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Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Do the Swiss care about Women's Euros? I went to find out
When I stepped off the plane in Zurich on Monday evening, there was little evidence that a European Championship was about to begin in just two days' time. But by the time Nadine Riesen had put Switzerland 1-0 up against Norway on Wednesday night, it was as though the country had woken up to the fact they were hosting a major tournament. There were queues outside the main fan park in the centre of Zurich, although the area is small, and it was standing room only inside. It was semi-lively but not quite electric. There was hardly a rousing atmosphere when the national anthem was played and there seemed to be more excitement in what I assumed to be a karaoke box, where one woman chose to sing Simply The Best as the game was kicking off. For those not wishing to stand in the fan zone for 90 minutes, there are several bars and even cafes showing the games on the approaching street, which has been re-named the 'Walk of Emotions' for the tournament. I headed to Kennedy's Irish Pub, which was full, and the reaction to Riesen's goal was more one of surprise than pure joy. The locals appeared to be there to watch the game, but they did not seem to be massively engaged or glued to the screen. There was certainly no chanting. Most people were having conversations in their groups and occasionally glancing up to the screen to see what was happening. When Ada Hegerberg equalised shortly after half-time, there was minimal reaction. There was brief silence when Julia Stierli scored an unfortunate own goal to put Norway ahead, a small cheer when Hegerberg put her penalty wide and then two minutes later when Switzerland thought they had a penalty of their own, before it was ruled out by VAR for offside. It is hard to know whether there is a different atmosphere when the men's national team are playing and or if the Swiss just watch football differently to how we do in the UK. After all, Switzerland is hardly a hotbed for men's football, never mind women's football. Riesen, who scored the opening goal, is the player who seems to be on most of the advertisements along with Arsenal's Lia Walti, the team's captain. Alisha Lehmann, who only just made the squad, would have been the traditional poster girl for the tournament but she is more widely known for her social media presence than her football. Lehmann has 16.7 million followers on Instagram. Riesen, by comparison, has 17,700. What is certain is that if Euros buzz is to truly take hold, Switzerland will have to progress to the knockouts and that is not guaranteed. Their results in the past year have been far from impressive and defeat in their opening game, though it was probably the toughest they will face, was not a good way to start. 🇨🇭🏆EUROS DIARY - DAY 3 🕺Fan fever begins 🏨Grand Hotels 🚠Gondola adventures — Kathryn Batte (@KathrynBatte) July 2, 2025 When England fans and supporters from other countries descend on Zurich in the coming days and weeks, perhaps there will be more excitement. It would be wrong to say there is apathy among locals towards the tournament and, indeed, the atmosphere in the stadium in Basel looked far more thrilling than it was on the streets of Zurich. It does not yet appear that the Euros has gripped the Swiss nation but there is still time. If they can qualify for the quarter-finals it is possible that more people will sit up and take notice. But, for now, Euros fever is still waiting for lift-off.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Sweet success eludes proud Swiss in narrow Norway defeat
BASEL, Switzerland, July 2 (Reuters) - When Switzerland's Nadine Riesen put her side 1-0 up against Norway in their Women's Euro 2025 opener at St. Jakobs-Park on Wednesday the whole nation erupted and even though the Swiss let their lead slip and lost 2-1, they still left the stadium with their heads held high. "It felt amazing. I couldn't imagine that I would score a goal, and even happier that we could celebrate all together. The atmosphere was so nice, and the whole stadium and, yeah, it's something I will never forget," the 25-year-old Riesen told Reuters, beaming with pride despite the defeat. "The first half, I think we played pretty well, we showed what we can do. We wanted to give the whole of Switzerland something back... and it's so sad that we didn't make it through the second half." Norway captain Ada Hegerberg scored just after the break and Switzerland then conceded an own goal. Despite plenty of chances and a penalty award that was overturned after a VAR review, the hosts could not fashion another goal. Wednesday's game was Switzerland's third single-goal defeat to Norway in 2025 but Riesen said her side were proud of what they had done. "It's a positive feeling, leaving from here -- of course, we're disappointed that we couldn't win, we wanted the three points for sure, so we will keep looking for that, and we will take the first half into Sunday," she said. "And hopefully also the atmosphere, because we felt like we were 12 players on the pitch, not only 11, because everyone was supporting, everyone's rooting, and we really felt that." Switzerland face Iceland, who lost 1-0 to Finland in the tournament's opening game earlier in the day, in Bern on Sunday.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Switzerland Falls 2-1 to Norway in Euro 2025 Opener
