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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Switzerland pulls off dazzling high-wire act as Euro 2025 delivers to the last
Twelve hours before Euro 2025 reached its crescendo the Uefa executive director of football, Giorgio Marchetti, addressed a hall of delegates in Basel. The morning coffees were still taking hold as officials from clubs, federations and other stakeholders settled down for a forum designed partly to debrief the previous month. There was no mistaking the congratulatory mood and Marchetti was determined to see it last. The tournament would not be 'like a butterfly, over in 24 hours', he said; instead its reverberations would be felt far into a burgeoning sport's future. There was certainly little sign of any effects dulling as afterparties swung long into the night following England's heist against Spain. The overwhelming sense was of euphoria, sprinkled with relief, that host and governing body had pulled off what some viewed as a high‑wire act. Switzerland's relatively modest football infrastructure, not to mention its muted appreciation of the women's game, had raised eyebrows but it staged an event that delivered to the last. 'It's a very strong image of Switzerland that has been shared with the whole world,' the Swiss football association president, Dominique Blanc, said on Monday. 'It has exceeded our expectations as organiser and also the expectation of Uefa.' All parties can reel off a string of convincing figures. If Switzerland needed the money it can bask in 200 million francs (£186m) brought in through tourism by the European Championship. That is a direct consequence of the numbers that make Uefa particularly proud: a record attendance of more than 657,000; all bar two of the 31 games being recorded as sellouts; the number of visiting supporters far exceeding those at previous editions. Then came the sensory evidence that it remains worth granting host status to grow football in countries that are not autocracies, petrostates or both. Switzerland rose cautiously but, in the end, entirely to the challenge of presenting a spectacle. The country has never experienced scenes such as the fan walk in Berne before their historic quarter-final against Spain, when a sea of red flowed over Nydeggbrücke bridge and snaked up the hill towards Stadion Wankdorf. Those fan marches, replicated by several nations' fanbases across the month, were evidence of a women's football supporter culture that has grown in shape and identity here. Uefa wanted to learn more about the sport's audience, its habits and its mores, at Euro 2025 and has been presented with compelling answers. Nor has Switzerland experienced many noises like the commotion that erupted in Geneva when the Nati dramatically equalised against Finland. Crucially it learned to embrace and cherish a young, multicultural team with none of the cynicism previously unloaded on some of their male counterparts. Opportunity knocks in the marketable, vastly talented forms of Sydney Schertenleib and Iman Beney. The country now has a platform to do more than flap its wings. Can it harness that momentum between now and the next Nations League campaign in February? Uefa will hope so as it looks to bolster the suite of credible, high-level contenders for its competitions. England's win at least gave the lie to any idea that Spain could not be toppled but, among some observers, there was quiet disappointment about the level shown by some big guns. Neither France nor Germany convinced, while the Netherlands flopped; Sweden had looked the best prepared team to take on La Roja but blew their quarter-final against an England side propelled by its own destiny. It felt instructive when Emma Hayes, a speaker at Uefa's forum on Sunday, suggested England's transitions had not been as slick as those at Euro 2022. That proved not to matter and there is a sense the standard of play at the top end did not kick on this year, even if there was evidence of a hugely welcome rise in level lower down. Quality, though, is not always the most important measure of a tournament. Short-term endorphin kicks engender the buzz, especially among remote viewers, and it did little harm to the competition's role in hearts and minds that so many of the decisive tussles staggered towards penalty shootouts or dramatic extra‑time resolutions. Those moments, much more than the cruises and cakewalks, cement an event in new supporters' consciousnesses. Euro 2025 achieved that in greater concentration than any of its past equivalent tournaments. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Uefa must now choose the most appropriate step for a tournament that insiders know needs handling with care even if its president, Aleksander Ceferin, was available for only two fleeting appearances. Switzerland's success has given a green light to choose a more outwardly ambitious host for Euro 2029 from five candidates. Germany appears the early favourite and would also be large enough to sustain an expanded tournament, an eventuality that has not entirely been extinguished. The women's European Championship will inevitably join other showpieces in swelling to 24 teams some day although 2033 is a more likely target. Breaking even and demonstrating that progress can also be measured in sound business terms is – as the Uefa director of women's football Nadine Kessler, recently told the Guardian – a more concrete priority. There would be clear risks in overreaching when the present model has suggested a path to viability. For the audience who will define its future, though, pictures matter more than pound signs. The images that will linger include Ann‑Katrin Berger's extraordinary save against France, Aitana Bonmatí's semi‑final flourish and the pandemonium that unfolded when Chloe Kelly battered the final penalty past Cata Coll. Euro 2025 built firmly on existing foundations and, for all the challenges that await, set out Marchetti's vision for a far more durable beast.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Everything Florida football coach Billy Napier said at 2025 SEC Media Days
