Oldies: Chapuisat vs Zagorakis

Less than 1 hour away from the Group 2 main fixture Greece-Switzerland there are several concerns surrounding the Swiss national team.

Like Saturday’s win against Latvia the game against Greece is a crucial fixture – a win would change the entire perspective, a draw would be an excellent result, a defeat would be a serious problem.
However, following Djourou’s injury, Hitzfeld might have to find an alternative to Tranquillo Barnetta who suffered a thigh contusion (a charley horse). Clearly a recovering Barnetta is not worth the risk (a reminder of his performance at Euro 2008). Thus it is quite probable that Gelson Fernandes will take the place of the Leverkusen player.

Hitzfeld knows that “The Greeks are favourites. They already have 5 points more than us and can count on experience deriving from their 2004 title. They can count on defensive solidity and a great coach, Otto Rehhagel.”

For our coach the win isn’t imperative, given that the campaign is a long one and Hitzfeld hopes to count on the return of several players in the near future. For Hitzfeld, this going to be a real test for the Swiss defence, since they’ll be under great pressure for the first time. The long-lasting injuries of Senderos and Muller, together with Djourou’s recent one means that Switzerland only has Grichting and Eggimann for tonight’s fixture.

Similarly, for Valon Behrami Greece-Switzerland appears as a decisive game. “We’ll find out which path we’re going to take (…) after two great disillusions: Euro 2008 and Luxembourg.” Valon thinks that Greeks will not struggle for the win, comfortable with their 9 points, while only a win will change the global picture for Switzerland.

Greece’s strength lies in a solid defence and three dangerous strikers: Charisteas, Gekas and Samaras. Switzerland is aware of the danger that can come from set-pieces (and that has punished them already in the last three games).

Possible starting-lineups:
Greece: Chalkias; Dellas, Papadopoulos, Kyrgiakos; Setaridis, Katsouranis, Basinas, Torosidis; Charisteas, Gekas, Samaras.
Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Eggimann, Grichting, Spycher; Behrami, Inler, Huggel, Fernandes; Frei, Nkufo.

Ten Reasons Why Switzerland Could Win:
1. History of the Greece-Switzerland games: 10 played, 5 wins for Switzerland, 3 draws, 2 wins for Greece.
2. History of the “duels” between Hitzfeld and Rehhagel: 9 wins for Hitzfeld, 6 for Rehhagel (Bundesliga games)
3. Swiss Strikers score more: N’Kufo has scored in all three previous games, Frei has scored against Latvia.
4. Swiss Determination – the win against Latvia might have given Switzerland new confidence.
5. Cheese fame – while Greece only has feta, Switzerland has Gruyère, Appenzeller, Emmentaler etc.
6. Swiss Drinks – Ovomaltine and Rivella are more renowned than Ouzo.
7. Swiss Mountains are Higher.
8. Sports Associations HQ are located in Switzerland – FIFA, UEFA, IOC.
9. The recent earthquake reached a magnitudo 5,1 Richter. Switzerland will try to do better in Piraeus.
10. Switzerland will win, because no other result is acceptable.

Source: http://www.20min.ch/sport/fussball/story/22801555

Other than the serious and funny reasons listed above I would mention:
1. The quality provided by Hakan Yakin in midfield.
2. Benaglio’s desire to prove his worth.
3. Eggimann’s chance to shine while Senderos, Muller and Djorou are out.
4. Hitzfeld wants to prove what he’s worth.
5. Behrami is coming back!

Game can be watched live here

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

It took me some time to finally settle in front of the screen and painstakingly type the words that come to my mind after yesterday’s nightmarish game.
Following the 2-2 draw to Israel, hopes were high to claim the three points – without any shade of arrogance, a result other than a victory never crossed my mind.
Now it’s quite painful to wake up and realize that it’s all true: Switzerland did lose to Luxembourg.

There is a sense of shock all over the country (at least concerning those who enjoy watching this wacky game called football) while we try to realize that we just lost to the 152nd team in the World Rankings. This is Luxembourg’s first win in a World Cup Qualifier – well I have nothing against them, but I would rather have them enjoy this exploit against another opponent.

