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Having lost 2 positions in the FIFA Ranking following a humiliating loss to Luxembourg, Hitzfeld’s men are already looking towards the upcoming and crucial home game against Latvia (SATURDAY 11th – 17.45). Logically if we lost to Luxembourg we must not underestimate Latvia who are currently 64th in the rankings.
The Latvians have defeated Moldova 2-1 in their opening game and lost their home game to Greece with a 2-0 score.
After their extraordinary and historical qualification for the final round of Euro 2004, the Latvians haven’t obtained any memorable results and even lost to Liechtenstein in a qualifier for Euro 2008.
Their most dangerous players are certainly Celta de Vigo’s Maris Verpakovskis, Vitalijs Astafjevs and Juris Laizans.
This is going to be a crucial game – a game that Switzerland is going to have to win, if they fail to win this they might as well give up any hopes they have to qualify for World Cup 2010.

(Someone’s having fun)

Hitzfeld had called upon two new players: Marco Woelfli (Goalkeeper, Young Boys) and Fabian Lustenberger (Midfielder, Hertha Berlin), the latter would have had to take the place of injured Abdi, but Hitzfeld has decided to give him the opportunity to help Switzerland’s U-21 in the game against Spain.
He has also called back Young Boys forward Alberto Regazzoni who had not played with the Swiss national team since March 2007 saying that he was impressed by the forward’s performance in Young Boys’ away win at Basel. Instead Dzemaili and Stocker haven’t been called so that they will be available for Switzerland’s U-21 qualifier against Spain.

(Bucolic scenes)

The recent injuries of Marco Streller and Steve von Bergen mean more woes and tough decisions for our coach who has decided to keep a small number of 3 central defenders (Grichting, Djourou and Eggimann) and call Derdiyok to strengthen the attack.
Furthermore, despite being partly responsible for the defeat to Luxembourg, keeper Diego Benaglio is still Ottmar’s first choice.
Diego has told the Swiss media: “I never felt my Number 1 place would be in danger. I’m very critical of the Luxembourg game. I should have saved that free-kick. (…) I look forward to my games with Switzerland as if I were playing a Bundesliga game (with Wolfsburg).

Another disappointing performance was that of Tranquillo Barnetta – the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, who has played very well in the latest matchdays of the Bundesliga, has been strangely absent from the two opening games of the qualifiers. His leadership in the team is endangered and he knows it: today is his opportunity to get his prestige back.

This will also be a crucial game for Hitzfeld’s prestige – hailed as a Messiah two months ago, he certainly hasn’t convinced the Swiss public. A win today and a good result in Greece on Wednesday would certainly change the overall picture.

Concerning the line-up it is clear now that Magnin and Yakin will be on the bench – the former has had some shaky performances recently and will have to give up his place to Spycher, the latter instead is seen as a forward by Hitzfeld and will not fit into the initial 4-4-2 where N’kufo and Frei are Hitzfeld’s preferences.

Columnist and former Swiss football player Brégy believes that the two can learn to play together upfront and create a very dangerous attacking parntership. As a consequence, the central midfield will be in the hands of Inler and Huggel.
Hitzfeld knows that it will be a physical battle and has asked his players to give everything and to be brave.

However, there was one very special fan in Freienbach the other day: Roger Federer. Roger spoke to the Swiss players and talked about his way of handling pressure after defeats. The players were excited at the prospect of meeting “the greatest Swiss athlete of all time” (Diego Benaglio) and we can only hope that this has had a positive psychological effect on the team ahead of a must-win game.

The game will be played in St. Gallen, the referee will be the Portuguese Cardoso and below you’ll find the possible starting line-ups:

Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Djourou, Grichting, Spycher; Behrami, Inler, Huggel, Barnetta; Frei, Nkufo.
Latvia: Vanins; Kazanov, Stepanovs, Gorks, Zirnis; Solonicins, Laizans, Astafjevs, Rubins; Karlsons, Verpakovskis.

