Switzerland v England

[Barry the bird boggler]

Switzerland v England

Venue: St Jakob Park, Basle
Date: Tuesday, 7 September 2010 Kick-off: 1900 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live and Sky Sports 2

England coach Fabio Capello must make a decision whether to start with Wayne Rooney in Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland in Basle.

Allegations about the Manchester United striker's private life were made over the weekend but Rooney travelled with the squad and is available to play.

That makes Michael Dawson (knee) the only absentee from the squad that beat Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley on Friday.

Switzerland are without keeper Diego Benaglio as he is on paternity leave.

His replacement is Marco Wolfli, the Young Boys keeper who conceded four goals against Tottenham in the recent Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.

Jermain Defoe, who bagged a hat-trick against Bulgaria on Friday, scored that night for Spurs as well and Wolfli believes Tuesday's match presents a chance for the national side to regain Swiss pride.

"That was a bad game for us. We had a great opportunity to go through and it hurt to lose out," he said. "There are a lot of players in this squad who will see this as a chance to put it right. We can show Swiss football is strong.

"England will be strong favourites but we showed in the World Cup against Spain that we can surprise big opponents. We are at home, it will be a good atmosphere and we have that in our favour. It's important we get a good result."

England, though, are strong favourites going into the match after a clinical display resulted in them putting Bulgaria to the sword.

That was the first competitive outing for Capello's side since their humiliating 4-1 World Cup exit to Germany in the summer and a number of changes appear to have given England renewed verve and confidence.

Joe Hart already looks to have made the goalkeeping jersey his own after a brilliant performance against Bulgaria continued his excellent start to the new season, while Phil Jagielka and Dawson - before his injury - acquitted themselves well at centre-half in the absence of first-choice pairing Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.

James Milner, Theo Walcott and substitute Adam Johnson also impressed in spells at Wembley, while Steven Gerrard - back in central midfield with Frank Lampard ruled out - again produced a fine performance to follow his match-winning two-goal display in the friendly against Hungary in August.

And Defoe's hat-trick and excellent link-up work with Rooney - who appeared to revel in a deeper-lying forward role - should ensure he is now given an extended run in the team.

Dawson's absence through injury may therefore be the only change to the XI that beat Bulgaria, with Gary Cahill impressing as his replacement in that match.

However, if Rooney is not be picked, the likes of Carlton Cole, Darren Bent and Adam Johnson will all come into contention as his replacement.

[Silver Fox]

If Rooney can't play because he's been rumbled he should fvck off completely I reckon

[Big Foot]

If Rooney can't play because he's been rumbled he should fvck off completely I reckon

He certainly did during the World Cup

[Wax Jacket]

irrelevant factoid - rooney has only scored one goal agaisnt non-European opponents. obviously not a problem in Euros qualifying

[FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT]

irrelevant factoid - rooney has only scored one goal agaisnt non-European opponents. obviously not a problem in Euros qualifying

Argentina then.

[Maguire]

irrelevant factoid - rooney has only scored one goal agaisnt non-European opponents. obviously not a problem in Euros qualifying

Argentina then.

In Geneva.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

All England International Games should be on the BBC or ITV.

Not Sky.

[Row Z Royal]

All England International Games should be on the BBC or ITV.

Not Sky.

Au contraire. I like being able to go "na na na na na" to poor peeps like you.

[Kitson12]

All England International Games should be on the BBC or ITV.

Not Sky.

+1

[Stranded]

All games where the tv rights are controlled by England are.

Away game rights are owned by the local FA and sold to the highest bidder, so we have no way of controlling those.

[Handsome Man]

If Rooney was French wouldn't we be tacitly acknowledging his amazing sexual prowess him and expecting a hat-trick from him?

It should be good tonight. The Swiss must still sense that we are weak in defence and feel they have got a good chance. The performance does matter for England, but in truth, any sort of result will do - 0:0 would be another Hart clean sheet.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

All games where the tv rights are controlled by England are.

Away game rights are owned by the local FA and sold to the highest bidder, so we have no way of controlling those.

Indeed.

Following the hullabaloo regarding no terrestrial highlights of the Croatia v England qualifier two years ago, was a "law" passed regarding guaranteeing highlights on a free-to-air channel? There was certainly talk about it but can't remember if anything was actually done.

[Einstein agogo]

All England International Games should be on the BBC or ITV.

Not Sky.

Au contraire. I like being able to go "na na na na na" to poor peeps like you.

just watch for free on the web , no £50 a month fees for 200 idiotic channels for me to pay so na na na na na na nannnna

[pea]

Help me decide, stay in London and watch the game in the pub or go home and miss the game but get to go to the pub with people I actually know before I do a killer work shift tommorrow.

[Maguire]

Back to the game....

I think England will get a draw out of this. Swiss are solid but unspectacular. Couple of dangermen but I think Derdiyok (sp) will be the most threatening - scored at Wembley a couple of years ago and is a pretty strong player.

[pea]

To be honest I'm far more worried about barnetta and inler pulling the strings and defoe getting no chances against spycher. The Swiss get a lot of men behind the ball so raw pace of walcott and defoe won't be enough, we need to be cleverer. Gerrard could be key.

[Maguire]

Not seen any team news, but Barnetta missed the Oz friendly on Friday. Johnson will have to be on his game if he does play though.

[Archie's penalty]

Am expecting 9-0. Better be, otherwise what else is going to make my lonely Leicester night better?

[NR_Royal]

All England International Games should be on the BBC or ITV.

Not Sky.

Au contraire. I like being able to go "na na na na na" to poor peeps like you.

just watch for free on the web , no £50 a month fees for 200 idiotic channels for me to pay so na na na na na na nannnna

Or £28pm...