Wednesday was a big day for the Florida football program as its head coach, Billy Napier, along with three members of the team, got the spotlight during the afternoon session of the 2025 SEC media days event held in Atlanta. The skipper opened up with a long introduction praising the Southeastern Conference as a whole, as well as its commissioner, Greg Sankey. Napier also shared personal anecdotes about his connection to the sport of football — as well as his love of March Madness — while also laying praise on his own institution, the University of Florida. Following his initial address, he answered questions from the press corps, focusing on his Gators program and specifically on quarterback DJ Lagway. Below is a look at an abridged transcription from Napier's turn at the podium in Atlanta at the 2025 SEC media days event. Billy Napier's opening statement "I hope everybody's had a great summer and a good break. My wife, Ali, and I just finished up our annual trip. We go and celebrate our anniversary, 17 years, actually knew her for eight years before that, so 25 total. And I'm extremely thankful for her, her selflessness and the job she's done with our children. Certainly being a coach's wife can be a challenge. "It's good to be here in Atlanta. I grew up a little bit north of here. My dad was a high school coach in Chatsworth, Georgia. Dad's teams when they would get eliminated from the playoffs, we used to get in the car every Fridaygrowing up and go watch a playoff game in this state. I can still remember getting in that pickup; I'd be in themiddle seat, and one of my dad's coaches would be in the passenger's seat, and we would go around. "But never fail, every year we would drive south on 75, and we would watch the semifinals in the old Georgia Dome. And I'm riding through Atlanta today. Used to stop at The Varsity and get something to eat on the way. I can remember sitting up in the upper deck with all those high school coaches watching high school football in this good to be at SEC Media Day. We're 45 days away from the opener. Football is right around the corner. Everybody is undefeated, and there's a lot of potential totalk about. "It's a blessing for me to be here today to represent our football team. Really, really special group of players; our staff and our organization from top to bottom. You know, the University of Florida is a very special place. It's arguably the top public school in the entire country. Incredible network of people. We're approaching 500,000 living alumni, and we have an elite education to offer. And we pair that elite education with a championship culture in our athletic department. 49 national championships, 269 SEC titles. "And I will tell you this spring was one of my all-time great sport experiences, going to the Final Four. If you haven't been, you need to go. I had the privilege of taking my two sons to San Antonio to be in the Alamodome, to watchCoach Golden and his team compete and win the National Championship, to just be a fan, to rub elbows with GatorNation. Our fans, their passion is second to none. It was an incredible experience. "You think about how this place has affected so many people, the tradition, the history. There's so much pride that comes with that. Whether you're alumni or you grew up a Gator, that's something I'll never forget. I'm extremely thankful for Scott Stricklin our athletic director, his leadership, his discernment. I think he's a forward thinker, and he's done a great job of providing a vision for our athletic department and putting our sports teams in position to win championships. "You know, how do you sum up the SEC? I think for me as a competitor you want to play against the best, the verybest. There's an old saying, to be the best you gotta beat the best, and I think we get that opportunity competing inthis league. "I think about this league, I think about the history, the tradition, the venues, going on the road to play in this league, the rivalries, the great players and great coaches, the level of investment by the administrations, the depth that's required to play week in and week out in this league. I think the personnel is different in this league. I think there's diversity of scheme. And don't forget about the recruiting gauntlet that we go through in this league. This Netflix documentary is called 'Any Given Saturday' for a reason, and you gotta be ready to go every week. "For the third straight year it's the most watched conference in college football. 