Hitzfeld also invited the younger Frej to Montenegro

Basel midfielder Fabian Frey is part of the Swiss national team for the last two matches in the qualifiers, against Wales in Cardiff and Montenegro in Basel.
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Otmar, Photo: Reuters
Otmar, Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.
Ažurirano: 30.09.2011. 10:34h

Basel midfielder Fabian Frey is in Switzerland's squad for the two final qualifying matches, against Wales in Cardiff on October 7 and Montenegro in Basel four days later.

Coach Otmar Hitzfeld decided to give the younger Frey a second chance in the national team after the 22-year-old midfielder scored a goal against Manchester United at "Old Trafford" on Wednesday night playing for Basel in the Champions League (3:3).

The elder Frej, Alexander (the two are not related), the scorer of the two remaining goals for Basel against Manchester, withdrew from the national team after the match in Bulgaria in March of this year and does not want to change his decision, although the Swiss have a chance to be two rounds before the end second in the group and play a playoff for the European Championship.

Not counting Fabian Frey, but also the debutant Ricardo Rodriguez from Zurich, Hitzfeld called a proven team made up of more experienced footballers for Wales and Montenegro.

"These are the players who convinced me against England (2:2) and Bulgaria (3:1) that they are the right ones," Hicfeld said.

The Swiss, however, have problems, Tranquilo Barneta dropped out earlier due to injury, while Filip Senderos, Eren Derdjok and Blerim Dzemaili practically do not play in their clubs this season.

"It's really a problem," Hicfeld said.

Switzerland will most likely need a two-goal win against Montenegro in Basel in the last round to secure second place in the group, but a clear calculation will be known after Tuesday's matches. Then Montenegro welcomes England, while "Sajdžija" visit Wales.

However, whatever happens, Switzerland will be under the imperative against Montenegro, which is currently three points behind.

The list includes goalkeepers Diego Benalho (Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (Zurich) and Marco Wolfli (Young Boys), defenders Stefan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Johan Djouru (Arsenal), Filip Senderos (Fulham), Steve Von Bergen (Cezena), Tim Klose (Nuremberg), Reto Ziegler (Fenerbahce) and Ricardo Rodriguez (Zurich), midfielders Valon Behrami (Fiorentina), David Degen (Young Boys), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Leicester), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Fabian Frej (Basel) and Xerdan Shaqiri (Basel), and forwards Eren Derdjok (Bayer Leverkusen), Innocent Emeghara (Lorien), Granit Xhaka (Basel) and Admir Mehmedi (Zurich).

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