The Swiss women failed in the quarterfinals of their home European European Favorite Spain. Until then, they have sparked a huge Europeanory in the country. In the end there is a lot of applause – and even the opponents are trellis.
Switzerland itself had probably not really believed that they could defeat Spain. When the quarter -final game (0: 2) was whistled in Bern on Friday evening, the players quickly had a big transparent in their hands. A thank -you message to the fans was read on it.
“I am proud of the team and proud of what we have created in Switzerland“, said Géraldine Reuteler after the game. The Spaniards also paid respect and stood trellis for their opponents.”We did a lot right. In the end it is a shame that it wasn’t enough“, said goalkeeper Livia Peng.”We ran until we couldn’t.“
A lot of applause for Switzerland after the final whistle
29,734 people were in the stadium at the last tournament appearance of the hosts, 25,000 had previously walked through the city by fan march. Afterwards they should have been enthusiastic about their team’s fighting spirit. Even in the last few minutes, the fans in the Wankdorf stadium were still passionate about their “Nati”. And after the final whistle there was a lot of applause for an EM appearance that had triggered euphoria in Switzerland. Even if he ended in the quarter -finals.
Especially the late gate against Finland, which had meant moving into the KO round, really lit the domestic fans. The fact that world champion Spain could be one size too big was priced in.
Pia Sundhage bows in front of the fans
And so the disappointment after the quarter -finals quickly gave pride. As Pia Sundhage, who has already experienced a lot in her trainer career, saw himself on the scoreboard, she visibly bowed to the fans.
“It was a nice moment”she said afterwards and was “Just sad that we didn’t win”. She saw a change in Swiss women’s football, she reported. “It is phenomenal, it is difficult to explain. When I was here a year and a half ago and lived in Bern, it was very different. I am so proud of Switzerland.”
Switzerland is lucky against Spain – first
Previously, the Swede had once again been right. “We won’t win against Spain if we are not lucky“She said at the press conference before the game. And for a long time it seemed as if luck was actually from the Swiss side.
Because the big favorites shot a penalty in the person of Mariona after nine minutes. Shortly before the break, a header from Paredes clapped to the outdoor post. And after 61 minutes the ball went back to the post, this time twice within a scene in the Swiss penalty area.
But at some point Swiss happiness was used up. Spain brought his superiority onto the scoreboard and the victory easily to the finish. The progress of the big favorites was undoubtedly well deserved.
Swiss “Nati” has “become a family”
“Today would have been a day when we could have beaten the Spaniards“Peng, who had to admit:”In the end, they were better.“
In the end, it was still a holiday for Switzerland – not only because of the “free night” that the city of Bern had declared around the football evening. One final opportunity to celebrate the European Championship trips extensively. Fans then spoke of the Sportschau microphone of “Stolz” and a “great atmosphere in the whole country”.
“We can take a lot with us”said Peng, who also praised the cohesion within the team. “We have become a family“, she reported. In any case, the pride that fans and team has felt shortly after the defeat against Spain is taken away.