19 years in a row the most draft picks in the NFL draft. This past draft had 79 draft picks, which shattered the record of 65, which was a previous record for the SEC. "I think our league has great leadership. Very thankful for Greg Sankey. I can't compliment him enough what he's done for our league, but more importantly, the work that he's doing for college football and really the game offootball in general. I think he's stepped up in a very pivotal moment for college athletics. This is a tough job in a verydemanding time. So I'm thankful for the job he's done. We also have a great group in Birmingham at the SEC office that contributes. There's a long list of folks behind the scenes. We're better because of their hard work, and I'm thankful for that. "I'm excited about the players that are here to represent our team today. Jake Slaughter is here. Jake is an All-American and an All-SEC player. He was voted team captain by his teammates last year, and he very much livesit out. He's a guy that sets the tone every day. He's a pace setter, and he's a great football player, but he's aneven better person and leader. He's got his degree in agricultural education and communication. He's SEC honor roll member every year. "Defensive lineman Caleb Banks is here. He's from Detroit, Michigan. I would say he's one of the best defensivelinemen in the country, really played dynamic football down the stretch for us at the end of the year. He's getting adegree in education sciences in December, and he's on a mission. He came back, and he's primed for a big-timeyear. "DJ Lagway is here, our quarterback from Willis, Texas. Obviously DJ, it's well documented the job that he did last year becoming our quarterback midway through the season. I was most impressed with how he handled that,the type of teammate that he was, the humility, the character. And the guy was phenomenal on game day. "He's just a great competitor. He showed a ton of grit and toughness, played through some injuries, and obviously Ithought he grew every week as he continued to get better, and I think year two for him has got a chance to be reallyspecial. His degree will be in education sciences. "One of the great things about this 2025 team that we have is we have a lot of football players that have leadershiptraits. We got some guys that have been through some battles. They have experience. It was tough to pick threeguys to be here today. We got a lot of guys that are deserving. And I really believe that's the most crucial ingredient when you start talking about having a great team, the character of the players that are leading the team. And I think we have that with this group. "This group believes in what we do. I think that's where we really took a big step in the right direction last year is wefound a level of confidence that we could go toe to toe with any team in the country any place, anytime. You spot the ball last year — at the end of the year, you could argue we were playing as good of football as anybody in the country, and I think that that's a result of our development process. "Our development process is working. It's working for the players as people, students and football players. The organization as a whole is executing as well as it's been executing since I've been the head coach. We're healthy on the inside. We've got great leadership in every part of the organization. I'm really proud of the work that I see every day. "The bottom line is we're seeing our people get better, and I think there's something to backing that up. We have 12guys that are reporting from training camp from last year's senior class. The discipline and accountability for thisgroup is at an all-time high. "We had 80 players on the SEC honor roll last fall, and that's a Florida record, but that's an SEC record in the history of this league playing football, 80 guys. We had a 3.48 team GPA this past spring, which is another record for Florida football, and that's a result of the ownership of the players. I think they're driving this. "And I'm going to tell you, one of the things I'm most proud of is the player development space. We are dominating in that space. The Gator-made program is second to none. I think the experiences that we're offering the players, the resources that are available, they're on another level. There's a little something different in the air right now in Gainesville. Everywhere I go, I hear "the Gator boys stay hot." And to me how do we keep that momentum? And I think we do that by keeping the main thing the main thing. "This is a challenge that's worth pursuing, and there's no other group that I would want to do it with. I get excitedwhen I go in that building and I observe our team and our staff work. "This '25 group is a new team. There's new roles. There's a new set of challenges, and I think it's important that we stay the course. We need to continue to teach values. We need to continue to prioritize education, and we've gotta teach football at a high level. "We're going to be values-based. We're going to be purpose-driven. I believe we have enough talent. I think this team is going to be all about doing the things that require no talent. And we have to stay consumed with improvement. We gotta keep getting better. We plan our work and then we work our plan. "It's not about yesterday. It's not about tomorrow. It's about today, and we gotta follow through. I respect this group and their commitment. They take action every day. They continue to stack days. "The most important thing right now is that we finish this summer. We need to try to create some momentum here as we get into training camp. The next 40 days are going to be critical. I think it's important that we focus on how we prepare. We gotta continue to build the resiliency and the toughness of this team. We gotta stay process-oriented, and we have to have the discipline to keep following through, and we gotta be the best teammate that we can be. "I think if this group, if we're loyal to each other, all right, and we do the absolute best we can do for each other, we got a chance to have a really, really good football team that can put the ball down and play with any team in the country. I'm confident that our best is good enough to get it done, and I think this is a special group. "Before we wrap it up here I want to thank you for what you do. I've been in football my whole life, and I believe in the game. I believe in what the game can teach. And as our sport and athletics in general go through a lot of adversity, I think it's important that we