When Lazio fans found out that Lichtsteiner was going to play for their team, they expected him to be a back-up for young prodigy De Silvestri: the 1.8 Million Euro Transfer fee was seen as evidence that the Swiss player wasn’t worth too much, together with the general prejudice in Italy that Swiss players are not sufficiently good for the local Championship (there have many disappointments: Vogel, Pascolo, Keller, Vonlanthen, Vega etc.). However, Lazio’s coach Delio Rossi has made the Swiss defender play 7 official games out of 8 and Stephan’s popularity is rising every matchday. His solid performances in defense (especially, a remarkable last-gap save on Cassano in the first minutes of Lazio-Sampdoria) which remind Lazio fans of Oddo and Nesta and his tireless runs on the wings, providing assists (such as that for Zarate’s wonder goal in Lazio-Sampdoria) and putting pressure on the other teams are making of him one of the best transfers in the Italian Serie A. He has relegated De Silvestri to the bench already and many Lazio fans congratulate the often criticized team management for such an excellent discovery.
Playing regularly for a team that is now in the top-4 in one of the world’s most competitive championships is certainly wonderful news for Ottmar Hitzfeld who can now count upon a player who is becoming more and more mature. Lazio fans admire Lichtsteiner’s commitment and seriousness and some even confess that they’re looking forward to buying their team shirt with Licht’s name on the back!
Furthermore, his transfer value has gone up by 177% according to La Gazzetta dello Sport: he’s now worth 5 Million Euros.
Keep up the great work Stephan! It looks as if Lazio fans are already forgetting Behrami!

Nothing extraordinary considering the well-known big mouth of José! What is actually hilarious is that he called Berretta, Barnetta!

“Barnetta (sic) spoke to me at the stadium and didn’t say anything. I may have an irritating face, but not one of a person who is mean or violent,” (…)

With much sarcasm and savoir-faire the Lecce coach, in an interview following his side’s win over Cagliari today, said that he was pleased to be called Barnetta, because the latter is a Swiss International and only 23 years old!

José, José, José – I’ll mail the Swiss Football Association and ask them to send you a “Swiss Football for Dummies”, special edition just for you!

Good thing is, is that perhaps this wonderful statement will put our wonder boy Tranquillo at the centre of the attention!

Mourinho being chased by Tranquillo Barnetta, Berretta, Ranieri, most of Bayer Leverkusen, half of the Swiss National Team, Barnetta’s girlfriend and all people named Barnetta

It might appear irrelevant to speak about Beach Soccer in a football blog but it is quite impressive that Swiss beach soccer players, like Swiss beach volley up until two years ago, are potentially among the best in Europe!

Following the impressive 2005 win, Switzerland ended 2nd overall at the 2008 Euro Beach Soccer Cup held in Azerbaijan this year. The Swiss were defeated in the final by the ubiquitous Spaniards with a 2-0 score. Previous to this game, Switzerland had defeated England with an 8-3 score and Azerbaijan with a 5-0 score. MVP was striker Dejan Stankovic who was also elected Best Forward in the entire competition with his 8 goals in 3 games.

A very impressive result for a country that can only count on lake-beaches!
The 2009 Beach Soccer World Cup will take place in Dubai with the hope that the Swiss team will shine once more!

Enjoy these highlights from the Cup!

Swiss International Johan Djourou has extended his contract with Arsenal although the length of it is unknown.
Djourou joined Arsenal in 2003 and has played 53 times for the London side (plus an extra 13 when he was loaned to Birmingham in 2007).
Wenger seems to have confidence in the young Swiss defender following the departure of Philippe Senderos to AC Milan.

A shocking piece of news is revealed by Italian News: AC Milan are considering a player swap with Udinese: Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inler for Brazilian starlet Pato. The recent injury to Andrea Pirlo has led Milan to seek for an alternative in midfield. Inler’s agent, Dino Lamberti, has stated that a loan exchange between Milan and Udinese might take place.
It is no big surprise that Inler receives such attention for Udinese already had to fight the interest of teams such as Arsenal and Newcastle last summer.

In other news Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray Istanbul are keen on signing Switzerland and FC Basel striker Eren Derdiyok, certainly one of the most talented young strikers in Europe. Palermo and Udinese instead were fairly impressed by the performance of Zurich’s Almen Abdi in the UEFA CUP tie against Milan.

Philippe Senderos official debut with AC Milan has to be postponed further: in no less than 10 days the Swiss defender will have a chance of shining with the Rossoneri. An injury to his left foot is the reason for this delay which is a misfortune for Switzerland; i.e. it means that he will be only available one week before Switzerland’s crucial qualifier against Latvia at home.

Last but not least, Hitzfeld’s Switzerland will play against Finland in a friendly game on the 19th of November at St. Gallen. Finland is currently 42nd in the FIFA standings and their most recent result is a spectacular 3-3 draw to Germany at home. Switzerland and Finland have played 4 times already with two wins each.

Player Profiles
Keepers
1 Diego Benaglio
18 Pascal Zuberbühler
21 Eldin Jakupovic

Defenders
2 Johan Djourou
3 Ludovic Magnin
4 Philippe Senderos
5 Stephan Lichtsteiner
13 Stéphane Grichting
17 Christoph Spycher
20 Patrick Müller
23 Philipp Degen

Midfielders
6 Benjamin Huggel
7 Ricardo Cabanas
8 Gökhan Inler
10 Hakan Yakin
14 Daniel Gygax
15 Gelson Fernandes
16 Tranquillo Barnetta
19 Valon Behrami
22 Johan Vonlanthen

Forwards
9 Alexander Frei
11 Marco Streller
12 Eren Derdiyok

(Will be updated with the other articles)

Congratulations to BMW-Sauber, the German-Swiss Formula 1 Team, who has conquered its first win with Robert Kubica in first place and Nick Heidfeld in second place at the Canadian Grand Prix. Kubica is also the current leader of the World Cup standings. It was great to see the Swiss Flag!

Lyrics:
German

Trittst im Morgenrot daher,
Seh’ ich dich im Strahlenmeer,
Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher!
Wenn der Alpenfirn sich rötet,
Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.

French:

Sur nos monts, quand le soleil
Annonce un brillant réveil,
Et prédit d’un plus beau jour le retour,
Les beautés de la patrie
Parlent à l’âme attendrie;
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d’un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d’un cœur pieux.

Italian:

Quando bionda aurora il mattin c’indora
l’alma mia t’adora re del ciel!
Quando l’alpe già rosseggia
a pregare allor t’atteggia;
in favor del patrio suol,
cittadino Dio lo vuol.

Romansch

En l’aurora la damaun ta salida il carstgaun,
spiert etern dominatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch’ils munts straglischan sura,
ura liber Svizzer, ura.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.