Football: The Swiss women’s team loses with honors in England

“I’m going to sleep well tonight.” Despite a 1-0 defeat, Smilla Vallotto was proud of the Swiss team’s performance against England on Tuesday in Sheffield. After the slap received against Germany on Friday at Letzigrund (0-6), the Nati did not turn the other cheek. Despite numerous absences (Lia Wälti, Geraldine Reuteler, Ramona Bachmann, Luana Bühler and Naomi Luyet), she looked the European champions in the eyes in the second half. “We didn’t win but it was very important to end the year with a good performance,” adds the Geneva native. Even if it all started badly at Bramall Lane.

“In the first half we were a little too passive, not aggressive enough,” explains Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic. The holder of the record for matches with the Swiss team jersey points in particular to the English opening score, following a free kick, where Julia Stierli was beaten in the air by Millie Turner, then where Grace Clinton was the first to recover the ball which had bounced off the post (8th). The captain of the evening also regretted, as happened last Friday, the difficulty of her team in maintaining the lead and stringing together passes. Fortunately for the visitors, the European champions, not very dangerous, did not take advantage of their territorial domination to double the bet.

The Nati then showed a completely different face after returning from the locker room, daring much more. “We played higher, we were more combative and tried to move forward,” summarizes Crnogorcevic. Completely harmless against Germany and in the first half – only one shot in 135 minutes – the Swiss had several opportunities to equalize. Iman Beney was placed at the forefront of the attack, which allowed her to show the full extent of her talent. “We knew that we couldn’t restart a half like Friday, and that we had to get straight into it.”

The Valaisanne first gave the 23,800 spectators a cold sweat by blocking a clearance from the goalkeeper after good pressing (46th). Then she performed a classy action, successfully hitting the sombrero to eliminate Turner, and arming a half-volley forcing Hannah Hampton to make a complicated save (55th). “The goalkeeper had a little success on this one,” regretted the 18-year-old striker. Nadine Riesen (66th), and Meriame Terchoun (79th) also had good chances, but the English goalkeeper vetoed her again.

It would be wrong to say that the Swiss flew over the proceedings after the break. Because Alessia Russo’s header went just wide (49th), while Elvira Herzog made an incredible save on a recovery from Laura Blindkilde (57th) at the penalty spot. Georgia Stanway almost scored the safety goal, but her shots (93rd) hit the outside net then the post of the Swiss cage.

“We are ending the year on a good note,” summarizes Iman Beney. But the Swiss are aware that they still have work to do to be ready for the opening match of the Euro, on July 2 at Parc Saint-Jacques. “There are still many things that we need to improve,” notes Crnogorcevic in particular. We must learn to remain strong and compact for 95 minutes. And not just half-time.”

The sixteen selections qualified for the major continental meeting are now known. The Nati will discover the names of their opponents after the draw, which takes place on December 16 in Lausanne. In the spring, it will try to stay in the first division of the League of Nations, in a group made up of France, Norway and Iceland: three teams also qualified for the Euro. Three opponents who will allow him to continue his progress to try to overthrow mountains next summer.

England – Switzerland 1-0 (1-0)

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