- The Swiss women’s national team lost 6-0 in the friendly against Germany without any discussion.
- 17,306 fans in Letzigrund set a new record for a women’s game in Switzerland.
- In the first half, the weakened national team kept up well, and after the break the Germans really turned up the heat.
Despite being 0-1 behind, the Swiss went into the break feeling good. They stood up to the big favorites Germany. It was only a corner kick shortly before the half-time whistle that left the badly weakened Nati in Letzigrund narrowly behind. But the Germans – with a few newcomers in the starting line-up with a view to the European Championships – came out of the dressing room with vehemence and new personnel.
Record scenery and German dominance
And so the 17,306 fans in Letzigrund, who set a new record for a women’s game on Swiss soil, saw how things quickly turned bitter for the national team:
- 50. Minute: Substitute Pia-Sophie Wolter finds Laura Freigang, who is also new. This soaks in ice cold.
- 56. Minute: Viola Calligaris misjudges a cross, Lea Schüller heads the ball into the goal to make it 3-0.
- 64. Minute: Freigang receives a lot of open space in the center. The Frankfurt striker puts together a double pack.
- 73. Minute: Now a debutant can also enter the list of goalscorers. Cora Zicai makes it 5-0 after a free pass assist.
Coach Pia Sundhage took advantage of the early decision to distribute playing minutes. In the now disjointed game, Switzerland no longer had any real chances. The fans didn’t let that dampen their spirits and let the La Ola wave sweep through the stadium. In stoppage time, Schüller made up half a dozen. In the end there was the 18th defeat in the 19th direct duel – goal difference from a Swiss perspective: 4:93.
“Crazy”: Then Bachmann comes to the hospital
Sundhage had to accept the first setback before kick-off: Ramona Bachmann was unavailable due to a viral infection. This placed her in the prominent Nati military hospital. In a “crazy week” (original sound Sundhage), Super League top scorer Naomi Luyet, Luana Bühler, Géraldine Reuteler and captain Lia Wälti had to withdraw.
Switzerland had Germany under control for a long time. Although the visitors were allowed a lot of possession of the ball, it was rarely really dangerous. And if it did, like in the 37th minute, Elvira Herzog was there. She parried from Selina Cerci from a tight angle. She deflected Schüller’s shot over the crossbar (43′). But the DFB team had now smelled a fuse. And the bell rang immediately: Sjoeke Nüskens, who won the duel with Coumba Sow, headed a corner into the goal.
It could have been 1-0 for Switzerland long ago. The national team withstood the extremely high pressing of their opponents and repeatedly became dangerous after counterattacks. Alisha Lehmann lacked determination, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic lacked creativity (7th/9th), Nadine Riesen’s pass found no taker (35th). At that point in time, it was not yet clear that this would later have a bad repercussion.
This is how it continues
At the end of the year, the Sundhage team will face England in Sheffield on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. live on SRF info). The sick Bachmann will not be there. Amira Arfaoui was nominated for her. The last time the two teams dueled was as part of the EURO 2022 preparations in Zurich. The Swiss suffered a 4-0 defeat.
