And yet another draw.

May 31st, 2006 | By: Adrian Wagner | 2 Comments »

So, we held the Italians to a 1-1 draw in Geneva. What does this tell us about our national squad?

After two draws against fellow World Cup teams (Ivory Coast and Italy) – and not having lost in the WC qualification up to the game in Turkey – it can be said that we have a SOLID team. We don’t receive too many goals and often manage to squeeze one in, no matter against whom we’re playing. Sounds all great, doesn’t it? Yeah, but then, in my opinion, the Swiss team is also lacking something: a certain element of class and surprise. Yes, we’re solid. But we’re not great. We hold, but do not beat our opponents. One can argue that this is due to a lack of talent int he team and that this is as good as it gets for the Swiss. Is that so? Can a team that won the U-17 European Championship in 2002 have a lack of talent (from that EC team the following are in the squad: Tranquillo Barnetta, Blerim Džemaili, Johann Djourou, Philippe Senderos and Johan Vonlanthen)? I doubt it. I still believe, that our team could be more – if it had a less conservative coach. Don’t get me wrong, Kobi Kuhn did an excellent job in calming down and uniting the team after the jorge-fringer-and-what’s-his-name era after Roy Hodgson. The team was in turmoil and didn’t perform at all. He got them back to be a team again. And he also rejuvenated the team But can he also make the team take another step forward: from stabil to good? So far, I haven’t seen the proof for this and personally, I would have waited with giving Kuhn a contract untill 2008.

But then, maybe Kobi DOES have a grand masterplan, that I simply fail to see and understand. Let us hope so. Because with 3 draws, we’re not going to progress far!

But now let’s look forward to the game against China, where the forwards will hopefully have some fun!

$The Swiss players celebrate Daniel Gygax\' equalizer against Italy.$

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Comments

By laoke | May 31st, 2006 at 9:34 pm

It seem’s sombody got tired of draw games! As you said in your report we were U-17 European Champion in 2002, that’s now 4 years ago. You might know as well that Switzerland have one of the youngest team in the Worldcup. Could it be that Switzerland has a lack of experience? Of course you cannot expect from a young player to be hardnosed in dramatical situations. What Koebi always try to tell unpatient fans – be patient !this team has a great future and beleive me we will be even better in 2008. I know it’s hard to draw all the time. This way you cannot become World-Champion. But it is very good for your self-confidence to know you even could beat a great team like Italy.
My advise for elAdi: 3 draws in
the group games might be enough to go a step further into the 1/8 final. And don’t forget they have to play for our martyr Huggel that he can play again for Switzerland. That means we have to reach at least the semi-final.
Look how Greece became European Champion, look how Germany went into the final 4 years ago. It doesn’t need worldclass players it needs a coach who knows the strenghs of the players. Koebi know’s it better than anybody else, that’s why he and his team will be successful in Germany. Mark my words!
Laoke

Posted from Switzerland

By elAdi | May 31st, 2006 at 11:28 pm

Hei laoke,

Hehe. I know, I know – I’m expecting a lot from our team. And yes, I agree, it’s a fairly young team. But are they inexperienced? I don’t know. We have enough experienced players:

Pascal Zuberbuhler 35
Ludovic Magnin 27
Johann Vogel 29
Ricardo Cabanas 27
Raphael Wicky 29
Alexander Frei 26
Christoph Spycher 28
Mauro Lustrinelli 30
Patrick Muller 29

And if you look at the young ones, some of them play at top clubs in top leagues – and even made it to the CL final. So, are we inexperienced? Or are we just playing to scared? That’s the question. We will see soon. I obviously want them to do well, whether I’m a Kuhn-critic or not. If he proves me wrong – good on him!

Three points – not sure if that’s gonna be enough in our group.

Posted from Australia