HOPP SCHWIIZ

LIVEBLOG

The game is over. AC Milan defeat FC Zurich 3-1. Return game in a fortnight with that Djuric goal giving Zurich some hope. They’ll have to battle to qualify though. A disallowed goal and a post for Zurich to regret but Milan were clearly the better side. I wonder how different it would have been with Chikhaoui on the pitch for Zurich. Thanks for joining me!

47th: Free kick for Milan on the side. Borriello heads it but it goes wide.

45th: Incredible reflex save by Leoni to deny Seedorf!! He is keeping Zurich alive!

45th: 3 minutes of extra time.

42nd: Abdi out for Mehmedi. What a strange decision by Challandes. Is he already thinking of the next Super League game?

37th: What a chance for Abdi! It will be a miss though! Zurich are growing in confidence, will they grab another one?

35th: Free kick for Abdi. Straight at Dida.

34th: Yellow Card for Emerson.

33rd: GOAL FOR ZURICH! Small satisfaction for the Swiss side, they can only hope to add at least one more. Djuric with the goal. 3-1.

30th: Nicki on for Hassli.

28th: Ronaldinho on for Shevchenko.

28th: Game over for Zurich. 3-0 to Milan, Borriello with the goal. Oh mine, this game could have had a completely different result.

25th: Some frustration for Zurich. Djuric is booked for a sliding challenge on Kaka.

23rd: Emerson on for Ambrosini.

21st: Borriello comes on for Pato.

18th: Good action on the flanks. Antonini blocks Zurich who obtain a corner. Followed by a header over the bar by Tihinen.

14th: Great chance for Zurich but Dida comes out to collect.

This might very well dent Zurich’s morale.

12th: This game is becoming a matter of misfortune. Zurich have just hit the post and Milan find a second goal with Pato on a splendid free-kick. How unfortunate for Zurich, unbelievable.

10th: Further woe for Zurich! Alphonse hits the post with Dida helpless!

7th minute: Pato very dangerous. Zurich defenders are finding it hard to contain him now.

Heartbreak for Bellinzona! Galatasaray has scored in the added time, 3-4 and the game is over. Young Boys – Bruges 2-2. A pity for Young Boys. I don’t see Bellinzona qualifying, Young Boys might, but it will be hard.

Milan is playing with authority. Not many chances to attack for Zurich.

2nd: Great chance for Ambrosini! Mishits it though.

Second Half Underway!

And BELLINZONA have done it too!!! Incredible! With 1 man down from the 60th minute onwards Bellinzona have scored an equaliser at the death! La Rocca with the goal!
Bellinzona-Galatasaray 3-3

Young Boys have equalised at the very end. 2-2! Doumbia with the goal. At least one team might not lose tonight.

Baros with a second goal. Bellinzona-Galatasaray 2-3 what a dreadful scenario for Swiss teams tonight.

END OF THE FIRST HALF: What a shame for Zurich – watching the replay there was no offside at all. It should have been 1-0 to the Swiss side.

46th: Jankulovski scores. How unlucky can Zurich be? Leoni saves the shot from Shevchenko, it is collected by Jankulovski who sends it through the legs of Stahel and Leoni and miserably in the back of the net. How unfair for poor Zurich.

Very friendly chants by Milan fans in Zurich’s regards. I won’t translate the Italian refrain.

BAD NEWS from Bern. Bruges have scored. Young Boys – Bruges 1-2 with 15 minutes to go.

45th: 1 minute of extra-time.

42nd: Dangerous movement by Jankulovski on the wing. Zurich clears.

40th: Seedorf makes an attempt on goal. It doesn’t go out by much.

39th: UNBELIEVABLE! STAHEL SCORES BUT IT’S DISALLOWED FOR AN OFFSIDE, BUT HE WASN’T OFFSIDE!!! What a shame for Zurich!

37th: Great save by Leoni! Who touches Shevchenko’s shot just enough to make it hit the crossbar! Good keeping Leoni!

36th: An attempt to counterattack for Zurich not successful.

34th: Another free-kick for Milan. Seedorf to take it. Against the wall!

32nd: Free kick for Seedorf. The ball is intercepted. Jankulovski tries on the rebound. Out.