don't need to forget what our game can teach young people. "And you guys tell that story, and I think it's important that we find some balance here in terms of what we write about. And you guys do a phenomenal job. Our game is as popular as it's ever been because of the pride that you take in your role. I'm thankful for the stories that you tell." Billy, is it fair to say that you arrive with more outside expectations than in your previous years? "Yeah. The first thing I would say about expectations is when we talk about expectation, I think the important part is what we expect from each other. I think we've learned that, right? I think it's not only -- not only do you need to block out noise, but it's absolutely necessary that you do it. So I think we've gotta have high expectations for each other. We see each other every day. I think this is player to player; it's coach to player, coach to coach, all parts of our organization. "So that's where we spend our focus. I really believe that's when the magic happens, right, is when, you know, you look around that locker room and you trust the people. I think there's connection. There's a chemistry that's neededin this game. I think if you look at who's had success over the last couple years, it's veteran teams that have really good connection. So when I think about expectations, I think about what we expect from each other. "I also think that it's about execution. You talk about our schedule. You know, I firmly believe that that'll be earned in the fall. So we can talk a lot about potential for the next 40 days, but we'll play the games in the fall." What will be your biggest priority in continuing that foundation of resiliency that was built last season? "Well, I think it's a new team. There's a group of young players on our team that we need to get ready. We're fortunate that we have a good core group of veteran players that understand what winning football looks like in this league. But we need to develop depth. I think in this league there's no question you're going to need it, especially when you start getting into the bulk of the conference schedule. "We have to keep our group focused on how did we develop some of this confidence. I think we anchored that in how we prepare, our toughness, the discipline, being process oriented and certainly being a great teammate. And I think training camp is critical in those areas." Could take me back to the final days of DJ's recruitment and especially with other schools trying to make a late push? "We were fortunate that we found DJ early in his high school career. We built great rapport. DJ stayed the course, and I think one of the things that's unique about our team is that we recruited each one of these groups with the mantra of kind of like you have to be up for the challenge in terms of what we're trying to take on here. "So DJ was no different in that regard, and I think his mentality towards recruitment, the consistency in his attitude and approach, he never wavered, obviously in a little bit of a difficult time as well. So DJ has got great parents. I think he's got a great foundation in terms of the values. I think he's a great teammate. So he was phenomenal throughout that entire process, and he's certainly made a difference in our team." Your 2023 recruiting class has largely remained intact, which isn't really the case across the league. What do you attribute that? "That's a great question. Look, we committed to recruiting high school players. We signed, for the most part, three big groups of high school players, and we've been strategic with the portal in terms of immediate needs. But I do think that we're trying to build a veteran team. "Now, that '23 group, I tell them every day, you know, look, you came here, you have this experience. We're in position to keep the momentum that we have. It's important that they're the example. I think nowadays it's more important to identify the character component and the circle of influence around the kid. You know, I think that if you recruit a problem, they'll continue to be a problem, and I think we present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before. "And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together is we told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to all be sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul. So I think a lotof this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important thanit's ever been." Can you talk about the importance of recruiting until the final whistle, to where you have to kind of turn that page off, as with Dallas Wilson? "Dallas's recruitment was really unique. I think his family dynamic with his mother and his grandmother — and Dallas actually contacted us. I think he asked out of his national letter and then contacted us. We recruited Dallas the entire... ever since we knew he was a really good player." How much has Dallas been so influential on building your offense for this upcoming season? "Dallas is going to make our team better. I think what I really appreciate about Dallas is this spring his work ethic, his work capacity, his toughness, the way he competes in practice, his practice habits. He's a big, physical player. He's a tough guard. He's a tough matchup, right. "Now, look, the guy hasn't played in a game yet, right. So there's some growth that needs to take place. He's got some good veteran players around him that have experience. So there will be a different level of self-discipline and intensity and urgency once we get to the season, but there's no question Dallas is going to make our team better." You pulled off one of the more remarkable coaching turnarounds that we've seen in recent history. What would you