An extraordinary result that in many ways compensates for the disappointments Swiss football has had to experience these past two months: in the first leg of the playoffs for the Swedish 2009 Euro U-21 the young “Nati” came from behind to defeat a tough Spanish side 2-1 in Aarau.

Switzerland – Spain 2:1 (1:1)
Brügglifeld, Aarau. – 2500 Spectators. – Referee Gumienny (Bel).
Goals: 18. Busquets 0:1. 26. Vonlanthen 1:1. 51. Nikci 2:1.
Switzerland: Sommer; Thiesson, Barmettler, Ferati, Ziegler; Schwegler; Nikci (91. Frank Feltscher), Fabian Lustenberger (62. Stocker), Zambrella, Crettenand; Vonlanthen (89. Ural).
Spain: Asenjo; Torres, Javi Garcia, Piqué, Canella; Busquets (67. Suarez), Raul Garcia; Sisi, Jurado (72. Xisco), Mata; Bojan.

Following the impressive win over the holders, the Netherlands, in the group stage (which meant that Switzerland qualified for the playoffs in place of the Dutch) Switzerland U-21, despite the many injured and absent players, has triumphed once more.
The Spanish selection is among the most talented in the European competition: the likes of Bojan, Xisco, Piqué, Asenjo and Javi Garcia overshadow local stars Zambrella, Vonlanthen, Lustenberger and Ziegler.

Logically, then, it was the Spanish who took the early advantage on a corner through Busquets. Yet Switzerland kept on attacking, building pressure on the Spanish rearguard and drew level through Vonlanthen, with Zambrella’s assist. The first-half ended with a 1-1 score and the second half began with an embarrassing Swiss superiority that logically led to the winning goal scored by Nicki on a Crettenand free-kick. However, the Spaniards did not give up and tried to score the crucial second goal but FC Vaduz’s keeper Yann Sommer and the Swiss defence were up to the task. Now Switzerland will have to face a terrible second leg in Spain knowing that they have the means to qualify for the tournament and be a major surprise! Spain is the only team to have won every single game of their group stage and this is the first game where they’ll have to go home with no points at all!

A video of the game can be found here (in French)

On Tuesday the u-21 selection surprisingly kicked out the holders of the European competition, the Netherlands, in a game that was an in or out for Switzerland.

Right before the game, in a group where only the winners would qualify for the play-offs, Switzerland was trailing 3 points behind the Netherlands with one point more than Norway. With the away win earlier in the competition a win would have guaranteed Switzerland to pursue the dream.

Switzerland played well and had several chances, including a great shot by Dzemaili that was directed against the crossbar by keeper Vermeer and at the 78th minute Vermeer saved a penalty that had been taken by Fabrizio Zambrella. It looked as if it was going to be a meagre draw for Switzerland yet a wonder free-kick by Sampdoria’s Reto Ziegler at the 86th minute gave Switzerland a famous win.

The matchwinner claimed that his goal was a message to his Italian coach Mazzarri and Switzerland coach Hitzfeld; having been part of all Swiss national teams, he would look forward to being called for the main team.

Now the young Swiss team will play against Spain in October; unfortunately the game is going to be very hard for the youngsters if you think of the fact that Spain won all of its group games and stars someone by the name of Bojan Krkic.

The winner will join Sweden and 6 other teams for the finals in June 2009.

For a video of the game click here (in german)

Goalkeepers: BENAGLIO/Wolfsburg COLTORTI/Santander (The third keeper needs to be announced)

Defenders: DJOUROU/Arsenal EGGIMANN/Hannovre GRICHTING/Auxerre LICHTSTEINER/Lazio MAGNIN/Stuttgart NEF/Udinese SENDEROS/Arsenal SPYCHER/Frankfurt VON BERGEN/Hertha

Midfielders and Forwards: BARNETTA/Leverkusen BEHRAMI/West Ham GELSON/Man.City FREI/ Dortmund INLER/Udinese NKUFO/Twente VONLANTHEN/Salzbourg YAKIN/Al Gharafa

The games will take place on: 6th September (Israel), 10th September (Luxemburg).

