Switzerland will be able to count on strong reinforcements for its two friendly matches at the end of October against Australia and France. Captain Lia Wälti is back after her knee injury.
Coach Pia Sundhage announced on Monday the list of 25 players summoned for this gathering. The 31-year-old player with 119 caps is one of them, who was injured in March while training with her club Arsenal.
“Lia plays well at Arsenal, even if they don’t win as much anymore. She will change the midfield a little and it will be interesting to see how she will improve the team”declared the Swedish coach.
Return of Iman Beney
Besides Wälti, Sundhage called on 5 other returnees, including 2 from French: the Valaisanne Iman Beney (18 years old) and the Vaudoise Sandrine Mauron (27 years old). Beney, who plays for Young Boys, returns to the Nati jersey for the first time since July 2023, when she seriously injured her right knee and had to give up on the World Cup.
“I have high expectations of Iman. It’s good that she can be back and it helps that she’s been here before”said Sundhage, who also recalled Lara Marti, Alayah Pilgrim and Noemi Benz.
Leading adversaries
Switzerland, which continues to prepare “its” Euro 2025, faces Australia, fourth in the last World Cup, in Zurich on Friday October 25 (8:00 p.m.). Four days later, she will challenge the French team in Geneva (9:00 p.m.).
Pia Sundhage is looking forward to these matches against top nations. “It’s a chance for us to play against such good opponents. These teams are very different, so we can practice different tactics. We will have to be flexible, which will be very important during the Euros”she emphasized.
ats/bao
