To get ready for the qualifier against England on Tuesday, Switzerland plays a test match on Friday evening against Australia, a team that has several players in the squad that play in England.
Switzerland was the only team that has beaten world champions Spain at the World Cup in South Africa (1:0). But because they lost 0:1 against Chile afterwards and couldn't beat Honduras (0:0), they dropped out in group stage. Switzerland showed again that they have a good defence when won 1:0 in Austria in the first match after the World Cup. Coach Otmar Hitzfeld will rest several players against Australia and give players a chance which he doesn't know well so far.
After a red card
Australia was destroyed 0:4 by Germany at the World Cup. But after a 1:1 against Ghana and a 2:1 win against Serbia they missed the second stage only because of their goal difference. The new German coach Holger Osieck prepares them now for the Asian-Cup qualification that starts in January 2011. Because several players retired or are injured (Moore, Beauchamp, Kennedy, Kewell) he will play with a modified team in Switzerland. In recent years Australia has surprised with wins in Ireland (3:0) or in the Netherlands (2:1).
Switzerland vs Australia International friendly
Date: 3 September 2010 - 20:15 CET
Stadium: AFG-Arena, St.Gallen
Referee: tba
Switzerland: Keeper: Bengalio
Defenders: Sutter, Affolter, Grichting, Fernandes
Midfielders: Shaqiri, Inler, Schwegler, X.Margairaz
Forwards: Bunjaku, Derdiyok
Coach: Hitzfeld
Injured: Senderos, Stocker, Streller, H.Yakin
Australia: Keeper: Schwarzer
Defenders: Neill, North, Wilkshire, Carney
Midfielders: Jedinak, Grella, Vidosic, Valeri
Forwards: Garcia, Cahill
Coach: Osieck
Injured: Beauchamp, Kennedy, Kewell
Äußere Einflüsse/Schiedsrichter
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The game will be played in the tight stadium of the FC St.Gallen that hosts 18.000 spectators. For Friday no rain is forecasted for the area Sankt Gallen.
No games so far
Both coaches will use this match to test and the result will be secondary. But because concentration and tension will be higher for the Swiss players before the great match against England, I assume a home win.
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