Preview: Switzerland vs. Ukraine

June 26th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

GAME DETAILS
Switzerland vs. Ukraine, Cologne, 21:00 CET
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World Cup Gear: Switzerland | Ukraine

THE BIG PICTURE
Switzerland finished atop Group G by playing excellent team defense. The Swiss were the only team in group play to go three games without yielding a goal. Today they take on a Ukraine side that reached the Round of 16 in their World Cup debut. Ukraine has been up and down in the competition. Ukraine will be without defenders Vyacheslav Svidersky and Andriy Rusol who are both out after picking up second yellow cards against Tunisia. Swiss defender Philippe Senderos is almost certain to miss the match after dislocating a shoulder in Friday’s Group G win over South Korea. Don’t expect to see too many goals in this one, but it should be a tightly contested, physical affair.

Teams: Likely formation; shirt numbers; name, caps, goals, coach

Switzerland (4-5-1): 1-Pascal Zuberbuehler (43-0); 3-Ludovic Magnin (32-2), 2-Johann Djourou (4-0), 20-Patrick Mueller (67-3), 23-Philipp Degen (18-0); 8-Raphael Wicky (70-1), 6-Johann Vogel (88-2), 7-Ricardo Cabanas (40-4), 22-Hakan Yakin (48-14), 16-Tranquillo Barnetta (16-3); 9-Alex Frei (48-27) Coach: Koebi Kuhn

Ukraine (3-5-2): 1-Oleksander Shovkovsky (71-0); 5-Volodymir Yezersky (25-1), 17-Vladislav Vashchyuk (59-1), 2-Andriy Nesmachny (52-0); 9-Oleg Gusev (28-1), 4-Anatoly Tymoshchyuk (58-1), 8-Oleg Shelayev (22-0), 19-Maxim Kalinichenko (23-4), 11-Serhiy Rebrov (73-15); 7-Andriy Shevchenko (67-31), 10-Andriy Voronin (35-4) Coach: Oleg Blokhin

LIVEBLOG
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IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS

Switzerland

Switzerland picked up 11 cards in the first round, which ties them for 4th most of any team this year.

Tranquillo Barnetta’s 18 tackles were the third most recorded by any player in the first round.

Every Swiss citizen is required by law to have their own bomb shelter or access to a bomb shelter.

Switzerland Team Blog
Team Roster
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Ukraine

Ukraine was ranked 45th by FIFA heading into the World Cup. The country also is ranked 45th in total number of cell phone users.

In 2002, coach Oleg Blokhin was elected to Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) for a second term. In October 2002 he joined the United Social Democratic Party of Ukraine. Recently he has shown no political activity, concentrating on his coaching job.

Ukraine is one of two teams to have lost their first match of the competition and to advane to the second round. Ghana is the other.

Ukraine Team Blog
Team Roster
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TEAM BLOGS & DISCUSSIONS
Switzerland Team Blog
Ukraine Team Blog

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Deviilz.

my bookies gave me this match’s odds: Switz. to win by a goal/more margin within the 90mins.
Possible..?
Ukrainian Hooligan

heee-heee if refs give them a more or less green light to play your bookie might go broke:)
Ukrainian Hooligan

ARCHUNDIA Benito-Mexican ref.
Deviilz.

I know,I know it’s gonna be a tight game ,maybe with a goal..,
but to who..?
Swiss accuracy,or Ukraine’s star..?
Aqvamare

92 min, two european teams, it stands 2:2. the ref do not know who have to go in the next round, so he give two penalities at the same time and hope that one team make a mistake ^^
Ukrainian Hooligan

Still sore for that Italy game?
Deviilz.

Any tips fr you guys before i put down my wager..?he….he…
DeKaY

You can’t call a football match with Italy involved a “game”. Italians make football look pretty as ballet.

Anyway, Swiss defense too good for Ukraine. Although Senderos missing, could prove crucial. But then again, Ukraine play soviet type of football, and it will do them NO GOOD.

Swiss go through. Swasswatch too good for ukrainian “salo”.
Ukrainian Hooligan

btw how Russian national team enjoying its vacation?:-)
http://7 korea man

Switzerland o0o -,.- o0o
Ukrainian Hooligan

Well hope that bookie did not loose all his money. Good game Switz, GO Ukraine !!1
Carlos

Ukraine-Switzerland… Boring match, neither team should have moved on to the next round. Ukraine will be eliminated next match.