England's Lionesses find a home from home at Zurich's fairy-tale ‘castle'
Nestled in the woods on top of a hill overlooking Zurich and flaunting an array of spires and cupolas, the iconic Dolder Grand looks like a castle that has jumped straight out of a book of fairy tales.
Inside, old-world grandeur with chandeliers and sweeping staircases meets sleek modernity, as well as panoramic views over Lake Zurich and the Alps.
'My first 24 hours here I was just going 'Whoa, whoa!' the whole time,' said England defender Esme Morgan, who plays for Washington Spirit in the United States.
'We feel very lucky with how well we've been taken care of and its sort of the perfect base for us to go on through the tournament and where everyone can just relax and get together to watch the other games.'
The players can also relax by perusing the Dolder Grand's art collection with more than 100 works by artists including Salvador Dalí and actor Sylvester Stallone.
The hotel has a 4,000 square-meter spa, that includes an infinity hot tub with stunning views — an ideal place for the Lionesses to recover after a match. England began its title defense by losing to France 2-1 on Saturday and next plays on Wednesday against the Netherlands in Group D.
'We feel super welcome'
Rooms at the Dolder Grand start at 740 Swiss Francs ($930) a night for a double to around 14,500 Swiss Francs ($18,300) for the two-floor Presidential Suite — which, like some of the other suites, includes a butler service.
The Dolder Grand — which featured in the movie 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' — was chosen after a year-long search by the English Football Association, with staff having the perhaps enviable job of visiting 23 facilities, tasked with finding the team a home from home.
'About a year ago, for the first time, I stepped into the door of the Dolder and we could just feel the excitement of the hotel staff,' said the team's general manager, Anja van Ginhoven. 'One of the first things they said to us, similar to The Lensbury (on the outskirts of London where the Lionesses stayed in 2022), they said 'We want to be part of this.'
'We feel super welcome and very supported. All they want to do is give us a great home away from home.'
The Lionesses arrived on their team bus, shortly after flying into Zurich, and were greeted by beaming hotel staff.
Guests normally arrive by car — often very nice ones — or by a short journey up on the rack-and-pinion railway, which has its terminus adjacent to the hotel.
The hotel dates back to 1899 although it underwent an extensive renovation at the start of the century, led by Norman Foster.
Dignitaries and film stars
Apart from the reigning European champions, the Dolder Grand has hosted a plethora of celebrities, from Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio, to the Rolling Stones, as well as royalty and dignitaries including Winston Churchill, the Shah of Persia and King Charles, when he was a bachelor prince.
The Dolder Grand also had a cameo role in FIFA business and soccer conferences during the presidency of Sepp Blatter that ended in 2015.
During the now-notorious World Cup bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, scandal implicated two FIFA executive committee members weeks before they were due to vote. FIFA vice president Reynald Temarii was staying at the Dolder Grand the night before he was due for a dressing-down meeting with Blatter at FIFA headquarters.
In 1996, the hotel is also where FIFA — with Blatter as secretary general — formally sealed the diplomatic deal to have World Cup co-hosts for the first time, awarding the 2002 edition to Japan and South Korea.
Uncertain stay
Just how long England will be able to enjoy the grande dame of Zurich hotels remains to be seen. Sarina Wiegman's team also faces the Netherlands and Wales in Group D.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
Football may or not be 'coming home' — as England's team anthem goes — but the Lionesses might not want to.
___
AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar contributed to this report
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
36 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
New York Knicks hire Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks hired Mike Brown on Monday, turning to the two-time NBA Coach of the Year after firing Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks offered the job to Brown last week and announced Monday that he would be taking over the team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in 25 years. They decided to fire Thibodeau despite that and eventually picked Brown, who wasn't out of work long after getting fired by the Sacramento Kings during last season. Brown had led the Kings to the postseason in 2023 — their first appearance since 2006 — and was voted the Coach of the Year. He also won the award in Cleveland, where he led the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP NBA:
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Arizona State QB Leavitt and Texas Tech LB Rodriguez are preseason Big 12 players of year
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez were named the preseason Big 12 Conference players of the year on Monday. The Big 12 announced the awards, which are determined by a vote of media members who cover the league, the day before the Big 12 Football Media Days started in Frisco, Texas. There was no preseason poll since the Big 12 discontinued that this year, joining the Big Ten as power conferences without one. The Big 12's move comes a year after then-newcomer Arizona State was picked to finish last in the 16-team league before going on to win the conference championship game. Leavitt completed 216 of 350 passes (61.7%) for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions as a redshirt freshman last season when the Sun Devils made the 12-team College Football Playoff in their Big 12 debut. The former Michigan State transfer also ran for 443 yards and five TDs. Rodriguez was the Big 12's leading tackler with 126 total tackles, and his 77 solo stops were also the most in the league. He had 7 1/2 tackles for loss, and all five of his sacks came in Big 12 play. Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, a transfer from New Mexico, was selected as the Big 12's top newcomer. He was the Mountain West Conference leader last season with 3,934 total yards last season, 2,768 passing and 1,166 rushing. ___ AP college football:
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Euro 2025: Portugal stays alive after 89th-minute goal in draw with Italy
GENEVA (AP) — Portugal desperately pressed Italy to find the goal to stay alive at the Women's European Championship and finally got it in the 89th minute from Diana Gomes to secure a 1-1 draw. The result sent Spain into the quarterfinals from Group B after its earlier 6-2 rout of Belgium which was eliminated from contention. Italy was joining Spain in the quarterfinals with a lead taken in the 70th on captain Cristiana Girelli's high-class curling shot from 20 meters. Portugal seemed to have a lifeline in the 80th but Diana Silva's goal was ruled out for an offside spotted after a two-minute video review. Then Portugal was denied by the crossbar in the 89th when Carole Costa's firm header came back off into play, before the ball was recycled for Gomes to earn a crucial point. Portugal defender Ana Borges was sent off deep into stoppage time. Italy is still favored to advance, moving up to four points in the group standings. That is three clear of Portugal but also six better in goal difference which is now the tiebreaker between the two. In Friday's final round, Italy plays Spain and Portugal faces Belgium. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP soccer:
