Switzerland's Road to South Africa 2010 - [R]

today, the squad for South Africa is announced
-the keepers are clear as Hitzfeld announced not to take Coltorti. Tough, Sommer has been strong lately and rather might have earned a call then Leoni as nr.3.
-in defense, Hitzfeld is only choosing 7 players. This means, there is only one right defender with Lichsteiner, but with Behrami there is a backup in right midfield anyway. On the left side, Spycher and Ziegler will play. The center is more open. Grichting is safe. But then? Hope one of the young guns like Affolter or Rossini gets a call. Djourou is lacking match practice. Senderos as well, but at least Senderos could be decisive in a match. Eggimann and Von Bergen have never really convinced, Eggimann is better in the air and Von Bergen maybe on the ground. So, as we playing three latin teams, the second might be rather an option. But prefer really to see Affolter than two of Djourou, Von Bergen or Eggimann
-in attack, Hitzfeld announce to pick 5 strikers. Frei is the captain and needed at present more than ever and the most influent player. Either you build the team around him or it might be better leaving him out completely. But at present he is very much needed. As Hitzfeld builds the team around him, Streller has very good chances to be in the squad. Then, Derdyiok played a very convincing season. For number 4 and 5, I'm less sure if he will call up NKufo and Bunjaku. If Yakin counts as attacker, number 5 is Yakin. But I would like to see Bunjaku or Nkufo as nr. 4 and Nassim Ben Khalifa as nr. 5.
-so 7 places left in midfield, Shaqiri, Gelson, Barnetta, Inler, Yakin, Huggel, Padalino? Maybe, Stocker or Chiumiento instead of Padalino and Pirmin Schwegler instead of Huggel. If Yakin counts as striker, then there is place for Padalino and Stocker. How is Dzemaili?

Magnin, Djourou, Vonlanthen, Bunjaku probably have to stay home

and from my personal view I hope to see Affolter or Rossini and Ben Khalifa.
And it's such a pity Esteban is always injured. In the few minutes he played with Servette he showed that he is a class better than the rest of the team and Servette has been the strongest team in CL in the last 12 matches.

 

Le Matin forgot Hitzfeld mentionned that Yakin will be part of the squad...
The list from Blick.ch looks similar. They do not have BenKhalifa (but Yakin) and not Hochstrasser (but Stocker)

Hochstrasser really would be very interesting as well... But I guess this time Hitzfeld might pick the Basel block, yet. However, Hitzfeld also mentionned there will be one surprise. I wonder who that will be? Ben Khalifa, Affolter, Hochstrasser, Sommer ?? Stocker would not be a surprise, Pirmin Schwegler not really, I don't think Abdi or Dzemaili has a chance as they have not made many matches this season.

The good thing is that compared to the WC 1994 for example where Switzerland only had 10 players with a good international level, we now have about 40. So, there are choices. Hitzfeld should take advantage of the bigger choice and pick players who are fit and in very good shape. So, yes Ben Khalifa could be a good choice.

 

-for baz.ch only the 23rd spot is open between Stocker, Padalino and Margairaz
for the tagesanzeiger it's also the 23rd spot which is open between Stocker, -Padalino, Chiumiento and Mister X
-same for 20min La liste probable des vingt-trois sélectionnés devrait s'articuler ainsi:

Gardiens (3): Benaglio, Wölfli et Leoni.

Défenseurs (7): Lichtsteiner, Senderos, Grichting, Von Bergen, Eggimann, Ziegler et Spycher.

Demis (8): Behrami, Inler, Huggel, Schwegler, Fernandes, Barnetta, Shaqiri, Padalino ou «X».

Attaquants (5): Frei, Nkufo, Streller, Derdiyok et Yakin.

 

the probable ones:
Benaglio, Wölfil, Leoni
Lichsteiner, Grichting, von Bergen, Eggimann, Senderos, Spycher, Ziegler
Behrami, Huggel, Inler, Gelson, Barnetta, Padalino, Shaqiri
Frei, Streller, Derdyiok, Yakin, Nkufo

others mentionned:
(Sommer, Coltorti)
(Djourou, Barmettler, Rossini, Smiljanic, Affolter, Degen, Magnin, Nef)
(Dzemaili, Margairaz, Abdi, Chiumiento, Lustenberger, P.Schwegler, Hochstrasser, Cabanas, Degen, Regazzoni, Stocker, Vonlanthen, Burki, Zambrella)
(Ben Khalifa, Bunjaku, Costanzo, Gavranovic, Seferovic, Esteban)

