Basel Beat Weary Werder

First Team
Monday, 16.07.2007 / 11:07

Werder Bremen suffered their first defeat in their fourth game in preparation for the 2007/2008 season. In Eschen-Mauren, Lichtenstein, Thomas Schaaf’s men were beaten 0:2 (0:2) by Swiss side FC Basel.

Werder Bremen suffered their first defeat in their fourth game in preparation for the 2007/2008 season. In Eschen-Mauren, Lichtenstein, Thomas Schaaf’s men were beaten 0:2 (0:2) by Swiss side FC Basel. Around 1,500 fans witnessed a tired Bremen side, who have just begun their second trainings camp, take on last seasons runner-up in the Swiss league who are currently at the end of their pre-season programme and ready to re-start in the league next weekend. After a relatively evenly matched opening period, Huggel and Frei struck in the 27th and 29th minutes respectively to turn the tie in Basel’s favour. The German club held their own and battled on but failed to really create and serious chances.

 

Vranjes and Baumann at the heart of the defence

 

It was a decidedly diminished Green-White team that took to the pitch at the little sport-park in the principality of Lichtenstein. Diego and Naldo were away at the Copa America, waiting to take on Argentina in the final on Sunday evening and Martin Harnik is at the Under 20 World Cup in America with his Austrian team mates. The new Werder signing, Carlos Alberto, watched his new team mates from the dugout whilst Christian Schulz (back problem), Aaron Hunt (dental operation), Kevin Schindler (abdominal injury), Petri Pasanen (Achilles injury) and Per Mertesacker (knee problem) all had to sit the tie out through injury. The result was an unusual central defensive pairing of Frank Baumann and Jurica Vranjes.

 

The game got off to a pacy start and after just nine minutes Werder combined to provide the first chance of the match. Borowski and Jensen together set up Rosenberg but the Swedish striker was denied by Basel keeper Louis Crayton. The next chance on goal fell to the German side too. Hugo Almeida attempted to float in a cross, which was blocked down so at the second opportunity the Portuguese striker flicked a lobbed effort just over the crossbar (16th) – Crayton wouldn’t have had much chance on this occasion.

 

Basel punish weary Werder

 

It was soon to become clear though as to the condition and pre-season preparation status of the two clubs. The tough trainings camp on Norderney and two days of Bad Ragaz had left their marks on the Werder team. Tracking back was already beginning to prove difficult whilst passing was sloppy at best. FC Basel, who begin in the league next week against champions FC Zurich appeared to be a lot fresher although they were equally plagued by a lack of inspiration and poor passing.

 

With that in mind, it came as something of a surprise as the Swiss side took the lead in the 27th minute. Local lad Franz Burgmeier was denied by the Werder defence after a mazy solo run but from the resulting corner, the ball landed right on the head of new signing Benjamin Huggel and the midfielder didn’t need to be asked twice to nod the ball home. “We were asleep”, claimed a frustrated Thomas Schaaf later. Just two minutes later, the Werder defence were found wanting again. From a Bremen corner, Crayton gathered the ball and cleared long down the field to Burgmeier who fed the 18 year old Fabian Frei – 2:0 to Basel.

 

Granskov-Hansen impresses

 

Basel were in clear control for the rest of the half. Werder had their best chance of the half with a 20 meter effort from Rosenberg (37’) whilst Basel could have increased their lead just after the break had marco Streller not rushed his shot. “Basel were deserved winners”, admitted Thomas Schaaf after the match: “They are further along in their preparations than we are and they were more concentrated from set pieces whilst remaining compact at the back. We’ve still got a lot of work to do”. One very positive aspect was the performance of Under 19 player Andreas Granskov-Hansen. The young Dane made his professional team debut and immediately gave a taste of the kind of skills he possesses.

 

The trainer was absolutely adamant that his side did not produce in the offensive: “I would have liked to have seen some more determined play. We had more of the ball in the second half but failed to produce. We will have to look at our mistakes now and talk about how to improve them.” The coach had some work for his side to do in training on Sunday morning but allowed for a session of massage and treatment in the afternoon for what is a heavy legged bunch of players at the moment.

 

FC Basel: Crayton – Zanni, Majstorovic, Marque, Nakata – Huggel, Chipperfield, Ergic, Frei, Burgmeier – Streller; eingewechselt: Eduardo, Hodel, Morganella, Stocker, Baumann, Cabral

 

Werder Bremen: Vander – Fritz, Baumann, Vranjes, Wome (65. Stallbaum) – Frings, Jensen, Andreasen (75. Theuerkauf), Borowski (65. Bischoff) – Rosenberg, Almeida (65. Graskov-Hansen)

 

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