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  Page Last Updated 5 April 2012

Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera/Svizra

 

 

890 vs. Bulgaria
891
892 vs. Montenegro

Tuesday, 7 September 2010
2012 UEFA European Championship Group G qualification match

Switzerland 1 England 3 [0-1]
 

Sankt-Jakob Park, Sankt Jakob, Basel
Attendance: 39,700;
Kick-off: 8.47pm CEST, 7.47pm BST;
Live on Sky Sports Two/Two HD & 3D (UK) - Commentator: Martin Tyler

England - Wayne Rooney (six-yard tap-in 10 9:27), Adam Johnson (rounded the keeper 69 68:33), Darren Bent (twelve-yard shot 88 87:09);
Switzerland - Xherdan Shaqiri (twenty-five yard shot 71
70:36).
Match Summary
Switzerland Squad
England Squad
Results 2010-2015 Switzerland - Stephen Lichtsteiner (57 56:29 & 65 64:34), Stéphane Grichting (81 80:58);
England - Jamie Milner (60
59:02), Ashley Cole (76 75:57).
Red Card: Switzerland - Stephen Lichtsteiner (65 64:34)

Switzerland kicked-off. 95 minutes (47 & 48).
 

Match Summary

Officials from Italy

Switzerland

Type

England

Referee (yellow) - Nicola Rizzoli
38 (5 October 1971), Bologna, FIFA-listed 2007

Assistant Referees - Andrea Stefani, 41 (15 October 1969) and Renato Faverani, 41 (25 November 1969);

Fourth official - Mauro Bergonzi, 38 (30 December 1971), Genova;

For the first timeer, England game is broadcast in 3D (Three-Dimensional).

5 Goal Attempts 10
1 Attempts on Target 5
0 Hit Bar/Post 0
0 Corner Kicks Won 3
2 Offside Calls Against 4
12 Fouls Conceded 20
42.9% Possession 57.1%

Switzerland Team

 

Rank:

FIFA (11 August 2010) 17th
EFO ranking n/a

ELO rating 20th
Colours: Made by Puma - Red v-neck collared jerseys with white v-neck/trim/piping/hem and red wing collar, red shorts with white trim, red socks with white vertical stripes.
Capt: Alexander Frei Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld, 61 (12 January 1949 in West Germany), appointed 1 July 2008.
24th match, W 10 - D 8 - L 6 - F 29 - A 20.
Switzerland Lineup
1 Benaglio, Diego O. 26 8 September 1983 G VfL Wolfsburg, Germany 32 0
2
Lichtsteiner, Stephan 26 16 January 1984 RB SS Lazio, Italy 34 0
Lichtsteiner cautioned in the 57th for dissent, after sending in a cross from the right looping out of play for a goal-kick. He thinks the ball stayed in and protests too much, and in the 64th minute for unsporting behaviour for a clumsy challenge on Milner. Dismissed for two cautionable offences.
3 Ziegler, Reto 24 16 January 1986 CD UC Sampdoria, Italy 18 1
13 Grichting, Stéphane 31 30 March 1979 CD AJ Auxerroise, France 41 1
Grichting cautioned in the 81st minute for dissent for disagreeing with the referee regarding his decision to award a free-kick against Grichting for a foul on Adam Johnson outside the penalty area.
5 von Bergen, Steve 27 10 June 1983 LB AC Cesena, Italy 16 0
6 Schwegler, Pirmin, off 83rd min. 23 9 March 1987 CM Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany 7 0
15 Degen, David, off 64th min. 27 15 February 1983 RM Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 12 0
8 İnler, Gökhan 26 27 June 1984 CM Udinese Calcio, Italy 42 3
9 Frei, Alexander 31 15 July 1979 F FC Basel 1893 79 40
19 Derdiyok, Eren 22 12 June 1988 F Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Germany 27 2
22 Margairaz, Xavier, off 46th min. 26 7 January 1984 LM FC Zürich 18 1
Switzerland Substitutes
scoreline: Switzerland 0 England 1
23 Shaqiri, Xherdan, on 46th min. for Margairaz 18 10 October 1991
in Yugoslavia
M FC Basel 1983 6 2
11 Streller, Marco, on 64th min. for Degen 29 18 June 1981 F FC Basel 1893 33 11
scoreline: Switzerland 1 England 2
20 Costanzo, Moreno, on 83rd min. for Schwegler 22 22 February 1988 M Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 3 1
result: Switzerland 1 England 3
unused substitutes: Marco Wölfli, 4-François Affolter, 14-Marco Padalino, 16-Gelsen Fernandes.
team notes: Stephan Lichtsteiner becomes the fifteenth player to be sent-off against England. The first in an European Qualification match since 9 June 1999
 
