Italy v England, Berne

Italy v England

Friendly International
Stade de Suisse, 

Berne, Switzerland
15 August 2012

Officially this friendly was billed as a home fixture for Italy which is about right as the distance to Turin is only 322 Km (4 hours in a car). The worst  thing about the game is that it came straight after the QF between Italy and England at Euro 12 in Kiev on 24 Jun. Although the game ended 1:1 after extra time the Italians were the better team and during the penalties they won it 4:2. The England penalties were scored by Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard but Ashley Young hit the bar and Ashley Cole's effort was saved by Buffon. The Italians converted through Balotelli, Pirlo, Nocerino and Diamanti to take them through to the SF against the Germans in Warsaw.

We got tickets in the ballot despite only having a couple of caps. Interest in the game seemed low, probably because the opponents were Italy who we had just played in June and Switzerland is expensive. Regardless of this we had the green light to book flights and hotel for our first game following England away. Plus due to my constant moaning, Sue had finally agreed to become an EF member too. Brazil and France here welcome!

The Free Lions cover features18 year old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in action against the French at Euro 12 in Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine

State de Suisse is the second largest football stadium in Switzerland and is built on the site of the former Wankdorf Stadium which was demolished in 2001. It was officially opened in 2005 and has a capacity of 32,500.

It's a long walk from the City Centre to Wankdorf!

This is our first England away game since becoming EF members, so when the tickets arrived in the post I was quite excited, especially as we had been unable to attend the Euro championships in Ukraine due to work commitments.

Italy 1 England 2

Attendance: 15,000

The game was to be played in Wankdorf on the site of the former Wankdorf Stadium which hosted the world cup final in 1954 between West Germany and Hungary when the Germans beat the mighty Magyars 3:2. 

We took a flight from Birmingham to Zurich on August 14th and then hopped on one of the super efficient but highly expensive inter city trains from Zurich Flughafen to Bern. The cost was 104 CHF (£70 pp). This was going to be an expensive trip! On arrival in Bern we jumped in a taxi to the Hotel Metropole, only to be kicked out by the driver who told us it was only a block away, within 2 minutes walking distance. An honest taxi driver, Switzerland really is different class. The hotel was opposite the Hotel Kreuz which was the EF signing in point.

 

Day 1- Site seeing and Stadium visit.

Bern is a beautiful medieval town which is surrounded by battlements, towers, a cathedral and the incredibly fast flowing river Aare. We decided to explore the route to Wankdorf from Waisenhaus platz, where the hotel and fan zone were located.

River Aare - It was here, that we first became acquainted with the Bern pastime of 'river drifting'. The locals just jump in the river and let the current take them, before kicking towards the bank to grab hold of hand rails that are built into the bank, as if alighting at their stop. This I must do!

After scaling the other bank of the river we emerged at the otherside of the Kornhausbrucke which commanded great views over Bern. We walked through a district called Breitenrain and passed a Swiss military camp before reaching the stadium. The stadium is typical of many new stadiums across europe, doubling up as a super market with designer cafes and restraunts built in. We popped into the club shop to buy the obligatory fridge magnet and a YB pennant, but I didnt have the stomach for the museum as it was a roasting summer's day and I was gagging for my first Swiss beer.

Entrance to the away end

The Swiss have tried to maintain links with the old stadium by use of memorials to the old Wankdorf stadium, such as the old clock and a picture of the famous clock tower during the world cup final of 1954.

The first beer of the day after a tiring walk to 
Wankdorf in the blazing heat.

The Baby Eater is a pretty grotesque statue depicting a giant eating babies, the story behind it is interesting but the beer was flowing and the sun was baking hot, so my cultural interests were limited to taking happy snaps

                                           

The Zytglogge (time bell) is one of the main tourist attractions and is also a walkway through to the main square. It is a medieval clock that chimes on the hour, prompting figurines to dance around. A golden figure then strikes the bell

 

Bern Munster (Cathedral)

Views from the battlements

 Touring the medieval ramparts

  

Taking a drink at the fountain by the Gross Munster

Kids cool down in street fountains

 

After an exhausting first day, it was time for a cool Aperol spritzer in the main Waisenhaus platz. Following this, we headed off to Mr Pickwick's pub behind the train station, where we met up with the Sunderland boys (Tommy, Mark and Pete) and Andy from Chelsea. After more beer and copious red wine it is time for bed, as we have some river swimming to do tomorrow....oh and there's a game of football apparently.

 

Day 2 - River Swim and Match Day, start at the bear pit

 

The 3 arches of the Nydeggbrucke.

Swimming in the River Aare - the entry point. 

First successful hand rail grab.

Swimming against the current - going nowhere!

I survived! In the background is Bluttrum (blood tower). Legend has it that executions and decapitations took place there in the 15thC. Thankfully, none today!

Sue enters the water and declares that it's her turn. 

So its off to the shops to get her kitted out in swim wear

On our way to catch the tram to Wankdorf we pose for photos on the ramparts of the Swiss parliament and the EF fan zone below

  
On arrival a quick beer by the old clock.

 

The amusingly named Wankdorf Stadium, 

AKA 'Stade De Suisse'.

Sue enjoying her debut

 2:1 to the E-N-G-E-R-L-A-N-D and it's back to Desperados in the town centre for a couple more.