Switzerland goes to the home tournament with trainer Pia Sundhage. So far, the sporting mood has been anything but European master.
Shortly before the start of the European Championship, Switzerland celebrated an unusual sense of achievement: The 4: 1 against the Czech Republic was the first victory since October 2024 and at least a small ray of hope on the way to the home tournament.
A year and a half ago, the Swiss Association with Pia Sundhage brought a real draft horse on board. The star trainer, who led the United States to the Olympic victory twice, should prepare the national team for the European Championship in 2025 and spark euphoria. However, you look in vain shortly before the start.
Pressure on beaten players?
Because the team initially got 0: 6 against Germany and then relegated in the Nations League. “It rumbles in the whole Nati team”the “Blick” tabloid recently stated. The accusation: too hard training. Sundhage is said to have exaggerated in preparation and have no consideration of injuries.
In the 1: 7 in the test game against the U15 of FC Lucerne, excluding the public, which made headlines due to the result, Sundhage is said to have put pressure on the battered players. The motto according to “look”: Those who do not play minimize their own chances for an EM place. The Swiss Association did not officially comment on the allegations.
Sundhage philosophized about God and the world
And sundhage? “It’s not a nice rumor, but it’s just a rumor”she said during the squadring to the allegations of the too hard training. The 65-year-old Swede responded much in more detail on Monday in the “Basler Zeitung” to human questions far from football. What is the meaning of life? Should you forgive cheating? Is there a god? The sheet had the star trainer philosophized over all of this.
But even in such an interview, Sundhage always comes to speak about football. The biggest challenge in your life? “A large challenge that comes to me is to win at the European Championship in summer and to be able to deal with expectations”she said. “I have the expectation of my coaching, but also to my players, to create something that the national team never succeeded before.” In addition, they want to enjoy and prevent it at the same time “That our breath is coming when the first game comes up to us”.
Goal: First move into an EM-KO round
And this first game becomes directional. Against the Norwegians around Ada Hegerberg, which are also not saddle -proof, will be a good starting position on Wednesday (from 9 p.m. in the Livestream on Sportschau.de) in Group A.
Switzerland hopes to survive this well-feasible group with Finland and Iceland and thus be able to ensure a novelty: the team has never been in the co-round of a European championship. In the two participations in 2017 and 2022, the preliminary round ended.
Shooting star, support and Social media heroine
This time it is said to be the defensive game approach from Sundhage, which gives the team stability. In addition, there are offensive shooting star Sydney Schertenlieb, who is now playing at FC Barcelona, supports like the Frankfurter Géraldine Reuteler and social media star Alisha Lehmann. Interior defender Luana Bühler, on the other hand, is injured. Sundhage has a lot to moderate at home – and first has to gather the players behind them.