Senderos at Milan
An interesting story is going on between Arsenal FC and AC Milan for Swiss International Philippe Senderos. The 1m90 Genevan giant is the priority for Milan’s shaky (and injured) defence. Berlusconi’s protégés are willing to offer 2 Million Euros for a loan with the possibility of buying the player for a further 8 Million Euros. Milan’s coach Ancelotti is not hiding his desire to secure this profitable transfer for a young player who’s got so much international experience. Following the offers of Newcastle and the mild interest by Juventus who knows what will happen with this gossipy tale, an alternative to the redundant Cristiano Ronaldo epic tale?

David Degen, twin brother of the Liverpool Degen, has joined Young Boys on a free transfer from Borussia Mönchengladbach. Last season he was on a loan spell for FC Basel and will thus return to Switzerland’s Top Championship.

According to the newspaper “Daily Telegraph”, Swiss International Djourou might be transferred to Ligue 1 side Rennes. The arrival of Silvestre at Arsenal means that the competition will be harder for the Swiss player who has already played at Birmingham on a loan spell.

Switzerland demolished the Mediterannean side with a 4-1 score, even though the emphatic score does not betray a total dominance of the home side. Other than a great win, it was also the triumph of Hitzfeld’s possibly controversial choices, among which the choice of calling 4 youngsters for their international debut: Stocker and Nef scored, Abdi provided a stunning assist for Vonlanthen’s closing goal.

I suppose you’d like to know who scored. Here you go!

Switzerland – Cyprus 4-1 (2-1)
Stade de Genéve. – 14′500 Spectators. – Referee: Ceferin (Slo)
8′Stocker 1-0, 27′Yakin 2-0, 35′Makridis 2-1, 73′Nef 3-1, 81′Vonlanthen 4-1.

Switzerland: Jakupovic; Nef, Djourou, Grichting, Magnin (36′Spycher); Behrami, Inler (62′Gelson), Huggel, Stocker (75′Vonlanthen); Yakin (62′Abdi); Nkufo (62′Derdiyok).

Cyprus: Georgallides (52′Morphis); Christou, Garpozis, Chrysis (52′Okkarides), Charalambous; Nikolaou, Makridis, Aloneftis (67′Pavlou), Charalampidis; Constantinou (51′Okkas), Christofi.

Abdi held the reins of the game with the same authority of a certain Hakan Yakin and the enthusiasm and quality provided by the other three allows us to imagine a promising future for Swiss football. The central duo, Djourou-Grichting, was shaky with Magnin allowing Cyprus to score their consolation goal and perhaps an Eggimann-Senderos would be a better solution for the qualifiers.
The game was also that of the redemption of N’Kufo – the forward provided two assists and seems to find his place in the team once more.

Hitzfeld could only say: “There is much to analyse and improve, we have to raise the bar before our first World Cup qualifier against Israel on 6 September to achieve a good result there. But I have a great team that will improve considerably once everyone has hit their best form.”

He certainly does not beg for compliments and does not waste words, our coach! Considering key players such as Frei and Senderos were out for this game, we can dream of a fourth consecutive qualifying, lads!

Vote for the best young debutant here!

Talking about that friendly, our Panzer-coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has unveiled the team that will defy Cyprus in 11 days:
Keepers: BENAGLIO/Wolfsburg JAKUPOVIC/Grasshoppers
Defence: EGGIMANN/Hannover GRICHTING/ Auxerre LICHTSTEINER/Lazio MAGNIN/ Stuttgart NEF/Udinese SENDEROS/Arsenal SPYCHER/Frankfurt VON BERGEN/Hertha
Midfield and Attack: ABDI/Zurich BARNETTA/Leverkusen BEHRAMI/West Ham BURKI/Aarau DERDIYOK/Basel GELSON/ Man.City HUGGEL/Basel INLER/Udinese NKUFO/Twente STOCKER/Basel VONLANTHEN/Salzburg YAKIN/Al Gharafa

Those of few who follow Swiss football as if it were their only passion in life will notice 4 new names: Alain Nef (Udinese), Almen Abdi (FC Zurich), Sandro Burki (FC Aarau) and Valentin Stocker (FC Basel).

