LIVE STREAM: International Friendly – Switzerland @ Poland, Sat. Sept. 16 – 3p CEST (9a EDT)

AFI | American Football | 09/16/2017

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Polish national team, one of the most active in Europe in recent years, will welcome Switzerland to Lubin Arena Saturday to play their final international match of the season.

The game has been overshadowed by last-second controversy though.

The players from Poland’s two top club teams, the Wroclaw Panthers and Gdynia Seahawks, have been prevented from playing in this game by their own organizations. The two teams account for upwards of half the players on the Polish roster. Due to this dispute between the two clubs and the Polish Federation of American Football, it appears that the Swiss will be facing a slightly depleted Team Poland.

Team Poland played in the World Games which were held in Poland earlier this year where they lost two tough games to Team France (28-2) and the USFAF American Eagles team (14-7).

Switzerland last took the field a year ago when they defeated Team Israel 51-0 in a European Qualifying tournament.

Swiss head coach Chris Winter, who will be celebrating his birthday on the sidelines today, will also field a somewhat depleted team with not one member of the Swiss champion Calanda Broncos on the roster. However ,the second place Basel Gladiators along with the Bern Grizzlies and Winterthur Warriors will all be represented by four players each on the 40 man roster.