Led by Xhemaili, Switzerland dominates Czeching 4-1 and reassures

Riola Xhemaili opened the scoring this Thursday at the Schützenwiese stadium.Image: KEYSTONE

The players of Pia Sundhagus won 4-1 against the Czech Republic on Thursday in Winterthour, during their only preparation match before the European Home Championship. A result partly due to the good performance of Riola Xhemaili, shunned in recent months by her selector.

Eight consecutive matches without the slightest victory, 19 goals collected and only four scored during the period: Switzerland had to reassure before the kick -off of “its” European championship, next Wednesday against Norway.

And what could be better, for that, than to face an unskilled Czeching team for the tournament, and whose level is comparable or even slightly lower than that of female nati? As a reminder, during the dams of Euro 2021, the national selection had eliminated the Czechs on penalties to the goal, at the end of a particularly disputed double confrontation.

In a match played at a typical pace of a friendly meeting, The Swiss first found a touch of confidence by finally managing to shake the nets, Riola Xhemaili concluding with composure a breakthrough of Nadine Riesen (24th). The Soleuroise had not scored as a national team for almost three years.

However, Switzerland has only retained its advantage, only three short minutes, hosting a gag goal, born from a bait in front of the cage of Livia Peng, tenured this Thursday. It is therefore she who will keep the goals of the female nati at the Euro.

The digital equalization, the women’s Swiss team could once again count on Riola Xhemaili which, from a sublime heel at the entrance to the surface, offered on a set the goal of 2-1 to Géraldine Reuteler (42nd). XHemaili, absent from the first two gatherings of the year, despite his good performances in Eindhoven (10 goals this season), carried his selection this Thursday in Winterthour and scored big points for the Euro which will start in a few days. She had already convinced for her return in early June against Norway.

In place, while the Czech Republic began to hold the ball, Switzerland dug the gap in the second period, on an overflow on the right side of Reutele, whose center was cut victoriously by Smilla Vallotto (56th). In lack of precision in the last gesture to corsize the addition, the national team was satisfied with a single additional achievement, signed Svenja Fölmli, following a nice movement back to the goal (89th). Final score: 4-1.

It had been eight months since the Swiss had no longer won. An encouraging signal a few days from the euro at home.

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