The former is a present that Hitzfeld bestows upon me for I have longed to see him play for the Nati, his transfer from Serie B Piacenza to Serie A hopefuls Udinese Calcio (where he’ll play with Inler) is mere proof of the quality of this defender.

Here is what Ottmar said about these 4 players:
1. Nef: He has shown his athletic qualities in the past already. And a player who succeeds in such a tactical championship as the Italian one deserves a chance.
2. Abdi: He’s a young player with a great potential and who plays in an intelligent fashion. He can still improve froma physical point of view, but it’s quite normal at his age. Other than that, he’s already played some games with the Under-21.
3. Burki: I remember him when he played for the reserves of Bayern Munich. He has improved a lot and is playing well with continuity. With his current performance he deserves to play.
4. Stocker: He hasn’t played enough for Basel yet, but he has shown his class. Although he hasn’t played for the Under-21, I don’t see any problem. Other than this, I’m glad Christian Gross (Basel’s coach) makes the young ones play.

You will notice that there are some missing names: Zuberbuehler (retired), Frei, Degen and Margairaz (injured) and Djourou.
The Arsenal defender will play for the Under-21 who play crucial games to qualify for Euro 2009.
Other players are far from their best physical condition: Muller, Vogel, Cabanas, Coltorti and Gygax are some of the big names, “A player has to play and be in form,” he said. “Vogel was injured during pre-season but I will keep watching him – the door is always open. None of these players are written off. Everyone is an option if he performs.”

Despite some changes, some things will not change: Feusisberg will still be the training field of the national team, and Alexander Frei will still be our captain!

“It was no easy task selecting this squad,” the coach concluded. “I thought about the young age of certain players. I hope they can increase the pressure on the older lads.”

While I’m writing FC Sion is losing at home to Bellinzona (A Lustrinelli first-half goal) and leaders Aarau are defeating FC Luzern with the same score, 1-0.

Last but not least, congratulations to Fabian Cancellara for winning Switzerland’s first medal at the Olympic Games, a bronze medal in cycling!

Have a great Summer, and stay tuned!

“We have failed.” He can’t stand the fact that people are congratulating the “Nati” for what it did: “It was like a relapse.”
He believes that the Swiss players have been too naive. The team needed more experience to be successful at this tournament (an indirect criticism to Kuhn’s decision of making Benaglio first choice keeper?). The lack of communication and teamspirit is also a reason for this failure: “As first choice keeper and with my experience I could have helped the younger players. My role as a sub was miserable. It was very hard to accept. For a Zuberbuehler, it’s horrific!”

Johann Vogel, Cabanas and Huggel should have been first-choice players instead of staying at home or warming the bench: “In a tournament one needs experienced players, players who know how to interpret the game and players who know when one has to defend a draw rather than making silly mistakes.”

The goalkeeper didn’t agree with Kuhn’s choice of calling Muller: “Patrick didn’t struggle. He could have done a lot more had he been fit. How long had he been away from the pitch? 6 months!” and concerning the fact that Senderos needs Patrick to ensure stability in the back, Zubi says: “We have Djourou, Eggimann and Grichting.”

A new, belated criticism of Kuhn’s choices comes from one of those players who has had his ups and downs and who should know better. Why didn’t you coach the team my dear Zubi?

Alex, how do you feel following the operation?
A: I’m quite tired but I’m fine. I left the hospital on Saturday.

It is said that you’ll be back in 10 weeks time. It’s not much compared to your 6-month long recovery. Does this make you feel better?
A: It is true that this time the break is shorter, but the recovery is painful and it always lasts the same amount of time, it doesn’t matter what injury it is. It is exasperating.

Why was Switzerland knocked out so early?
A: The problem is that everyone says is that we were kicked out in a typical Swiss way. We can’t reply to that because we have no excuse. We have to learn to accept a draw.

Have you already met Ottmar Hitzfeld?
A: No, but he wished me good luck for the operation.

Are you watching the European Championship?
A: Of course.