Truth is that they did deserve the points – Switzerland was awful yesterday, the absence of Lichtsteiner didn’t give necessary input to the attacking game, Magnin had more downs and ups playing like a confused defender in search of bearings, Benaglio was nowhere near the two goals making a terrible positioning mistake on Luxembourg’s opening goal, Inler and Barnetta were nonexistent.
How can one justify such a tragic crash in such an important game? It is true, it’s early in the season and there’s a new coach but despite these ubiquitous factors (see France and Italy’s games for example) there was a huge quality difference between the two teams – I mean we should have taken all three points even playing awfully as we did yesterday.
Yet chances are that every once in a while luck doesn’t go your way, the opponents compensate for their lack of skills with great hearts and excellent tactical choices and you end up losing against a team that includes only two professional players.
Hence, a great day in Luxembourg’s football history, the darkest day in Switzerland’s.
Since a home defeat to Azerbaijan 10 years ago we had never conceded such humiliating defeats yet one can always expect it to be around the corner.
What the team lacked yesterday other than the reasons I provided above was patience and knowledge (with no arrogance) of technical superiority – the anxiety, especially among the young players, of playing on a 1-1 score with such opposition while the second half was slowly ending brought upon that dreadful defensive mistake that led to Luxembourg’s advantage.
A real shock – thousands of angry fans showing their disgust at such a miserable performance, some players on the turf looking around as if they had come from another planet: the general disbelief at what had happened while a little group of loud Letzenburgers were shouting like mad, failing to understand how such a result could have been possible.

This is a turning point in Switzerland’s football history – it might have a positive outcome. The anger, the fact that they owe something to the Swiss fans, the full return of Frei and Derdiyok and perhaps the awakening of some players who are unrecognizable at the moment (Barnetta, Benaglio, Magnin above all) might lead us to completely change the current situation and struggle for full points in the next two games: Latvia at home and Greece away.
Current standings see Greece on 6 points, Israel on 4, Latvia and Luxembourg on 3, Switzerland on 1, Moldova on 0.
I do not want to fall into optimism so I believe that the first place is pretty much gone but if we defeat Israel at home and win at least one of the two games against Greece I think that the quality of the Swiss players compared to that of the Israeli players doesn’t make a second place sound like a utopia. Unfortunately the playoffs will certainly reserve a nasty surprise but the team has to concentrate on this now: 3 points against Latvia, 3 points against Greece – if this is done, then we’re back in the game. If we make less than 4 points, we’re out of it, for sure. We can only hope that Luxembourg will repeat yesterday’s feat in other games so as to balance the situation.

Frei sees this as the “worst defeat in my international career”, Magnin admits “I was a nothing!” and Hitzfeld speaks of “an impossibility of finding cohesion in the team, a psychological problem”.
I must admit, like FC Zurich defender Alain Rochat stated on the french-speaking Swiss news, that I can’t understand how this happened. Of course, the game against Israel wasn’t memorable but we played a good first half creating opportunities – what happened yesterday night? Why did team suffer such a downfall? Hitzfeld states that he accept criticisms in his regards and I certainly criticize the fact that he kept Lichsteiner out of the game and then I did not understand the changes: Yakin out for Abdi? Frei out for Lustrinelli?
Hakan Yakin had provided N’Kufo with an excellent assist and seemed to be the only one who could build on Switzerland’s attacking game; Frei isn’t certainly at his best but against an amateur defence like Luxembourg he could have been very dangerous.
Perhaps Hitzfeld thought that the enthusiasm of the young ones, Abdi, Nef and Stocker would have brought some cohesion to the team and a new desire to go and grab the 3 points but what frightens us Swiss fans is that there was no spirit to yesterday’s team, no desire “to win it”.
A ghost-team struggling against a team who player with heart and deservedly got the three points.