4-4-2  Benaglio -
Lichtsteiner, von Bergen, Grichting, Ziegler -
Degen
(Streller), İnler, Schwegler (Costanzo), Margairaz (Shaqiri) -
Frei, Derdiyok.
Averages (Starting XI): Age 26.3 Appearances/Goals 29.6 4.4

 

England Team

 

Rank:

FIFA (11 August 2010) 7th
EFO ranking Group 3

ELO rating 6th
Colours: The 2010 home uniform - White open-neck jerseys with coloured crosses across upper panel, royal blue shorts, white socks with royal blue tops.
Capt: Steven Gerrard, fifteenth captaincy Manager: Fabio Capello, 64 (18 June 1946), appointed 14 December 2007, effective 7 January 2008, 
31st match, W 22 - D 4 - L 5 - F 73 - A 27.
England Lineup
1 Hart, C. Joseph J. 23 19 April 1987 G Manchester City FC 6 2 GA
2 Johnson, Glen M. 26 23 August 1984 RB Liverpool FC 29 1
3 Cole, Ashley 29 20 December 1980 LB Chelsea FC 85 0
Cole cautioned in the 76th minute for unsporting behaviour for a late sliding challenge on Shaqiri near the corner flag.
4 Gerrard, Steven G. 30 30 May 1980 CM Liverpool FC 87 19
5 Lescott, Joleon P. 28 16 August 1982 CD Manchester City FC 10 0
6 Jagielka, Philip N. 28 17 August 1982 CD Everton FC 6 0
7 Walcott, Theo J., injured off 13th min. 21 16 March 1989 RM Arsenal FC 14 3
8 Barry, Gareth 29 23 February 1981 CM Manchester City FC 42 2
9 Defoe, Jermain C., injured off 70th min. 27 7 October 1982 F Tottenham Hotspur FC 45 15
10 Rooney, Wayne M., off 79th min. 24 24 October 1985 F Manchester United FC 67 25
the twelfth & fourth youngest player to score 25 England goals
11 Milner, James P. 24 4 January 1986 LM Manchester City FC 14 0
Milner cautioned in the 60th minute for unsporting behaviour for pulling back Lichtsteiner while running down the right. Suspended.
England Substitutes
scoreline: Switzerland 0 England 1
16 Johnson, Adam, on 13th min. for Walcott 23 14 July 1987 M Manchester City FC 4 2
scoreline: Switzerland 0 England 2
18 Bent, Darren A., on 70th min. for Defoe 26 6 February 1984 F Sunderland AFC 7 1
scoreline: Switzerland 1 England 2
17 Wright-Phillips, Shaun C., on 79th min. for Rooney 28 25 October 1981 M Manchester City FC 35 6
result: Switzerland 1 England 3
unused substitutes: 12-Ben Foster, 13-Kieran Gibbs, 14-Gary Cahill, 15-Michael Carrick.
team notes: The fifth match to involve two separate scoring substitutes. This was also the seventh time that a goal by a substitute had been scored in consecutive matches.
Adam Johnson is the thirteenth player to score a second substitute goal.
Darren Bent is the sixteenth capped player to score his first goal as a substitute.
The 20th/21st goal scored by a substitute in qualification history.
Coach Fabio Capello played for Italy against England in June (scoring one) and November 1973 (scoring another), and in May and November 1976. He also played against Switzerland in October 1972 and October 1973.
 
4-4-2 Hart -
G.Johnson, Lescott, Jagielka, Cole -
Walcott
(A.Johnson), Gerrard, Barry, Milner -
Rooney
(Wright-Phillips), Defoe (Bent).
Averages (Starting XI): Age 26.2 Appearances/Goals 36.8 5.9

 

    Match Report by Mike Payne

England decided to go with Joleon Lescott to partner Phil Jagielka at the centre of defence, following the injury to Michael Dawson against Bulgaria.  That was the first surprise of the evening in a game that was always going to be one of the most difficult of their group matches.  But England's positive approach in the first half almost gave them an unassailable lead by half-time, such was their dominance.  At times they ripped Switzerland apart with their swift attacking moves and early on both Theo Walcott and Glen Johnson put in dangerous crosses, just too high.  Certainly it was England in the ascendancy and Switzerland were struggling to contain Fabio Capello's team.