With some regrets?
A: Of course I regret having for played for 43 minutes. But now I enjoy watching the games and seeing my forecast confirmed.

What were your forecasts then?
A: I said that Turkey and Germany were going to be in the semifinals and that the Netherlands would have had a hard time against a young Russian team that has an excellent coach.

The FIFA President believes that Switzerland lacked the class, “Frei’s injury changed everything, but there wasn’t a great idea behind some changes.”
Jolly old Sepp wonders why Kuhn didn’t insist with Streller (what? the man was injured?) and didn’t call Eggimann (Senderos and Muller did splendidly!): “Kuhn wanted to thank the ones who were with him from the start without considering those who play regularly in their club. Loyalty works with the junior players but not at this level.”
He also believes that the FIFA Standings explains why Switzerland only obtained 3 points and states that Kuhn shouldn’t have coached Switzerland at this tournament, according to him the Swiss Football Federation President couldn’t do much about it.

For the full interview click here (in french)

Perhaps it’s time to start thinking about the future and talk about what our new coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, will receive as an heirloom.

If we start from, potentially, the greatest player in our Nati, Gokhan Inler, we start with a confident smile. The Swiss-Turkish player has been consistent throughout the entire campaign and has confirmed why he’s considered one of the best foreign players of the Italian Serie A, where he plays with his club Udinese. The quality of his shot and the confidence in midfield may have brought him to be seen as the new Vogel.

Valon Behrami, who had been criticised in the past for his performances with the Swiss team, has been the other big surprise of the tournament. The (ex)Lazio player has become a certainty on the right win and combines good skills with strength (the fact that he managed to play to entire game after being brutally challenged by a portuguese defender says it all!).

Alexander Frei and Tranquillo Barnetta, despite not having impressed due to several reasons (we must not forget that Barnetta was still recovering from an injury), are two pillars upon which Hitzfeld will build his team.

Due to his enthusiasm and devotion to the team, despite having many ups and downs, Ludovic Magnin is an excellent vice-captain and has proven to be the spirit behind the team. If Hitzfeld can control his aggressiveness and build his poise, Magnin can be become an essential contribution to the team.

Diego Benaglio is Switzerland’s Number 1. I don’t think Hitzfeld thinks differently. He made one mistake against Turkey but the consistency of his game with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga are sufficient to safely give him the responsibility of defending Switzerland’s goal. Perhaps he has to work on his charisma.

Is Philippe Senderos the same without Patrick Muller next to him in the centre of the defence? Or would a Johan Djourou become a shaky one? What choice will Hitzfeld adopt? Djourou, in a recent interview, has stated that he wasn’t pleased with Kuhn for having not played one minute at the tournament: “Despite how much one could train, it was evident that Kuhn already knew with whom he wanted to play.” How long will Djourou want to be a stopgap for the Swiss defence?
This is perhaps the hardest trial for Hitzfeld.

Stephan Lichtsteiner played in a different role in Switzerland than he did with Lille and when it came to attacking he proved to be dangerous, although he was rather shaky in the back (especially in the Portuguese game). Perhaps, had he been as aggressive against the Czechs, Switzerland might have walked off with a win.

Like Djourou, Johan Vonlanthen had not played much this season with Red Bull Salzburg. This was clear when it came to playing an official Euro 2008 game, unlucky when he struck the crossbar against the Czechs, beautiful to watch but useless in the Turkey game he was unrecognizable in the Portugal game. Yet since Switzerland’s offensive movement is depleted, perhaps Hitzfeld will want to keep Johan and try to find an alternative and make him play with Barnetta.

Gelson Fernandes has great talent but is often very aggressive and makes needless challenges. The rashness of his young age is something that has to be controlled, the Inler-Fernandes duo can become a deadly one.

Marco Streller has changed his mind and has decided to call off his decision to quit the Nati. My question is, do we really need him? It is sufficient to look at the statistics: he hardly ever scores! He’s slow and doesn’t have a great charisma. How about Lustrinelli or Haeberli? Hitzfeld appears to want to keep the striker, following a private conversation the two had not much long after the end of the European campaign.

