Switzerland defeats Cyprus opening the Hitzfeld era

With a win did Kuhn’s era end, with a win Hitzfeld’s era commences.
A very important win, a first stone in the soon to be paved road of Swiss football – we can only be satisfied with the result.

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!