By Philippe Ducarroz
It is today that Patrick Fischer should announce his selection for the next world championship. Without a doubt one of the most difficult teams to form, humanly speaking. Rarely do so many players who have gone this far in preparation risk being sent home at dessert time. Because many Swiss players deserve their place after the training camps, because elements from the two finalists – who have not yet been evaluated in the selection for a long time – will inevitably find their place and because the hand of work from NHL is quality.
From the NHL, will this guarantee you a place in the world championships? If Fischer wants to continue the rejuvenation of his team (after having thanked the well into their thirties Moser, Diaz, Hollenstein), he will take with him Sandro Aeschlimann, Joren van Pottelbergheeven Connor Hughes in its current form and/or Akira Schmid in front of the flounder. It is difficult to imagine Leonardo Genoni And Reto Berra say their international farewells together. We will therefore bet on the selection of the two veterans and a youngster. The choice should be between Hughes and Schmid for the 3rd position.
Defensively speaking, there are players who are untouchable. The confirmed arrival of Roman Josias well as the presence of Jonas Siegenthaler And Dean Kukan seem obvious. Based on the playoffs, we would not understand thatAndrea Glauser is not selected. There are therefore potentially four places left: Romain Loeffel should occupy one, Lucas Frick And Fabian Heldner are potentially credible candidates. We complete with Dominic Egli? Would then remain very deprived Michael Fora And Tobias Geisser. Even if he is faithful to him, and always on the basis of the playoffs, it would be difficult to admit the selection of Christian Marti. We nevertheless feel that Fischer is hesitating between the latter and Heldner.
To see the possibilities which are now also available to the national coach on the offensive level, the selection ofAndres AmbuehIt would be moderately justifiable. For our part, we are not holding it back. The NHL’ers Nico Hischier, Nino Niederreiter And Philip Kurashev are essential. Then there are those who led the Swiss attack during preparation, but who were not among the finalists: Gaëtan Haas, Calvin Thurkauf, Dario Simion, Sven Senteler, Fabrice Herzog And Tristan Scherwey appear in pole position given the wide range of skills they offer. We would be missing three names to take among the finalists, namely the essential Sven Andrighetto, Damien Riat And Ken Jäger. This would then leave men like Christoph Bertschy, Tyler Moy, Mike Kunzle, Thierry Bader And… Andres Ambuehl.
This would be our selection, further facilitated by the regretted absences of Denis Malgin (hurt), Yannick Weber (hurt), Kevin Fiala (family reasons) and JJ Moser (CONTRACT). Fischer will have to clearly show in his selection, especially after yesterday’s success against the Czech Republic, that he will indeed form his team according to the current quality and form of the player and not according to reputation or age.
