At a tournament that can see players and staff hunkered down in hotels and hitting the road for up to six weeks, having a tight bond on and off the pitch is critical. In many ways what happens off the pitch can inform the actions on it and vice-versa.
Some squads opt for card games, table-tennis or other challenges. What’s brought this Switzerland side together is a different sporting pursuit altogether, as midfielder Michel Aebischer exclusively told FIFA in the wake of his side’s progression to the Round of 32 at the .
“Things are really good right across the squad, we spend a lot of time together and get on really well. There’s quite a few things that we do and lately that includes some golf.
“I’m not bad at it, some days better, some days worse, I don’t have an official handicap, but I would say it’s about 20. The best player in the squad would have to be Gregor Kobel, he has a low handicap, I’m not sure the exact number but he’s good!"
Which, naturally, prompted a golf conversation with the keeper himself a little later on, but not before the Borussia Dortmund star detailed his relief at Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Canada, a result which ensured they topped Group B ahead of the co-hosts. That comes with the added bonus of getting to remain in Vancouver for the Round of 32 and, should they progress, the Round of 16.
“It feels very good; it was our goal to win the group and we did that, so it's a very nice feeling. I think the team is building nicely into the tournament and that's a natural process you're going to have, where things start getting better game after game.”
They were thoughts echoed by midfielder Aebischer who said that the team is not putting limits on how deep a run they can make, now that their initial target has been successfully ticked off.
“It's hard to make a prediction but what I will say is that we have a good team. First of all, it's important that we are through to the next stage. We knew that it was also important to finish first, to finish with a win, get a good feeling, and now rest also a little bit more than if we finished second, so it was an important win today.”
“I think we played three good games. The first one with the result not so good, but at the end we got two wins, one draw, so we are confident as a team. We have a lot of players in good shape. We are in good shape also in the team. We laugh a lot, so we are really confident to play this next game.”
With that full week of rest the team will now have in Vancouver, it also opens up the chance for maybe another round or two on the course, where Kobel is confident, as he exclusively tells FIFA, of holding off all golfing challenges that his Swiss team-mates may lay down.
“In our team, maybe I am [the best]. I’ve also never really got a formal handicap and written it down so I can’t brag so much about that, but I play some hard courses and I shoot some pretty solid scores.
“I didn’t grow up with the game, only when I started playing professional football, so you never know [about playing professionally in the future] but I do love the PGA. I’m a huge fan.
“If you ask who my favourite players are, I don’t want to say just the obvious ones but I’ve played with some professionals from Germany, including [former top 50 player] Marcel Siem. Also a few other guys but maybe, in our Switzerland team, I am at the top.”
Sources: FIFA Official