attribute that to? "I've been asked that question quite a bit. Look, I think we had really —I think we had a quality group of kids. I don't think a normal group would have been able to handle that. And I will say that, and then I'm an adult; I can turn my phone off. I can continue to work. "These guys, they live in a digital world, right? I think that they had unique relationships with each other, and, you know, we've got choices, right? We can choose to blame other people or we can choose to be accountable, and I think we had really good leadership. They took ownership. We collaborated, players and coaches. We made changes. And I think we saw some of those young players grow up, right? "And I think that, you know, there was a critical stretch right in there around Tennessee-Kentucky where all of a sudden we flipped the switch, and there's a confidence and a belief that we could play with anybody. And from that point forward, you know, I think they felt like they were good enough, and it was about just going and executing andplaying on game day. "So the good thing for us is a huge majority of that group is back. And we've added some more really good youngplayers to the mix." How do you go about allocating salaries? How big a commitment is that, and do you mess with that during the football season itself? "I think one of the things that we've been blessed to do is we hired a front office at the University of Florida. I think Nick Polk and Ben Elsner, Jacob LaFrance's role; Chad Lucas has done a great job in that space as well. But I think the more pressing issue — okay, and I'm going to kind of divert here — is what do we do to provide the structure for the players. "I think one of the things that we gotta make sure we don't overlook and we're really taking pride in is we gotta teach our young men fiscal responsibility. We have to teach financial literacy, budgeting, tax strategy, long-term planning. And I think that — I don't know about you guys, but I messed all that stuff up when I was young. So this is these guys' first job, and I think we've gotta create a structure and a place where we can give them guidance. And I think it's a huge issue that not many people are talking about. "I mean, we got a generation of athletes in college sport where are they going to be, we look up five, ten years from now, did they, you know, make good decisions, did they create stability for themselves long-term and take advantage of the opportunity? Because not all these guys are going to the National Football League. "So I do think that it's professionalized the game to some degree. Everybody wants to use the word salary cap. I think right now it's more of a cash budget, to be quite honest. But I don't want to take away from the fact that Ido think that it's important that we have to continue to fight the fight here and find some common ground and create some guidelines and get some direction that we all can kind of abide by the same set of rules." Where is DJ in terms of throwing the ball and the OTAs? And is he making all the throws you feel like he's going to need to make in a game situation? "DJ has continued — we throw the quarterback three times a week. He's continued to do that. He actually got a good session in this morning before he came here. So, yeah, we feel confident in terms of him being ready to go." What did you see early on in DJ Lagway, and how much has he helped you in recruiting and avoiding logo fever when you look at that schedule? "I think what's impressed me with DJ is how he has handled success. We knew DJ before he dominated Texas high school football his senior year. He became the Gatorade National Player of the Year. So seeing the humility, seeing how he treated people, how he embraced his role in that community on that team, the steadiness, I think his parentsobviously provided a great example there. But he did the same things last year as he started to kind of become a bigger -- have a bigger role on the team. "So the other thing I would say is just the competitor on game day is really unique. I think his ability to block out allthe external factors and really get consumed with leading the team, playing winning football, executing. And we've built around the guy. There's no question. Players want to play with DJ. We've built his class around that and certainly some of these guys that are in the rookie group were a part of that as well." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
All official work only in Hindi: Haryana Edu Min
Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda's directions to his department to conduct all official work and formal communications in Hindi have become a talking point in government circles. While Danda has issued these orders, the officials in his department are struggling to implement them. The problem is finding the right words in Hindi. This announcement follows a directive from the Directorate of Higher Education issued on June 10. 'Even I don't know English, and 90% of the people in Haryana don't understand it either. I have ordered all work in the education department to be done in Hindi,' the minister said recently. Haryana engineer's dressing down over dress He shorted the power supply over a pair of shorts and paid a price for it. Executive Engineer Harish Goel of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, posted in Yamunanagar, was denied entry to a popular club in Ambala Cantonment because he was wearing shorts. The club's rules prohibit them. Peeved, he snapped the power supply to the club. Shailender Khanna, the president of Central Phoenix Club, submitted a complaint to Haryana Power and Energy Minister Anil Vij. He is also the MLA from Ambala Cantonment. Vij recommended Goel's suspension, saying such behaviour from a public servant was unacceptable Rijiju's dress-and-dance in Himachal Pradesh Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju spent a memorable three days travelling to remote tribal areas in Lahaul and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. He donned the traditional dress and even took part in the 'Nati' dance with the locals. BJP MP from Mandi, actor Kangana Ranaut, and local Congress MLA Anuradha Rana joined him. In a series of posts, Rijiju wrote on X, 'Love and affection of Spiti Valley is mesmerising! Launched various projects at Kaza, furthering the vision of PM @narendramodi ji to develop the border areas!' In another post, he wrote, 'We joined (sic) with Kinnauri folk songs & dances!' Harpreet Bajwa Our correspondent in Chandigarh hsbajwa73@