Padalino and Eggimann seem to be the unsafe ones

 

media conference is on now

 

he says he opts for experienced players and players who helped in the qualification

 

goalkeepers: Benaglio, Wölfli, Leoni

 

defenders: Eggimann, Grichting, Lichtsteiner, Senderos, Spycher (Magnin would replace him if injury doesn't get better), Von Bergen, Ziegler

 

now it's getting interesting, midfielders and strikers in alphabetical order:

Barnetta, Behrami, Derdyiok, Gelson Fernandes, Frei, Huggel, Inler, Padalino, Nkufo, Schwegler, Shaqiri, Streller, Yakin

reserves:
Fabio Coltorti
François Affolter
Albert Bunjaku
Fabian Lustenberger
Ludovic Magnin
Nassim Ben Khalifa
Valentin Stocker

Ph. Degen, D.Degen, Sommer, Djourou, Margairaz also have to be ready

Hochstrasser and Chiumiento not even among the reserves

 

well, of course, Hitzfeld is correct with the reason he gave for his selection. He played it safe in the sense he wants a team which fits together, which has played most of the qualifiers and which also has some experience. A lot of teams who are winning the big competitions have an average age of 28-30. In general it's a very realistic selection.

but all the players mentionned above and several others are candidates for the Euro 2012 and I really hope the cards are going to be mixed freshly after the World Cup, but I'm not worried.

With the 40+ players mentionned above and a few others (young) candidates, he will be able to chose among about 60 players for the Euro campaign.

Against Spain, Huggel, Nkufo, Eggimann would have quite a few problems, but we have to beat them with our own weapons anyway ;-)

 

btw, Scott Sutter gave his comeback today. Had he definitely decided to play for England? What about the situation with José Gonçalves, Sahin and Kovacevic? If think, Gonçalves and Kovacevic might be eligible yet

for the European Championship there will be about 60 players who could make it... Here is a list of 100 who might be thinkable although for a few of them it's too early and 2 or 3 will retire. Any others?

Benaglio, Wölfil, Leoni, Sommer, Coltorti, Siegrist, Zibung, Vailati, Gonzalez, Fickentscher, Herzog

Lichsteiner, Grichting, von Bergen, Eggimann, Senderos, Spycher, Ziegler,
Djourou, Barmettler, Rossini, Smiljanic, Affolter, Degen, Magnin, Nef, Ferati, Djuric, R.Feltscher, Gonçalves (?), Liechti, Stahel, A.Rochat, Barmettler, Koch, Kusunga, Berardi, Elmer, B.Rochat, Daprela, Pavlovic, Morganella, Grippo

Behrami, Huggel, Inler, Gelson, Barnetta, Padalino, Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Margairaz, Abdi, Chiumiento, Lustenberger, P.Schwegler, Hochstrasser, Cabanas, Degen, Regazzoni, Stocker, Vonlanthen, Burki, Zambrella, Costanzo, Kasami, Unal, Mehmeti, F.Feltscher, Calla, Salatic, Gashi, Pasche, Regazzoni, Nikci, Buff, F.Frei, Ukoh, Abrashi, Gygax

Frei, Streller, Derdyiok, Yakin, Nkufo, Ben Khalifa, Bunjaku, Costanzo, Gavranovic, Seferovic, Esteban, Mustafi, Prijovic, Abeggeln, Schneuwly, Schönbächler, Roux, Blumer, Ciarocchi, Schürpf, Kovacevic (?), Subotic, Malenovic

 

Tréand is French (from Annemasse). I don't think he has the swiss nationality as well

 

Streller and Huggel have the Basel bonus and have been in quite good shape lately, especially Huggel has played his best half season. They both have not been strong enough when they went abroad and took some time to get back to old shape in superleague. Seen Yakin's example, it's not an absolute must having made their way abroad. With the current shape they can bring something. Streller just should not take another penalty...but as he is playing well together with Frei and Yakin Hitzfeld can give it a try

Nkufo hasn't played the very best season in the league, but as you say maybe he is performing well in his home continent. As we're playing three latin teams we have to beat them with our weapons not theirs... We need a perfect organization and perfect standards and the header qualities of Derdiyok, Nkufo or Streller might make the difference in a match. Nkufo probably won't play in the national team any more after the world cup.

Glad we finally have more than 20 valuable players and it should be getting better in the next few years Maybe, we can improve like our hockey team on the A level as well ;-)

 

Stocker is out 3 weeks being injured on both feet. So, he can be eliminated from the reserves list