31st: Bad clash between Tihinen and Pato. No card given. Looks as if Pato got the worst of it (no wonder if you look at Tihinen’s physique)

29th: Kaka’s shot flies over the crossbar.

28th: Great opportunity for Milan! Sheva misses the header in front of Leoni.

Following Johann Vogel, he will be the second Swiss player to play for Berlusconi’s team who will compete in the UEFA Cup this year.
The transfer was a logical one for Milan given the fact that there are few good central backs on the market and Philippe will have to help the team while Kaladze and Nesta are injured and Maldini is on the way to retirement.

Playing with such experienced players will certainly do him good, he will have to accept warming the bench from time to time but Philippe probably made the best choice for himself.

Previously Arsenal had rejected a higher offer by Newcastle United and there were rumours of Juventus interested in signing the player whose promising beginning at Arsenal was overshadowed by an awful end of the season.

Grasshoppers – PFC Chernomorets Burgas 3:0 (2:0)
Letzigrund. – 1200 Spectators – Referee: Ledentu (Fr).
Goals: 21. Salatic 1:0. 41. Zarate 2:0. 79. Sabanovic 3:0.
Grasshoppers: Jakupovic; Voser, Vallori, Smiljanic, Mikari; Colina, Salatic; Touré (84. Zuber), Zarate (46. Rinaldo), Lulic; Bobadilla (63. Sabanovic).
PFC Chernomorets Burgas: Stoyanov; Diankov, Kovachev, Krastev; Traykov, Hyusein (52. Petrov), Karakanov (46. Tsonkov), Trajanov, Dos Santos (79. Lyubenov); Michel, Juvenal.

Basel defeats Young Boys in the opening game

A Summary of the Game (in German)

FC Basel defeated last season’s runners-up Young Boys in the opening game of the Swiss Season, yet Christian Gross’ men were far from being impressive.
The game was largely dominated by the Bernese side who struck the woodworks twice and got an early advantage with new player Eudis.

In the second half, Serbian Marko Perovic equalised with a wonder free-kick, quite against the run of play. And the coincidence is that both goals originate from fouls by Hochstrasser and Ghezal which led to set pieces where Basel’s luck and experience brought the victory home. 3 minutes from the end Huggel scored after goalkeeper Wolfli’s save had prevented the ball from going in.

As I said Basel was far from being impressive, especially new player Abraham who should fill in the empty spot left by Swedish giant Majstorovic. He was caught off his guard on Young Boys’ opening goal and was generally quite shaky in the back.
Midfielders Frei, Gjasula, Stocker and Gelabert couldn’t provide enough assists and interesting passes for Derdiyok, on the other hand wingers Varela and Raimondi were very dangerous and forwards Haeberli and Eudis troubled goalkeeper Costanzo several time.
But once again, the Champions’ Luck has been confirmed.

Young Boys – FC Basel 1-2 (1-0)
19th Eudis, 69th Perovic, 87th Huggel
23,250 spectators. Referee: Busacca
YB: Woelfli; C.Schwegler, Zayatte, Ghezal, Schneider; Yapi, Hochstrasser; Varela, Raimondi; Haeberli (82′Frimpong), Eudis (63′Doumbia).
Basel: Costanzo; Zanni, Abraham, Marque, Hodel; Gelabert (56′Huggel); Frei (56′Perovic), Ergic, Gjasula, Stocker; Derdiyok.

FC Sion loses to Aarau
In yesterday’s second game, ambitious FC Sion was humiliated by underdogs FC Aarau in a game that was all one-way.
Sion’s coach Stielike had admitted that the physical condition of the team wasn’t good enough yet and yesterday confirmed this.
Countless mistakes and the obvious difficulty in acceleration and sprints were sufficient to make the game very hard for Monterrubio’s new team. Sion’s new player only came on in the second half but couldn’t change the score.
At half time it was already 2-0 to Aarau through two goals by Romanian forward Ianu. At the 66th minute Rogerio added a third one and M’Futi managed to spare Sion’s blushes to add a late consolation goal.