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Women's Euro 2025 team guides: Switzerland
This article is part of the Guardian's Euro 2025 Experts' Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 16 countries who qualified. is running previews from two teams each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 2 July. The shock is still palpable. During the first week of Euros preparations in Magglingen, Ramona Bachmann tore a cruciate ligament in her left knee. The 34-year-old has been capped 153 times and scored 60 goals for the national team. Simply put, she is a pioneer of women's football in Switzerland and a great role model for many of the young players. There had been question marks over her fitness as she had played little for Houston Dash or the national team this season but it is still a huge setback for the hosts. The midfielder Lara Marti will miss the tournament after also suffering an ACL injury. Things have not been going well for the Nati recently. Going into the pre-Euros friendly against the Czech Republic on 26 June they were winless in eight games and had been relegated from the top division in the Nations League. It feels as if the age mix isn't quite right. The senior players, such as the captain, Lia Wälti, and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, are in the autumn of their careers and have struggled to stay injury-free. The next generation has potential, no doubt about it, but they are still young and have little international experience. The depth of the squad is actually better than ever but key players such as Wälti and Géraldine Reuteler really have to be fit for the hosts to have a successful tournament. Defence is another potential problem area. The coach, the Swede Pia Sundhage, is not spoilt for choice in the backline and the players who are available – such as Luana Bühler (Tottenham), Viola Calligaris (Juventus) and Nadine Riesen (Eintracht Frankfurt) – have not featured heavily for their clubs in the second half of the season. Recently the team has been playing in a 3-5-2 formation, which Sundhage is sticking to stubbornly despite it forcing players such as Iman Beney to play in a different role to the one they are used to at club level. Even the goalkeeping situation is open. The coaching staff settled on Elvira Herzog as their No 1 in November but both she and Livia Peng, who is joining Chelsea this summer, have made costly mistakes in 2025. With so many question marks heading into the tournament the team may need the passionate support of the home fans to go deep in the competition. When it was announced in January 2024 that the association had appointed Pia Sundhage, who led Brazil at the last World Cup, as coach for their home Euros there was a great deal of goodwill towards the Swede. 'A world-class coach for little Switzerland' was the overriding feeling in the media. A year and a half later and the initial euphoria has given way to disillusionment. The results are mixed at best. Seven wins in 18 games, with only the 2-1 victory in October against a France side weakened by injuries standing out. In addition to the lack of results, Sundhage's system is another reason for the criticism. She decided early on to stick with a 3-5-2 formation, regardless of the opposition. As she announced the squad she was also questioned if she had pushed some players – especially those who were not fully fit – too hard in the buildup, but the Swede was unrepentant. Sundhage has never made a secret of the fact that there is only one date that matters to her: 2 July, when Switzerland face Norway in their opening game. By then she must have changed the narrative around the team. It is one of the biggest challenges of her 30-year coaching career. Lia Wälti lost her starting place at Arsenal during the second half of the season but she is still the most important player for the national team. Her calmness on the ball and her experience are huge factors for the team to function at its best. Off the pitch she is the squad's integration figurehead, making sure that the younger players feel welcome. She is the public face of the Nati and, since 2019, its captain. She won the Champions League with Arsenal in May but has had problems getting back to her best after surgery to remove an abscess at the end of last year. Wälti's fitness is one of the big questions going into the Euros – for Switzerland she is simply irreplaceable. No matter who you talk to when it comes to women's football in Switzerland everyone raves about Sydney Schertenleib. The 18-year-old striker, who also has American citizenship, has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past year. After transferring from Grasshopper Club to Barcelona's youth team 12 months ago she is now a permanent member of the first-team squad, playing regularly. This season she won the double with Barça and helped them reach the Champions League