Football: Minimalist, the Nati can thank Alisha Lehmann

The Nati provided the essentials against Hungary. Thanks to its 2-1 victory on Friday in Bienne, it consolidates its position as leader of its Euro 2025 qualifying group in Switzerland, which should also allow it to return to the elite of the League of Nations (read framed). Even if Pia Sundhage’s players obtained their third victory in three matches, they did not convince. “We made mistakes, missed easy passes. But the important thing was to win the three points,” summarized Viola Calligaris. The numerous absences do not explain everything.

“We had difficulty getting into the match,” concedes Geneva’s Smilla Vallotto. Tactically, we weren’t in a good place and we didn’t immediately follow the game plan.” The Hungarians were the first to prove dangerous. Following a poorly cleared ball, Evelin Fenyvesi forced Elvira Herzog, starting for the third time in a row, into a complicated save (4th). Putting his foot on the ball, but struggling to establish rhythm and lacking ideas, the Nati was once again frightened by a poorly cleared ball. Fortunately for the Swiss rearguard, GC attacker Emoke Papai also stumbled on the door (19th).

They suffered until the end

As the rain began to fall on the Tissot Arena, Alisha Lehmann chased away the clouds that loomed over the Swiss team. Well served by Vallotto – author of her 5th assist in 3 matches – the Bernese striker allowed the 2,905 spectators at the Tissot Arena to exult. “A few years ago, we came here and there was almost no one in the stadium,” remembers Meriame Terchoun. It warms my heart to play in a stadium that was full. It was wonderful.”

Neither Ramona Bachmann (40th) nor Lehmann (52nd) managed to protect the Nati and it was quite logical that the Hungarians were able to equalize. “In football, when you don’t capitalize on your chances, you concede a goal,” underlines Terchoun. If Anna Csiki initially lost her duel against Herzog (56th), Dora Keller did not miss the target (57th).

A score of parity which, however, did not last: Bachmann herself transformed a penalty which she had obtained after a foul by Keller (61st). “It was important for us to quickly regain the advantage,” explains Calligaris. But, despite a new goal chance for Lehmann (72nd) and a shot on the post from Seraina Piubel (88th), the national team suffered until the final whistle, in what was its worst performance of the year. “There are still a lot of things that we need to correct,” adds the central defender.

In the other group match, Turkey beat Azerbaijan 1-0 and consolidated its second place, three lengths behind the Swiss. The latter will therefore be slightly under pressure on Tuesday in Budapest for the fourth match of these qualifiers if they intend to quickly validate their promotion to the first division of the League of Nations.

Florian Paccaudholder of a Master’s degree in sports sciences with a social sciences orientation, has been a journalist for Sport-Center since January 2021. A CFJM graduate, he also works as an agent, print editor and web pilot.More informations

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