There was no longer much doubt about it, but it is now certain: the Swiss team’s journey to the Women’s European Championship will end in the main round. The selection led by Knut Ove Joa lost against the Netherlands this Monday in Vienna (29-37). A defeat, the third in four days after those against Germany (27-36) and Slovenia (25-34), which definitively jeopardizes its chances of qualifying for the semi-finals.
A step beyond the reach of the Swiss, for whom this is only the second participation in a major international competition in their history and who have already met the expectations placed on them by rising among the 12 best nations of the Old Continent. Qualified for the main round after a brilliant preliminary phase (2 wins, 1 loss), Switzerland is in Vienna to learn. On its scale, results matter less than the experience gained.
Monday, Daphne Gautschi (top scorer of the match on the Swiss side with 6 goals) and her teammates once again did well. After taking the lead during the first three minutes, they saw their opponents take off (4-9, 9th). A gap that they subsequently never managed to fill.
Trailing by seven lengths at the break (17-24), they revived as the last quarter of an hour approached, coming back to -5 thanks to three consecutive goals (25-30, 43rd). There was still hope in the 48th minute (27-32) but the Dutch – world champions in 2019 – then made one last push to seal their success.
Last in its group, Switzerland will complete the main round on Wednesday against Norway (8:30 p.m.), reigning Olympic champion and still undefeated since the start of the competition (6 victories in 6 outings).