final, even though she did not play in the defeat against Arsenal. Her technique and dribbling are a feast for the eye and she is the diamond of the many talented players coming through in Switzerland at the moment. The Women's Super League in Switzerland is not yet fully professional. Young talents such as Naomi Luyet and Iman Beney from the champions, Young Boys, or Noemi Ivelj from Grasshopper tend to move abroad sooner rather than later. Only the best clubs pay their top players a decent salary. Estimates suggest that only around two dozen players can make a living only from football, even though Basel and Grasshopper in particular have started to invest more in their women's sides in recent years. However, many clubs are happy if they can pay the minimum of 500 Swiss francs (£450) a month. Attendances are on the up, though, partly because of the Euros being staged in Switzerland. Young Boys set a record in March when 10,647 fans were at the Wankdorf Stadium to watch them play Grasshopper. Most matches, however, are played at smaller grounds and not always the best pitches. Media attention has risen, partly because the title is now decided in a playoff. And after the dominance of FC Zürich and Servette the league has become more balanced and is now closely fought. The home side have been very fortunate to have been drawn in what appears on paper to be the weakest group of the four. Despite their relegation from the Nations League top division, qualifying for the quarter-finals is a realistic prospect. Reaching the last four would be a huge surprise. The Switzerland team guide was written by Christian Finkbeiner for Blick.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
How to clean a mattress, according to experts
Whether you've discovered bed bugs or you simply want to keep your mattress in pristine condition, it's important to know how to spot the signs of an infestation as well as how to properly clean your mattress. Discovering bed bugs doesn't necessarily mean you have a dirty home. These unwanted critters can hitch a ride on your clothing or luggage after a trip away. They can also be hiding out in second-hand furniture. Unfortunately, bed bugs are notoriously some of the most difficult pests to get rid of once they've set up camp. While they can be found almost anywhere – think loose wallpaper, televisions and plug sockets – mattresses are among the most common places for the insects to inhabit. To help you know how to deal with bed bugs as well as how to prevent them, we've spoken to the experts to find out all there is to know about cleaning your mattress, from how often you should be doing it to the best products to use. How often should you clean your mattress? Even though we spend a third of our lives in bed, most people don't even think about cleaning their mattress until something is spilt on it. However, Samantha Parish, Hypnos interior design consultant, previously told The Independent it's important to air your mattress on a weekly basis, to prevent a build up of dust and dirt: 'Simply leave the bed linen turned back for a few hours each time and allow air to circulate around and through the mattress,' she said. In addition, Simon Williams, a spokesperson from the National Bed Federation recommends giving your mattress a deeper clean using a vacuum every six months. If you suspect you may have bed bugs however, it's recommended to clean your mattress immediately. What do you need to clean a mattress? If you spot signs of a bed bug infestation, the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) recommends taking action to eliminate them as soon as possible using a pest control company that has experience removing stubborn infestations. This may include use of chemical insecticides to kill the bugs. Alternatively, if you simply want to try and reduce the likelihood of getting bed bugs, there are a few things you can do yourself. The first step, according Kate Dutton, product director for Eve sleep, is to vacuum your entire mattress. 'You'll need a vacuum cleaner with a suction tool attached, a damp cloth and, if you have it, stain remover, along with some good old-fashioned elbow grease,' Dutton tells The Independent. For hassle-free hoovering, IndyBest recommends Shark's stratos anti-hair-wrap plus pet pro cordless vacuum (£449.99, which came in at number one in our review of the best cordless vacuum cleaners. It will give you up to two hours of run-time, is designed with the brand's clean sense IQ technology, which delivers up to 50 per cent more dirt pick-up, and includes four different tools to help you get into all the nooks and crannies. 'If having a clean home fills you with joy, the Shark stratos will make you euphoric,' our tester said. What's the best way to clean a mattress? Williams then recommends sprinkling your mattress with baking soda and leaving it for 30 minutes before vacuuming, to help get rid of odours and dust and grime. 'It's also worth turning the mattress over to clean both sides, even if your mattress is a single-sided product,' he adds. For an even deeper clean, the baking soda can be left for as long as 10 hours. Dutton also advises to clean the top and sides of the mattress using a vacuum that comes with a suction tool, such as the Dyson V12 detect slim (£449, which was selected as the best cordless vacuum for suction in our round-up. This, she says, should be followed by a damp cloth and stain remover to gently rub away any stains. 