Basel "90% certain" for Irish clash
eleven-a-side.com
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Basel "90% certain" for Irish clash
Saint Jakob Park in Basel has been described as “90% certain” to host the Republic of Ireland’s potentially crunch Euro 2004 qualifier against Switzerland in October.
The stadium has become Switzerland’s preferred venue of late, with its heady atmosphere providing a boost to the home side on all occasions.
The Swiss national side have played two of their three Euro 2004 home games there, and although their most recent outing, the 3-2 defeat of Albania last week, was at the Stade de Geneve in Geneva, they are expected to return to the Saint Jakob for the meeting with Ireland.
Swiss authorities have stated “it is 90% for sure that the game will take place in Basel”, but that a concrete decision regarding the venue will not be reached until early next month.
Brian Kerr’s Irish side meet Russia at Lansdowne Road in September, while Switzerland must make the trip to Moscow to face the Russians just four days later.
Depending on results, Ireland may need just a draw in Switzerland in October to top the group and seal a place in next summer’s European finals in Portugal.
The atmospheric arena has played its part in the success of FC Basel, who have eclipsed the Young Boys of Berne and Grasshoppers of Zurich as the top club in Switzerland in recent years, although the latter regained the higher ground by pipping Basel to the league title in the season just ended.
With top Swiss internationals such as Bernt Haas and the Yakin brothers in their side, Basel reached the group stages of the Champions League last season, in the process enjoying a 2-0 victory over eventual Uefa Cup finalists Celtic at the Saint Jakob stadium en route.