With Derdiyok becoming the national star and Frei being irremovable, I don’t really see many chances for the Basel striker.

Patrick Muller is admirable. If a 31-yr old player who has suffered a dreadful injury and only by sheer obstination has managed to gain a coach’s confidence is aligned at your country’s most important football event, then there is something that makes him superhuman! Despite the unfortunate deflection in the Turkey game, the presence of Muller have Senderos the confidence he needed and, thanks to his experience, might help the younger ones grow.

Another 31-yr old, Hakan Yakin hasn’t announced anything yet. He is waiting to speak to Hitzfeld and find out if he is really wanted. When you score 3 goals in 3 games against the likes of Turkey and Portugal, I think it goes without saying that you’ll be handed a Swiss shirt with a handshake. Yet Yakin could find a rival in Xavier Margairaz who was Switzerland’s big absentee at the competition.

Who will follow Pascal Zuberbuehler and announce the decision to leave the Nati?
Certainly Christoph Spycher and Benjamin Huggel (the latter, good riddance!) will not extend their stay. The losses might be compensated by the new talents …

The Young Ones who are going to rock the World Cup

Hitzfeld has many options to choose from, in fact we might actually end up with a younger team than Kuhn’s. Be careful though! Inexperience is a real setback, Switzerland knows something about it.
Here’s Jan carefully chosen list for you football experts:

1. Julian Esteban: September 16th 1986, Stade Rennais FC, Striker. Had a marvellous year in 2006-2007 and scored 14 goals in 17 games for Servette Geneva. Very talented player, has a tendency to get injured too often.

2. Valentin Stocker: April 12th 1989, FC Basel, Central Midfielder. A regular under-19 Swiss International, has impressed scoring 3 goals in 11 games. A great talent, he was the match-winner in the decisive Basel – Young Boys game.

3. Fabrizio Zambrella: 1st March 1986, Brescia Calcio, Attacking Midfielder. One of the names in the Italian Calciomercato right now. 2008 has been THE year for him, playing many man-of-the-match games and contributing to Brescia’s excellent championship.

4. Sebastian Kollar: 23rd February 1987, FC Wil, Defender. A very strong defender, he also scores from time to time. A regular player in the Switzerland U-21 team.

5. Blerim Dzemaili: 22nd April 1986, Bolton Wanderers, Midfielder. He scored 9 goals in 111 games for FC Zurich and proved to be one of the pillars of the team. Unfortunately, upon moving to Bolton Wanderers (with Allardyce being very glad about the transfer) he suffered an injury that ruled him out for the entire season and Euro 2008.

6. Pirmin Schwegler: 9th March 1987, Bayer Leverkusen, Midfielder. Fellow player of Barnetta at Leverkusen, he had over 32 caps for the U-16.

7. Reto Ziegler: 16th January 1986, Sampdoria, Left Midfielder. He has played for Switzerland’s U-16, U-19, U-21 and has been capped five times for the main team. Awarded Tottenham “Young Player of the Year” in 2005. He enjoyed loan spells in Germany and Italy.

8. Yann Sommer: 17th December 1988, FC Vaduz, Goalkeeper. The young FC Basel Goalkeeper is one of the players responsible for Vaduz’ excellent season and historical promotion to the Super League. He is the first choice of the U-21 team.

There are many more, but that will be for another time.

Name: Stéphane Grichting
Date of Birth: 30th March 1979
Place of Birth: Sierre, Switzerland (MY TOWN! sorry about that)
Height: 1m84
Position: Right-back
Current Club: Auxerre, Number 4
Club History: 1986-1993 Chalais, 1993-1996 FC Sion (youth clubs), 1996-2002 FC Sion (114 App, 6 Goals), 2002-onwards Auxerre (149 App, 1 Goal)
Switzerland Stats: 18 Appearances, Number 13. Debut game: Switzerland – Slovenia 2-1 28.04.2004

He was injured in the Istanbul brawl in 2005 by Alpay Özalan and required medical treatment at a local hospital.
Due to his physical condition he was preferred to Mario Eggimann for Euro 2008.