Wednesday, 8th June, 2005. Germany vs. Switzerland at Olympiastadion, Berlin
German manager Me selected a more experienced side for the match, obviously seeing the lack of Swiss experience. He chose a 1-3-4-2 Sweeper formation that suited his team well.
O.Kahn, the obvious choice for goalkeeper, with Nowotny as sweeper, backing up Schumann, Sebescen and Worns in the defense. In the midfield he chose Deisler, with a forward run, Jeremies, Ricken and Asamoah, also making a forward run, with Oliver Neuville and Miroslav Klose spearheading the attack.
Match time:
The first 10 minutes were a bit boring but then Germany started making chances and in the 13th minute, set up by a freekick from Schumann, Klose managed volley the ball straight at the Swiss goalie, Zuberbuhler, who managed to parry it. Later in the 20 minute, the Swiss midfieler Muller provoked Deisler into a dangerous tackle, and Deisler was shown a yellow card. The Mainz defender Sven Christ took the freekick, and as he took it
Jeremies back into Yakin and gave away a penalty. A yellow card for Jeremies. Comisetti steps up to take the penalty... Saved! Kahn is playing superbly.
Switzerland made a 30th minute substitution, Zwyssig came on for Djurisic. Neuville started making chances and in the 31st minute, he was taken down by a Yakin tackle, and Deisler took the freekick. He lined it up and had a go at goal.. Deisler scored!! Germany 1 - 0 Switzerland. Again in the 33rd minute, Asamoah opened an oppurtunity when he used his skill to skip past Konde, Asamoah drove the ball low towards the goal.. Zuberbuhler pushes it away. Vogel picked up the loose ball, passed it to Sesa who then cleared it.
35th minute, Asamoah came forward, he played it past Comisetti, from long range.. The shot cannoned of the crossbar. Deisler took control of the loose ball, he had no room so he passed it off to Neuville. Neuville moved in on goal, trying to get past Sesa, who forced him out to the wings, so then Neuville turned and quickly centred the ball for Nowotny, who knocked the ball down for Asamoah, but Zuberbuhler swooped in and grabbed hold of the ball. Zuberbuhler is playing quite well.
Lars Ricken lobbed the ball into the area for Klose, who found himself with some space, driven in low by Klose... Zuberbuhler did well to parry it. The less-than-formidable defense of the Swiss squad was hidden by the good form of Pascal Zuberbuhler, who plays for Stade Rennais in France.1 minute of injury time and it was halftime, with Germany leading 1-0, with a 31st minute freekick from Deisler.
Manager Me substituted Lars Ricken and brought on Jorg Boehme, and also substituting Zoltan Sebescen for Torsten Frings.
Switzerland brought on Magnin for Sesa. It wasn't until the 52nd that Switzerland had a shot on goal, apart from the penalty. Yakin booted the free-kick into the box, where Comisetti won the ball in the air from Frings, only to head it over the bar. Vogel came in with a vicious 59th minute tackle on Asamoah. Yellow card for Vogel. Bohme stepped up for the free kick, Neuville got up to head the ball at goal, but once again, the in-form Swiss goalie managed to beat the ball away, but since he couldn't hold it, Neuville runs in to make something happen, with a low shot at goal.!. Zuberbuhler once again managed to prevent a 2-0 lead.A 63rd minute substitution for Switzerland, La Placa came on for Comisetti, the veteran who missed the penalty.Christ took the freekick for Switzerland, with the cross to Magnin, who beat Bohme in an aerial battle, but hit Asamoah allowing Kahn to come in and scoop up the ball.Germany created another superb play, with Deisler chipping the ball forward to Nowotny, who search out Asamoah to his right, Asamoah took it on his chest, he passed it in the area for Klose.. Klose with a volley!.... It just goes wide. Suberp play by Germany. Play was balanced till the 73rd minute, when Asamoah made a run up the wing with a near post cross, Klose got well above Vogel to make the header, but Klose sent it wide. A real chance wasted.Switzerland's last sub,Brunner on for Wicky. 77th minute cross by Muller, Yakin picked up the ball and tried a low drive!.. but it went well wide, good defending by Jeremies and Deisler. 80th minute, Nowotny found himself in front of goal outside the box with the ball at his feet, and hit a fierce shot, but once again, the Swiss goalie Zuberbuhler is good enough. Jeremies started a play down the left flank in the 85th minute and he passed it off to Worns, who brought the ball down well,then passed to Nowotny, who held up the ball, he then hit a cross to Neuville in the area... GOAL FOR GERMANY!!! Zuberbuhler's luck ran out that time and a wonderful move by Jeremies, Worns and Nowotny capped by a wonderful goal from Neuville. Germany lead 2-0 in the 86th minute, it looks like they've won.Neuville started a play in the 90th minute running upfielder, he takes on Vogel and easily skips past him, Neuville with a near post cross to Nowotny, Nowotny got above Zwyssig to head theball, he powered a header at goal.. GOAL FOR GERMANY!!! Neuville returned the favour for Nowotny. That's his first international goal.
Full time,
Germany 3
Deisler '31
Neuville '86
Nowotny '90
Switzerland 0
Comisetti m/pen '22
Man of the match Neuville leaves with a goal and an assist. Not bad.
Me's first game as manager of Germany, a good success for him, after deciding not to use Jancker, Ballack, or Hamann. Now he returns to Italy for the Champions Cup final with Lazio against Roma, a definite big match.