Switzerland – Luxembourg 1-2 (1-1)
28′Strasser 0-1, 43′Nkufo 1-1, 86′A.Leweck 1-2.
Switzerland: Benaglio; Nef (73′Vonlanthen), Djourou, Grichting, Magnin; Barnetta, Inler, Yakin (65′Abdi), Stocker; Nkufo, Frei (65′Lustrinelli).
Luxembourg: Joubert; Mutsch, Hoffmann, Strasser, Kintziger; Lang (45′A.Leweck), Payal, Peters, Bettmer, Lombardelli (75′Gerson); Kitenge (66′Joachim).
Referee: Filipovic/SRB
Zurich: 20′500 spectators

It is evident, the opposition isn’t monstrously tenacious, yet the minnows in the football world are no longer amateur teams condemned to concede 10 goals. Cyprus-Italy, Macedonia-Scotland or even Liechtenstein-Portugal or Faer Oer – Italy from the European Championship qualifiers prove that these games can very well hide perverse tricks if one doesn’t tackle them well.

Yet Hitzfeld is no arrogant nor inexperienced coach, he is aware that the opposition has to be respected and that if this is not done, arrogance is paid for.

Hitzfeld will count on the return of Alexander Frei who will hope to repeat his feat when he scored 3 goals against the same team on his debut.
Following Greece’s 3-0 win away, Switzerland will have to score at least 3 goals and if possible, more.
What will matter in this game will be patience: the Luxembourg players will attempt to resist as long as possible and this can easily anger the opposition.

It is possible that we’ll see a 4-4-2 formation with a Vonlanthen-N’kufo attack, with Frei taking the place of one of the two in the second half. What really matters though is the defence, shaky against Israel, will Hitzfeld make some major changes?
This is a game that matters to test some aspects of the team before the games against Latvia and Greece, this last one will be THE game for Switzerland.

In the heat of Tel Aviv it seemed as if Switzerland had made the crucial (and rather unexpected) result when the game was in extra-time.
Yet someone in the back-line forgets that there are two Israeli players on the flank – the Israelis confusedly managed to set up a low pass that seems to say “Ben Sahar, put me in” and with much glee Ben Sahar does so.
With a 2-0 lead at the 70th minute you have to have the wisdom and ability to hold to that result rather than simply throw away a well-played game in order to regret it later.
Hitzfeld will really have to work on the lack of experience and the naivety of the Swiss team – as a Swiss fan, how can you possibly settle for such a result?
On paper and before the game, a draw was very much welcome. Israel is a tough opposition to crush at home (the battlefield is strewn with the bad memories of some “Big teams” that defied the Israeli home-might) and that little elf called Benayoun is more like a mosquito constantly seeking to puncture a team’s backline. 4 years ago it was Benayoun who scored the two goals of the 2-2 draw against the same opponents (that being, US!) – now he’s done it again, giving Israel 20 minutes to seek that equaliser: it took some time before the Israelis could reap what Benayoun had sown.
The game was far from being impressive, apparently both teams were counting on free kicks, headers and defensive blunders to threaten the two keepers.
The limits of the backline had been compensated by the excellent work in midfield by Yakin and Inler, resulting in two wonder freekicks – the first crashing against the inner crossbar of Aouate’s goal, the second fishing N’Kufo head for a great finish. 2-0 up and everyone seemed to be content, letting the tick-tock refrain lead the game to its ultimate conclusion.
The Swiss players started conceding too much, risking little in front – conceding most of the challenges to their opponents. And they were punished as a consequence.
Benayoun cut the advantage to half at the 76th minute and a late goal by Ben Sahar following a very long pass by keeper Ben Aouate fixed the score on a 2-2, like 4 years ago.
If one looks at how the game was taking shape there is much to regret, but if Switzerland defeats Luxemburg (and beware, just look at Macedonia and Cyprus’ performances, there are no easy teams!) 4 points from two games will be plenty before defying the main rival in their group, Hellas!

Stadium Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv – 31 236 spectators.
Referee: Hansson (Swe).
Goals: 45th Yakin 0-1. 56th Nkufo 0-2. 73rd Benayoun 1-2. 92nd Sahar 2-2.

Israel: Aouate; Kozokin, Ben Haim, Strul, Ziv; Kayal (62nd Ohayon), Cohen; Benayoun, Golan (59th Barda), Toama; Colautti (46th Sahar).

Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Djourou, Grichting, Magnin; Behrami (88th Spycher), Inler, Huggel, Barnetta (71st Vonlanthen); Yakin (74th Abdi); Nkufo.

