At EM host Switzerland, after the dramatic 1-1, all the dams broke in the last group game against Finland and the associated quarter-finals. The fans converted the Stade de Genève into a rabid house, the players danced in the catacombs of the arena and even the otherwise often undercooling trainer Pia Sundhage was overwhelmed by her feelings.
What a big burden was on her shoulders, it was shown when this 99-minute football drama had come to an end late Thursday evening. Tears rolled over the cheeks of Pia Mariane Sundhage. Tears of joy. In addition, the Grand lady of women’s football, who has already won and saw so much in her career, beamed with her floodlights before she stretched her fist into the night sky.
Soon afterwards, the 65-year-old gathered her players in the team circle and smiled there with an emotional speech. “I’ll dance tonight – in one way or another”announced the USA-champion coach of the United States at the press conference. Speaking of dancing: The Swiss kickers did this at this point in the stomach of the arena – and probably even afterwards in the team hotel. And at the express request of Sundhage, which reveals how Weiland Louis van Gaal at Bayern to become a “celebration”.
“We need at least one day when we can only look forward to. Because we have to enjoy the joy. That is all that matters”said the Swede and indirectly gave her protégés a party command.
Sundhage: “The most exciting draw of my life”
The Fete had honestly earned the federal government through a courageous and football -based appearance. But the truth also included that the European Championship host was shortly before the end that had questioned everything that Sundhage initiated with her functional staff since taking office a year and a half ago. It was only in the third minute of added time Riola Xhemaili redeemed Switzerland with the 1-1 equalizer.
“Such a moment is so encouraging that he could have stopped forever”said Sundhage visibly moved. The “Certainly exciting tie of my life” was also associated with a large dose of satisfaction for the 65-year-old. Because after the unfortunate 1-2 opening bankruptcy against Norway, it was again listed, which Sundhage was accused before the start of the tournament: bankruptcy series, National League relegation, late squadramination, supposedly too hard training and a 1: 7 bankruptcy against the male U15 juniors of FC Lucerne in a friendly.
Trainer leads Switzerland with a foresight on success
The hoped-for Swiss summer fairy tale that threatened to become a summer night alb dream. But sundhage preserved calm. At the beginning of her activity, she had spoken of a trip and repeatedly emphasized that the team will be in top constitution at the start of the tournament.
Trainer Pia Sundhage (right) has been responsible for Switzerland for a year and a half.
And the experienced trainer kept word. The hosts knew how to convince in all three encounters. Also because Sundhage with tactical changes and substitutions gave important impulses during the games. In the emergence of the compensation of Riola Xhemaili in Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, Alayah Pilgrim and Alisha Lehmann, four players who had initially sat on the bench were involved.
Reuteler’s crashed shot becomes the perfect template
A big portion of luck was happening against Finland for the “golden hand” of Sundhage. The happiness of the capable of Géraldine Reuteler and was named the player of the game for the third time in a row. “Actually, I wanted to shoot”the 26-year-old admitted with a view of the scene in the third minute of stoppage time when she was released on the right area of the penalty area and then pulled off. What was intended as a conclusion became a perfect template for Xhemaili, which only had to hold the “slipp” on the long post.
“I knew that ‘Géri’ would shoot at that moment. I knew that I just had to wait for the right moment and” put it “” in ‘”said the scorer to the “Swiss Radio” (“SRF”). Language, breathed deeply and then switched to party mode: “I hope we are free tomorrow.”
Goal achieved, now world champion Spain is waiting
Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and in many weeks, months and maybe even years, they will remember this Thursday evening in Geneva in Switzerland. So much is certain. “The world means that we could withstand this pressure”said captain Lia Wälti. The 32-year-old and her teammates not only wrote history with the first quarter-finals of the country, but have already achieved the self-formulated goal.
Of course, goals can also be postponed by the EM hosts at any time. Especially if you have overcome so many resistors in such a short time. “I am incredibly exhausted, but very happy and proud of my players. It worked because we have a good team. I would like to remember this moment”said Sundhage the “SRF”.
In the quarter -finals, the “Nati” must now compete against Spain. A victory against the world champion and the most convincing European Championship team would be a huge sensation. But also the evidence that patience can pay off. The patience that the Swiss association has had with Sundhage despite many sporting neck strokes in the past year and a half.