The terrific start was finally emphasised when England took a tenth minute lead.  Who scored the goal, who else but Wayne Rooney!  After all the revelations and accusations aimed at the Manchester United player over the past few days it was suggested by some that he shouldn't play in this match, but how can England really afford to leave out their best player?  Rooney rewarded Mr Capello's faith in him by getting on the end of a fine cross by Glen Johnson after the full-back had sprinted down the right wing.  Jermaine Defoe jumped over the ball and Rooney was left with the simplest of tap-ins for his 26th England goal.  The subdued celebrations of Rooney suggested he did have other more important things on his mind but nothing should be taken away from the player, who once again showed his top form throughout.

The only blot on the goalscoring moment came when it was realised that Walcott had gone down with what appeared to be a leg injury.  He was actually carried off, to be replaced by Adam Johnson.  The injury did not seem to upset the rhythm of the team though, and England continued to dominate after the goal, and they should really have wrapped up the result before the interval.  Defoe was again looking sharp although on a couple of occasions the ball just would not drop kindly for him.  Adam Johnson almost set the Tottenham striker up again shortly afterwards but Defoe's shot went over.  Switzerland meanwhile hardly had an attack worthy of the name although, after Adam Johnson fired in a scorcher from 25 yards that flew just over, Degan missed a good chance with a volley at the far post, the home side's first real attempt on goal.

Another chance fell to Defoe with three minutes of the half left.  Rooney gave him possession and with a clever bit of footwork Defoe created space to unleash a fierce shot which goalkeeper Benaglio did well to parry.  And how England never increased their lead with a minute of the half left one will never know.  Adam Johnson set up Rooney who went round the keeper and crossed for Defoe but somehow a defender headed out from his goalline.  England could reflect on an utterly dominant first half, although the fact that it was still only 1-0 did cause a little concern.

After the break though England began like a train and Adam Johnson, who shows no sign of nerves playing for his country, again went mighty close with a great volley just a minute into the half.  England were still in control of the game but Switzerland at last came into things a little more.  In a 10 minute spell after the 50th minute mark they even had England showing some desperation in their defending.  Lescott and Jagielka were at last put under some pressure and Joe Hart, previously virtually a spectator, contrived to drop a couple of innocuous crosses to add to the sense of uncertainty.  Surely England would not throw this match away?  James Milner was booked, a yellow card that will keep him out of the next game, and Lichtsteiner also received a booking for a wild challenge.  Eight minutes later the Swiss player made an awful challenge on Milner and duly received an obvious second yellow followed by a red from the Italian referee.

England needed to press home their territorial and one man advantage and on 68 minutes they did just that with a delightful second goal.  Steven Gerrard and Rooney were involved in a good build up move and when Adam Johnson received possession from his captain he calmly kept his head, waltzed around the goalkeeper and tapped into the empty net.  Game over!

It would take something a little special to bring the home side back into this match and that is exactly what happened just three minutes after England's second goal.  Eighteen year old substitute, Xherdan Shaquiri, who actually plays for Basel on this ground, picked the ball up wide on the right, cut inside and let fly with a sweet left foot drive into the top corner that stunned Hart and England.  It was a goal right out of the blue but a superb finish nonetheless.

England were not to be phased by the goal and they sensibly held good possession over the next few minutes, taking any possible momentum away from Switzerland.  In fact it was England who attacked well in the remaining minutes.  Shaun Wright- Phillips came on for Rooney and Defoe was replaced by Darren Bent.  At this point there were six Manchester City players on the pitch for England and Wright-Phillips should really have teed Bent up with another goal but completely fluffed his attempted pass.  But England were not to be denied and they finally put a more realistic scoreline on the game with a third goal in the 87th minute.  Ashley Cole, who had attacked well when required, this time found himself in the inside-left position with lots of time to measure a pass forward to Bent.  The Sunderland striker's finish was exquisite, a low left-footer past the keeper's near post.  The goal was no less that England deserved.

This match was a potential banana skin for England, but they passed this particular test with flying colours.  There was very little negativity to be mustered by the fans or media after the match and Capello must be delighted with the six points gained over the past five days.

Source Notes

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
SkySports.com/football
ASF/SFV website
UEFA.com
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor

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CG