beware the swiss
i watched the swiss three times in their qualification group, and i watched all three swiss games in the world cup so far, and for all those who think the swiss are a joke you need to take another look.during qualification, they played masterfully in a tough group, topping the best ever israel team and an experienced republic of ireland team, while holding the french to two tough draws. now everyone keeps saying it's because the french suck, but not from where i'm sitting. the french aren't as great as they once were, that's for sure, but they don't suck (and they remain at least as good as england -- especially when they are without zidane). but then the swiss went on to play a kick ass tie against turkey, which they won on away goals, to get into the world cup. and turkey are an excellent team. they were one of the best in the last world cup, and they too came second in their group.
switzerland are young, fit, organized and they can score goals. they are particularly good on set piece plays (see senderos' nose after smashing a header into the net and his face into the back of a korean's head). the ukraine will underestimate them, and the swiss will make the quarters. they may get beat there, but a quarter final exit just before their 2008 euro hosting gig will be a huge boost. look for a top three finish when they're at home.
plus, they make great chocolate.
posted by bananas @ 4:54 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
but then senderos goes and gets a dislocated shoulder, so maybe not.
Regardless of how tough the Swiss have been so far I think Ukraine matches up much better against them than against France. The Swiss rely on a very good defensive system whereas the strength of Ukraine is the ability of Shevchenko and Voronin to press the attack. Ukraine's weakness is very much the lack of pace on defence which Spain exploited masterfully and I suspect Henry and Trezeguet would tear them apart. With Senderos down Ukraine at least has a chance to win this one and the following game against Italy/Australia should also be very winnable. It will still require Ukraine to come out with better performances than we've seen so far in the tournament though. Hope is eternal. Go Ukraine!
i'm pulling for you and taras, and i agree that the loss of senderos could give this game to the ukraine. my heart will be with you boys tomorrow -- although i am still going to cheer for djourou (as i am sure you will) when he makes a good play.
so much for that article.
:)
i can't believe the swiss got this far. they are a 3rd rate german team from the 80's. disciplined yes, organized yes, incapable of anything extraordinary, yes and yes.
it's 2006, switzerland. stop playing like robots. you were lucky to get drawn with that disfunctional family, the french and the this time around guusless koreans. had they been in any other group, they'd be fighting for second.
ukraine'd problem was giving you too much respect and shevchecko starting. you were lucky to get it to PK's.
italy's next and another grand party awaits.
wow...you are delusional, but i'll give it to you cause of your ukranian heritage. but YOU mark my words: they will be a force at the EURO.
and the ukraine will be celebrating no more grand parties. every non-ukranian i've been talking to about the round of 16 agrees that even england isn't as bad as the ukraine, but they do run an awfully close second. the future may be bright for the ukraine, but not the immeditate future.
Surely we are at least as good as Australia and the Aussies held off the Italians (of course to beat Italy you also need to beat their ref). Not that I think Ukraine will win, but until that final whistle blows there is always hope :)
sorry, nothing in any performance points to y'all be as good as australia. they were a much better team, and as you noted above it was all about positioning...and their positioning killed them.
we have italy shaking in their boots like earthquakes.. in italy.
lippi says he's gonna play totti up alone as 1 forward and both nesta and marco is out so that's good news, but voronin absense could hurt.
i don't think blokhin will start milevskiy, although he should.
i don't even care what happens after this as long as they win. they'll probably lose to both argentina in semi and portugal for 3rd place.
argentina - england final!!!
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