The Swiss team left ‘Euro by the big door on Friday in Bern, despite the defeat against the Spanish world champions in the quarter-final (2-0).
Here are the five lessons to remember from the beautiful course of Pia Sundhage players at home.
A gap class
The Swiss could see it on Friday: there is still a gap between them and the best selection of the world. Even if the score was not as severe as in the previous three clashes with La Roja (5-1, 5-0, 7-1), Switzerland did not really exist in this quarter-final. She could even have lived a more complicated evening if Mariona Caldentey had transformed her penalty in the 9th minute. And the varnished amounts of Livia Peng also made it possible to delay the inevitable.
The plan concocted by Pia Sundhagus, however, worked well, the Swiss defense holding the blow and limiting the impact of Iberian attackers in the first half. But by dint of insisting, the world champions found the flaw and the Swiss clearly could not afford the trend.
A brilliant future
This eagerly awaited elimination is much more promising than disappointing, when Switzerland has been aligned in its eleven three 18 -year -old players in its eleven: Noemi Ivelj, Sydney Schertenleib and Iman Beney. Valaisanne, frustrated in its center-forward role on Friday despite its repeated efforts, is already essential for this Swiss team. With Leila Wandeler, 19, Smilla Vallotto, 21, and even the goalkeeper Livia Peng, 23, who has given her overhale, Switzerland can see the future with serenity.
The selector has also compared this competition to a ‘takeoff’. ‘Footballers generally reach their best level around 27-28 years. But already in two or three years, Switzerland will have several world class players in its ranks. And there will be others who were not present during this Euro ‘, promises the Swedish.
Leaders at the rendezvous
In addition to this young generation without complex, Switzerland has also been able to count on technical leaders who showed the way throughout the tournament. Indispensable in the middle of the field, Captain Lia Wälti (32) held her rank after being uncertain for a long time. Her feints and her sense of anticipation did wonder about recovery and she was the source of several Swiss goals.
At his side, Géraldine Reuteler (26 years old), three times named best player of the match during the group phase, was by far the most decisive Swiss. It was the Nidwaldian who released the situation against Iceland (2-0) and offered the goal of qualifying for quarters to Riola Xhemaili against Finland (1-1).
If Viola Calligaris and Julia Stierli were in difficulty at times, this is not the case with Noëlle Maritz, ‘a real rock’ in the eyes of Pia Sundhagus. The back of Aston Villa (29) signed choice of choice in the axis, both in a defense with three and in the defense of four aligned against Spain.
A conquered audience
Full stadiums, full fan zones, record audiences: Switzerland has never ignited so much for women’s football. Players, staff members and ASF leaders all noted this hoped -for popular support but which was not guaranteed.
‘Public support was phenomenal. I dreamed of it, but it was really beyond my expectations. I am very proud of Switzerland ‘, loose Pia Sundhage. Football fans of the country will have to remember these moments which are likely to never happen again. Because to the rhythm that the female euro grows, Switzerland will probably no longer be able to organize such an event on its own in the future.
A successful bet
Entrusting the position of selector to Pia Sundhage in early 2024, a year and a half of the big meeting, turned out to be a paying choice. The Scandinavian relaunched a team after a painful 2023 year. His main success: to have been able to join a promising young guard around several experienced players.
No one yet knows if the Swedish experienced, who had thought of retiring before receiving the ASF offer, will be at the helm for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. His contract runs until the end of 2025 and the mission that had been set to him is accomplished. But undoubtedly that the Federation would like the adventure to extend a little longer.
/ATS