Yellow Cards: 16th Golan. 24th Huggel. 64th Cohen.

The Hitzfeld era will officially be unveiled this evening as Switzerland defy Israel in Tel Aviv.
Not an easy start for the new coach against one of the two most dangerous teams in the group (the other being former European Champions Greece).

Israel at home is a tough opponent to break down. In 30 home games since 2000 Israel won 15 times, drew 12 times and only lost three games (the last one, to Croatia, was 2 years ago!). Notable scalps include Romania and Russia although it must be said that the most recent game, a friendly against Finland (lost 2-0) showed the weaknesses of Dror Kashtan’s men.

Most of Israel’s players are home-raised, yet the most dangerous ones are familiar faces in European football: Youssi Benayoun (Liverpool), Dudu Aouate (Deportivo la Coruna) and Omer Golan (Lokeren).

Switzerland and Israel have played against each other 7 times with Israel winning once, Switzerland winning three times and the other three ended in draws. Switzerland fans will certainly recall the terrible draw in 2004 when Omri Afek crushed Tranquillo Barnetta’s knee condemning the Swiss player to a 6-month stop and with Benayoun scoring his side’s two goals.

The big issues around Switzerland’s lineup concern the central defence – with Muller and Senderos unavailable, Hitzfeld might make use of Djourou and Grichting – a possibility that doesn’t seem encouraging since the players lack the charisma of the other two absentees and have never played together.
Furthermore, a late injury befell Derdiyok and Hitzfeld has decided to call Lustrinelli as an alternative to N’Kufo. Frei is slowly recovering from his Euro 2008 injury and has been playing games with Dortmund’s reserve game. Hitzfeld probably can’t count on him for a full game. Bellinzona’s Lustrinelli had not played since 2006 and will certainly want to prove that he can do as well for Switzerland as he does for Bellinzona (three goals this season).
On the other hand, Barnetta and Stocker’s formidable state will give Hitzfeld a real quality choice on the left wing.

During the interview the national coach has put the pressure on Israel saying they are favourites for this game: “Israel is a very strong team, solid, especially at home. With the encouragement of its own crowd, our opponents are capable of obtaining great results. It’s a team that defeated Russia and drew to England during the Euro 2008 qualifiers.”

Let’s hope luck will be on our side and keep in mind that every time Switzerland has won its opening game they have qualified – every time they have lost they have failed to do so.

On a final note, Ludovic Magnin will be captain for this evening’s game.

Below you will find Switzerland’s 21 players for tonight’s game:
Goalkeepers: BENAGLIO/Wolfsburg COLTORTI/Santander JAKUPOVIC/Grasshopper
Defence: DJOUROU/Arsenal GRICHTING/ Auxerre LICHTSTEINER/Lazio MAGNIN/ Stuttgart NEF/Udinese SPYCHER/Frankfurt VON BERGEN/Hertha Berlin
Midfield and Attack: ABDI/Zurich BARNETTA /Leverkusen BEHRAMI/West Ham Gelson/ Man.City FREI/Dortmund HUGGEL/Basel INLER/Udinese NKUFO/Twente STOCKER/Basel VONLANTHEN/Salzbourg YAKIN/Al Gharafa

Essential LiveBlog:

Lineups
Israel: Aouate – Strool, Kozokin, Ben-Haim – Toema, Kayal, Cohen, Benayoun – Ziv, Golan, Colautti.
Switzerland: Benaglio – Djorou, Grichting, Lichtsteiner, Magnin – Barnetta, Behrami, Huggel, Inler, Yakin – N’Kufo.
16th: Yellow Card for Golan (Isr)
25th: Yellow Card for Huggel (Swi)
45th: GOAL for Switzerland! Hakan Yakin on a freekick!
57th: GOAL for Switzerland! N’Kufo! Great pass by Yakin!
60th: Barda comes on for Golan.
60th: Ohayon on for Kayal.
71st: Vonlanthen on for Barnetta.
73rd: GOAL for Israel! Benayoun!
75th: Abdi on for Hakan Yakin.
88th: Spycher on for Behrami.
92nd: Bad news. GOAL for Israel. Ben Sahar.

The game is over. What a shame. It could have been a win. Report tomorrow.