Aarau – FC Sion 3-1 (2-0)
10th, 35th Ianu, 66th Rogerio, 91st M’Futi
Aarau: Benito; Menezes, Rapisarda, Page, Elmer; Mutsch (86′Schaub), Burki, Bastida, Nushi; Ianu (72′Tarone), Rogerio (78′Bengondo)
Sion: El-Hadary; Vanczak (45′Monterrubio), Kali, Buehler; Alioui (74′Brellier), Serey Die, Ahoueya; Dominguez (74′M’Futi), Reset, Crettenand; Saborio.

Bellinzona defeated the Armenian team Ararat Yerevan 1-0 away courtesy of a Mangiaratti goal at the 21st minute. This was Bellinzona’s first European game in their history and they qualified for the competition having been last year’s Swiss Cup Finalists (where they lost 4-1 to FC Basel).

FC Vaduz will have a hard return leg. The Liechtenstein side (who plays in the Swiss League) lost the home game to Bosnians HSK Zrinjski Mostar 1-2. Ziric opened the score for the visitors, Fischer drew at the 32nd minute but an unfortunate Iten own goal at the 90th minute condemned the home team. The return leg is going to be very tricky and Vaduz will hope to avoid an early exit.

Young Boys and FC Zurich will play in the second round (14th and 28th of August).

Lichtsteiner will play for Lazio!
Swiss International Stephan Lichtsteiner (who played all of Switzerland’s Euro 2008 games) was transferred from Ligue 1 side Lille to Serie A side S.S. Lazio for 1,8 million euros. He will take the place of fellow Swiss international Valon Behrami who has been linked with moves to Everton, Werder Bremen, West Ham and Wolfsburg.

Summer Friendlies
FC Luzern lost 2-1 to Liverpool in a pre-season friendly. Leiva and Voronin scored the two goals for the Reds while Mario Gavranovic (on a short trial from Lugano) scored for the home team.

Grasshopper Zurich defeated Partizan Belgrade 3-1 courtesy of Zarate, Touré and Vitor and coach Hanspeter Latour had the chance of trying some young players.

Young Boys won the OBI Cup defeating Wolfsburg in the final with a 3-2 score, scorers were Raimondi, Hochstrasser and Frimpong. In the 3rd/4th place game Botafogo defeated Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1.

Other transfers
Neuchatel Xamax bought two new players: Mickaël Niçoise from the Belgians of Mouscron and the Argentinian defender Ivan Alejandro Furios from Cordoba.

Bellinzona has a new player in Frenchman Vincent Bernadert from Gueugnon.

And get comfortable and ready! The Swiss Championship starts tomorrow with a big clash: Young Boys vs Basel at 20.15. Here’s the schedule:
Friday: Youngs Boys vs Basel
Saturday: Aarau vs Sion
Sunday: Luzern vs Vaduz & Neuchatel Xamax vs Zurich
Wednesday: Grasshoppers vs Bellinzona

Tonight Switzerland will plays its REAL final against Turkey.
The curtain would fall down on Switzerland’s ambitions if the result would be a defeat, Kuhn is evidently aware of this: “You never consider the possibility of a defeat, that is obvious, but we are clearly aware that a defeat would mean that our tournament would consist of just one more match against Portugal and nothing else. That’s why we want to win, This is a young team with a future, and that is obvious as well.”

Which certainly makes sense. No doubt about that. A draw would be a fancy way of not calling it a defeat because it would mean that Switzerland would not be able to defeat Portugal with such an attitude or lack of luck. In the same way a draw for Turkey would mean very little, their 2-0 defeat being an almost guarantee of going home if 6 points aren’t obtained.

Let’s look at the history of the Switzerland – Turkey rivalry:
8 games have been played with 4 Turkish victories, 2 draws and 2 Swiss wins
1973: 0:0, 0:2
1974/75: 1:2, 1:1
1994/95: 2:1, 1:2 Switzerland qualified for the 1996 European Championship
2005: 2:0, 2:4 Switzerland qualified for the 2006 World Cup