WHEN Switzerland's Nadine Riesen put her side 1-0 up against Norway in their Women's Euro 2025 opener at St. Jakobs-Park on Wednesday the whole nation erupted and even though the Swiss let their lead slip and lost 2-1, they still left the stadium with their heads held high. 'It felt amazing. I couldn't imagine that I would score a goal, and even happier that we could celebrate all together. The atmosphere was so nice, and the whole stadium and, yeah, it's something I will never forget,' the 25-year-old Riesen told Reuters, beaming with pride despite the defeat. 'The first half, I think we played pretty well, we showed what we can do. We wanted to give the whole of Switzerland something back... and it's so sad that we didn't make it through the second half.' Norway captain Ada Hegerberg scored just after the break and Switzerland then conceded an own goal. Despite plenty of chances and a penalty award that was overturned after a VAR review, the hosts could not fashion another goal. Wednesday's game was Switzerland's third single-goal defeat to Norway in 2025 but Riesen said her side were proud of what they had done. 'It's a positive feeling, leaving from here -- of course, we're disappointed that we couldn't win, we wanted the three points for sure, so we will keep looking for that, and we will take the first half into Sunday,' she said. 'And hopefully also the atmosphere, because we felt like we were 12 players on the pitch, not only 11, because everyone was supporting, everyone's rooting, and we really felt that.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Sweet success eludes proud Swiss in narrow Norway defeat
WHEN Switzerland's Nadine Riesen put her side 1-0 up against Norway in their Women's Euro 2025 opener at St. Jakobs-Park on Wednesday the whole nation erupted and even though the Swiss let their lead slip and lost 2-1, they still left the stadium with their heads held high. 'It felt amazing. I couldn't imagine that I would score a goal, and even happier that we could celebrate all together. The atmosphere was so nice, and the whole stadium and, yeah, it's something I will never forget,' the 25-year-old Riesen told Reuters, beaming with pride despite the defeat. 'The first half, I think we played pretty well, we showed what we can do. We wanted to give the whole of Switzerland something back... and it's so sad that we didn't make it through the second half.' Norway captain Ada Hegerberg scored just after the break and Switzerland then conceded an own goal. Despite plenty of chances and a penalty award that was overturned after a VAR review, the hosts could not fashion another goal. Wednesday's game was Switzerland's third single-goal defeat to Norway in 2025 but Riesen said her side were proud of what they had done. 'It's a positive feeling, leaving from here -- of course, we're disappointed that we couldn't win, we wanted the three points for sure, so we will keep looking for that, and we will take the first half into Sunday,' she said. 'And hopefully also the atmosphere, because we felt like we were 12 players on the pitch, not only 11, because everyone was supporting, everyone's rooting, and we really felt that.'
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage promises a positive response after hosts lose Euro 2025 opener
BASEL, Switzerland — Pia Sundhage's biggest challenge just got bigger. The Switzerland coach was left despondent Wednesday after watching her team dominate against Norway then lose 2-1 in its opening match at the Women's European Championship. Ada Hegerberg led Norway's revival, cancelling Nadine Riesen's opener by equalizing four minutes before she forced an own goal from Julia Stierli. A missed penalty wasn't even a setback for Hegerberg as her team claimed three competition points and left the hosts with none in Group A. For Sundhage, the disappointment of defeat sat deep after her team had done so much right in front of a near-capacity crowd at St. Jakob-Park, where the vast majority were Swiss fans who were anything but neutral. The scene had apparently been set for a triumphant start for the home team, but it wasn't to be. 'There are so many things happening behind the scenes, high performance coaches, medical staff, social things and so on, individual talks. And we felt prepared today,' Sundhage said. 'That's why I'm a little bit … It could have been such a big difference if we had tied the game, which we had a chance to do.' Géraldine Reuteler rattled the crossbar with a shot in the first half. Then she conceded the penalty in the second. Switzerland might have had a penalty too if VAR hadn't intervened and found an offside call. Switzerland next faces Iceland, which lost its opening game 1-0 to Finland . 'Tomorrow we're going to work again and bring out the best performance in the team and give Iceland a tough game,' Sundhage said. 'I can promise you that.' Even during her post-game news conference, the two-time Olympic title-winning coach was reflecting on the positive changes she has seen since taking the Switzerland job a year ago. 'I've never seen that kind of locker room previously,' she said of her players' readiness for their opening game. 'Before we left the hotel and so on, step by step. And the best part is it's different players. They use their voice.' Sundhage said she told her players to use their words, their language and even their body language to express themselves after the defeat. 'Because we still have a chance to play the quarterfinals. And we start with Iceland, and if we play a good game, then we put ourselves in a good spot as well,' she said. 'So, be responsible for what you're saying, what you do, and how you behave, because that will be the best thing for the Swiss national team and the Swiss people.' ___ AP soccer:
