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Switzerland: "We want to play good fistball"

Swiss team trainer Marcel Cathomas is aiming for a WCH medal with an experienced team and countless fans to cheer them on. 

Cathomas considers host nation Austria, Germany, Argentina and Brazil to be the main opponents. His team has "a strong mindset" and a lot of experience. The Swiss want to "play good fistball" and have their sights set on a medal after bronze in 1982 and silver in 1995. The relatively small squad has enabled the team to prepare thoroughly for the WCH with optimum team coordination. The final ten players nominated for the WCH were announced in the middle of July. Besides some other top players the team also includes the two experienced players Manual Sieber and Marcel Eicher who together already have over 150 A international matches to their name.

After their 3:0 victory in a WCH test game against record World Champion Germany (international match on 29 July) the Swiss are certainly among the favourites to win a medal. Third and eleventh places for the two Swiss teams at the tournament in Jona at the end of July were also a sign that there is more to come at the WCH. The A team was beaten only by the Brazilians who they narrowly lost to in the semi-finals. The biggest recent successes in Swiss fistball are the European Championship title in 2006 and the silver medal at the World Games in Taiwan in 2009. Marcel Cathomas is counting on the support of countless fans who will be travelling with them to neighbouring Austria for the highlight of the 2011 season. "Red and white will no doubt be the two colours that dominate the stands," hopes the team trainer. The draw has given Switzerland manageable opponents as the WCH gets underway, with Chile and the Czech Republic not ranking among the firm favourites for the title. The Swiss are to be regarded as the clear favourites in Group D, which is why Cathomas is also intending to field some young players in these two matches. 


Team Switzerland

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