The Swiss were naturally relieved after their short 2-1 success against Hungary in a match that was complicated to say the least. In the mixed zone, in the corridors of the Bienne stadium, the satisfaction of victory was mixed with the awareness of the work still to be accomplished.
SMILLA VALLOTTO (MIDDLE): My association with Ramona [ndlr: Bachmann]? We just talked about it after the match. We like playing together, we always find each other and we have a great connection. I gained a little more confidence after the first matches, I want to receive the ball and I know that I can be dangerous when I have it at my feet. This difficult victory is good for morale.
There were phases of play that we did not master, on which we still need to work. We missed easy passes. We also need to make decisions more quickly.
VIOLA CALLIGARIS (DEFENDER): We knew it wouldn’t be easy, that it would be our main rival. There were phases of play that we did not master, on which we still need to work. We missed easy passes. We also need to make decisions more quickly. It’s not always easy to have the role of favorites, but we resisted this pressure today and we were able to take the three points. The positive? The two goals, the victory, some good combinations, the performance of the young people. Larina also made her first match. It wasn’t easy for her because she hasn’t known us for long, but she played very well.
MERIAME TERCHOUN (DEFENDER): I’m never going to say anything against the defenders again (laughs). It’s incredible the work to be done. I felt a little lost, but my teammates supported me well. I admit that it runs a lot. The match was not easy. We were a little too open in the middle in the first half, we lost too many balls. It was better after the break. We got closer to what we want to do, which is to keep the ball, play close to each other. To have a stadium that is full is magnificent, it touches the heart.
RAMONA BACHMANN (CAPTAIN): I think today it was extremely important to take all three points. It’s good for confidence before going to Hungary. We will have to better negotiate set pieces and make better use of the ball. We lost too many balls and offered counterattacks. Against a better opponent, that could have hurt us a lot.
>> Also read: Put to the test, Switzerland ends up having the last word
Bienne, Ludovic Perruchoud
