At the same time as the senior national team in the World Cup qualifiers, our U21 national team is playing against Iceland and the Faroe Islands for a place in the European Championship. blue Sport meets shooting star Marc Giger shortly before the team meets up.
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- Our U21 team will face Iceland in Lucerne on Friday evening and the Faroe Islands on Tuesday.
- blue Sport meets Marc Giger before the game. Last year he was still playing for Schaffhausen in the Challenge League, now with Belgian top team Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League.
- Ahead of the U21 duels, Giger says: "Iceland and the Faroe Islands are doable opponents, but we have to put in a good performance."
On Wednesday, Marc Giger played with Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League against Newcastle (0:4). He swapped shirts with Fabian Schär at the end of the game and then played the top match in the Belgian league against Brugge on Sunday evening. Despite their first league defeat (0:1), Giger and his team-mates are still top of the table.
Giger: "I'm always ready for the national team"
Although he took the early plane to Brussels at 7 a.m. on Monday morning, the 21-year-old from Zurich looks well-rested when blue Sport meets him ahead of the U21 team meeting. "I'm fresh too," says Giger, "I'm always ready for the national team. I'm looking forward to meeting my colleagues. It's always nice to play with them."
He has known many of them for years, whether as opponents like Sion's Liam Chipperfield or as teammates like GC's Tim Meyer. He has known the latter since the U13s at GC. "I've been good friends with Tim for years. We played together at GC youth level and also at Rapperswil."
After two defeats in a row with Union Saint-Gilloise, Giger wants to win again with the national team. Should the opponents be beatable? Giger: "Yes, you could say that. We face Iceland on Friday and then the Faroe Islands, which are already two doable opponents. But we have to put in a good performance."
And what are Giger's personal goals? "Win, play well and maybe score."