Here is the schedule for the games this week. It will be a busy one: U-16:Ballymena international tournament in Northern Ireland this week. Thur 1 May 20.00 N. Ireland v Switzerland Fri 2 May 18.00 Scotland v Switzerland Sat 3 May 18.00 Switzerland v Finland The U-18 coach is coaching this tournament. U-18: Wednesday night in Bienne vs. Italy. U-20: Wednesday in Varese the U-20 team continues its play in an international friendly tournament with Germany and England. Switzerland is currently second behind Italy. U-21: Tuseday in Neuchatel vs. Italy.
The U-21 game: Switzerland 2, Italy 1 Goals to Patrick Baumann and Nicolas Marazzi. Baumann's goal came in the 3rd minute off a cross from Muff. Marazzi's goal came from a chip of the keeper in the 48th minute from half-field!
The U-20 team lost 8-0 today in Italy. According tothe report, The Swiss gave up two bad early goals.
U-18 in Bienne: 2-0 for the Swiss. There were more than 3125 spectators at the game in a rainstorm. Goals to Goran Antic (14th) and Tranquillo Barnetta (22th). The match was dominated by the Swiss. A good result. Swiss teams go 2-2. Against Italy.
Good result by the U-21 team. The 2nd goal was spectacular - the Italian keeper got beaten from 60m out... No comment about the U-20. That's just plain horrible. Good showing by the U-18's though.
I saw the goal that the Aarau keeper scored over the weekend, that was just fluky. It seems that Nicolas Marazzi's goal was one of pure magic.
JohnR You're kidding, right? If you're not, this is like stepping back in a time machine, and a grim indication that while we might buff up an elite team (U17s, full nationals) or two to be competitive, at the next level down we are sorely lacking in depth. Either that, or you're just messing with me and we really didn't play like Tonga.
JohnR welcome to the Swiss-Austrian board. I hope that you knew that the game was Swiss and not USA. The U-20 game was a complete wash. Two bad goals were given up early, the Swiss pushed players forward to socre, and the goals just kept coming. A bad night. The other three games against Italy were much more promising. The National team played a decent game against Italy, but as Hakin Yakin said "The only result that mattered tonight was the one in Tibilissi." refering to Georgia's defeat of Russia. The U-18 team is the former UEFA U-17 champions, and the U-21 team is good. The Swiss have loads of good young talent, and they are starting to flex their muscles. The U-20 loss to Italy was terrible, but the big picture in much better than that one game.
Swiss vs. U.S. Rob - Oops, thanks for the clarification. OK, I guess the Swiss are where the U.S. used to be -- some good teams, some weak teams. Not enough depth to be strong across the board. The perils of being a small country, I suppose. But then again, I've been to Switzerland, so I'm well aware of the benefits of being Swiss, too. A very pleasant place.
1st days results: Group B: Czech Republic 1 Republic of Ireland Mucha 57 Group B England 1 Israel 2 Weston 26; Ido 2, Hemed 23 Group A Finland 1 Scotland 2 Puustomen 73; Fletcher 18, Smith 31 Group A Northern Ireland 1 Switzerland 2 O'Connor 61; Schiendorfer 31, Halimi 68 http://www.ballymena-tournament.org/y2003/reports1.html Switzerland plays Scotland today.
Friday's game: Group A Finland 4 Northern Ireland 4 Jeremenku 8, Puustinen 12 and 53, Doherty o.g. 50; McCrink 6, 25, 65, Carville 79 Group A Scotland 3 Switzerland 2 Agnew 29, Smith 60, Donnet o.g. 70; Papastergios 2, Aiello 5 Saturday's Game: Group A Finland 2 Switzerland 1 Puustinen 63, 79; Papastergios 16
Larne Shield: Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Switzerland (Switzerland won 5 - 4 on penalties) The Irish and Swiss teams were very evenly matched in terms of possession in the first half of the Lorne Shield Final at Larne Tech OB. The Swiss passing was better and they carved out the better chances, bit it was the Irish who went ahead on 21 minutes with a penalty by Ian Morris. The Swiss scored their equaliser only a minute later, when Bekim Halimi scored with a strong cross-shot. Switzerland went ahead after 55 minutes, through Murat Ural, with a good header from a free-kick. Ireland equalised through Anthony Stokes on 65 minutes. The tie went to penalty kicks which Switzerland won 5 - 4 for the Larne Shield (5th place). Papastergios had three goals in the tournamentm and looked very dangerous from reports. Granted these guys are U-16, but good experience for them.