (Margairaz, Dzemaili)
Re: Switzerland WC Qualification to edit my quote: I'm happy we have a coach who talks to the players right away and officially he only starts on July 1 with Köbi, Blick had to chase him for years before he talked to Nkufo etc...
Re: Switzerland WC Qualification Frei and Streller will miss the Cyprus friendly. Let's see if they're fit in time for the first two qualifiers guess, Eggimann or Von Bergen will come in the squad for Grichting then, for the Cyprus match we only have Derdiyok who is sure in attack. Then maybe, Yakin or Vonlanthen or Gygax will have to move forward. Or else he could call up Chiumiento. Or what about Subotic, Schönbächler, Stocker or any other younger player ??
Re: Switzerland's Road to South Africa 2010 Our home matches for this year are set in WCQ: 10.09.2008 Switzerland - Luxemburg (Zurich, Letzigrund) 11.10.2008 Switzerland - Latvia (St. Gallen, AFG Arena) I probably would have switched the venues. Latvia is the bigger opponent...
Re: Switzerland's Road to South Africa 2010 The AFG Arena is a much better football venue, nevermind a few thousand less in capacity, I think it's a good choice.
Re: Switzerland's Road to South Africa 2010 ok Zubi and Grichting won't be there any more and I don't think Hitzfeld will call up Yakin then with Frei and Streller injured for the Cyprus match as well as the long term absentees Margairaz, Esteban and co it will be interested to see who is called up up front
Re: Switzerland's Road to South Africa 2010 Hitzfeld was in the stands for Xamax-FCZ. Can't think of anybody else but Abdi being the center of his attention. Maybe he had a peek at Leoni also. Encouraging for us pro-Abdis, he had a good game and scored the winner for Zürich
Re: Switzerland's Road to South Africa 2010 Hitzfeld announced he is going to call up a few new players and made a remark that sometimes after several years a coach (Kuhn?) is too faithful to his players (Cabanas? Huggel? etc...). let me guess who he is calling up? Zibung? (for Zubi) Abdi? (for Cabanas) Chiumiento? (for Yakin) Lustenberger? or Celestini? (for Huggel) Eggimann and Von Bergen back in for Müller (without a club) and Grichting (who retires from the NT) the attack is a question mark with Streller, Frei and Esteban on the way back from injury
Re: Switzerland's Road to South Africa 2010 Elmer out until winter. Too bad, I think Hitzi might have called him up..Well well, let's hope he gets back to form
Re: Switzerland's Road to South Africa 2010 Eggimann left out of the squad against Cyprus by Hitzfeld as he only was a sub in the pre season matches with Hannover very clear sign by Hitzfeld who didn't call up players who don't play like Müller and Djourou for example. Köbi also recognized he cannot play with too many players with lacking match practice. Nevertheless, he had too many of them on the pitch in the average and at times more than half of the squad
From fifa.com: Sahar seals Israeli comeback An injury-time goal from Ben Sahar earned Israel a 2-2 comeback draw with Switzerland in their opening FIFA World Cup™ Group Two qualifier. Greece and Latvia take the early Group 2 lead: Tiraspol, Moldova Moldova 1:2 (0:2) Latvia Luxembourg Luxembourg 0:3 (0:2) Greece Wednesday's Games: 10/09/08 13:30 Zürich,Switzerland Switzerland Luxembourg 10/09/08 12:30 Chisinau,Moldova Moldova Israel 10/09/08 13:15 Riga,Latvia Latvia Greece
Complete disaster. I'm speechless. Makes losing to Azerbaijan look good. 2-1 at home to Luxembourg. 5 points thrown away in the past week. I'm almost inclined to say this is it for qualifying. ********ing embarassing. We're back to the old days.
WTF happened to you, guys???/ PLZ tell me switzerland played with a C team!!!..... UNBELIVIABLE that freaking luxembourg beat you....
Wow! Shocking result. Will go down with Austria's defeat to Faroe Islands in 91.. especially at home. Very disapointing, especially after the encouraging point taken in Israel.
With 2 great goals. Pure and simple... What a disgrace for you and what a terrible home debut for Ottmar Hitzfeld.
I am from Costa Rica, not Switzerland. But I had to ask. This is the sort of result which I would probably see once in a lifetime....
I posted it elsewhere here but I'll post it again... an uncanny resemblance... Luxembourg v Switzerland 2008 David v Goliath 1000 BC