'It's important not to soak the mattress and only use a damp cloth. You'll just need to leave your mattress to air dry afterwards, so it might be worth doing this first thing in the morning,' Dutton explains. If your mattress comes with a removable cover, most can be put in the washing machine at 40C, then put back on your mattress once totally dry. However, if you suspect a bed bug infestation, the BPCA recommends washing everything at a hot (60C) temperature setting, followed by tumble drying at a hot setting for at least 30 minutes. In extreme cases, you can also place everything into a bag and then in the deep freezer for at least three days. How can you clean stains from a mattress? When you have a bed bug infestation a common sign is finding bloodstains on your sheets and pillowcases. If you're struggling to remove such stains from your mattress post-infestation, the National Bed Federation recommends using a proprietary stain remover, or upholstery cleaner, followed by cold water. In our round-up of the best refillable cleaning products, Fill's destainer jar (£8.17, was chosen as the best product for stain removal. 'We were very happy to find the brand stocks a stain remover that can rival Vanish's,' our tester said. 'Fill's de-stainer is a low-temperature oxygen stain-removal powder, which can be used for laundry and home stain removal. As well as laundry, we were able to use the destainer on stained mugs and bottles, as well as on surfaces and sinks, by making up a paste and leaving it to soak for 15 minutes before rinsing.' For other stains such as urine, vomit and diarrhoea, the National Bed Federation suggests using a sponge dampened with a warm solution of mild detergent or upholstery shampoo. This should be followed by cold water and a few drops of an antiseptic such as Milton sterilising fluid (£2.75, How can you stop a mattress from smelling? As well as stains, pesky critters can also release a very strong musty odour from their scent glands, so unusual smells can also be a sign of their presence. To keep your bed odour-free, Williams suggests regular airing, so every morning throw back the bedclothes with the windows open to let the fresh air get to it and spray with a fabric freshener. The Febreze unstoppables fabric refresher cotton scent (£2.99, was chosen as the best buy in our round-up of the best refresher sprays with our tester saying it 'really packs a punch'. Do you need a mattress protector and topper? In short, yes. A mattress protector keeps bed bugs and dust mites away, as well as acting as a hygienic divider between you and your mattress. 'Using a mattress protector will mean you don't need to clean your mattress as often. A good tip is to buy two mattress protectors, so when one is in the wash, you can use the other one,' says Williams. Invest in a topper too. A good mattress topper will transform a bumpy mattress into a comfy nest, providing extra support and padding to aches and pains. Plus, come winter, it will act as an extra layer of insulation. Most importantly, it will be a barrier between stains and spillages and your mattress. In our guide to the best mattress toppers, the M&S comfortably cool mattress topper (from £69, took the top spot, earning rave reviews for its generous depth and cooling abilities. 'It kept us wonderfully cool (the blurb credits this to climate control technology, but we suspect the heavy use of cotton had a role, too) and provided just the right amount of support,' our tester said. How often should you flip your mattress? Flipping your mattress is key to prolonging its life and comfort, but how often you flip it depends on the material from which it is made. Dutton says: 'Old-school 'open coil' spring mattresses need regularly flipping, around once every six months. The more-modern memory foam and hybrid mattresses (combination spring and foam) don't need flipping but do need rotating every month for their first six months.' When is it time to buy a new mattress? The general rule is after seven to eight years of use, but you should look into buying a new one if you have discovered bed bugs or if your current one is sagging or squeaking. It's also important to be aware of any physical effects an old mattress can have, according to Williams, who says you should buy a new one if you don't feel refreshed after a night's sleep, or often wake up with aches and pains. Hygiene comes into play here, too – if your mattress is nearing its shelf life, it's important to take into account how soiled it is when considering getting a new one. 'It's not just the physical state of the mattress but the fact it will have absorbed a lot of moisture and dead skin cells over the years, making it a great breeding ground for the house dust mite,' says Williams. 'You use your mattress for around seven to eight hours every day and yet still expect it to be performing like new after several years – it won't.' What mattress should I buy? In our review of the best mattresses, where we reviewed memory foam, pocket-sprung and hybrid designs, the Hypnos wool origins 6 mattress (£1,576.75, was named our best buy. The pocket-sprung mattress was hailed for providing 'fantastic support' no matter which position our tester slept in, and for ensuring they had no pain or aches in the morning. 'This mattress is perfect for even the fussiest of sleepers,' they said. 'We love that every Hypnos mattress is handmade by craftspeople in the UK – this is a truly British mattress right here.' If it's a hybrid mattress you're after, though, we recommend the Simba hybrid luxe mattress (from £1,199, which was praised for delivering great back support. 'The hybrid luxe boasts 10 layers, which makes the mattress thick (although it arrives Swiss-roll style),' our tester explained. 'There's a textured, breathable ticking, which is grippy to prevent your sheets from slipping around. There are also three layers of springs, two of which are Simba's own aerocoils, and some sturdy-sounding steel base springs.'
