Latest news with #NoelleMaritz
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘We have a good feeling': Switzerland confident in plan to shock Spain in Euros quarter-final
The Switzerland coach, Pia Sundhage, has said that she and her players watched clips from when the Swiss men's team beat Spain in the 2010 World Cup for inspiration before the countries meet in the Euro 2025 quarter-final in Berne on Friday. Gelson Fernandes scored the only goal of the game in Durban 15 years ago to produce the first shock of that tournament and Sundhage believes her team can repeat the upset. 'We watched that game together because we wanted to share that piece of history with them,' she said. 'Johan [Djourou, who was part of the 2010 men's World Cup squad and is a member of Sundhage's coaching team] spoke very emotionally about what it was like. Sharing stories brings us together and gives us strength.' The Switzerland defender Noelle Maritz said that watching the footage had given her goosebumps. Sundhage did not dwell on the fact that Spain went on to win the 2010 World Cup while Switzerland were knocked out in the group stage, focusing on the here and now and describing the game as the biggest of her career. The 65-year-old, who won Euro 84 as a player with Sweden and triumphed at two Olympics when in charge of the United States, said: 'It is the biggest game ever [for me]. It is against the world champion, it is at home and it is a quarter-final. This is the moment.' The hosts have grown into the tournament after an underwhelming opening defeat, against Norway. They then beat Iceland 2-0 before a late equaliser against Finland from Riola Xhemaili sent the Stade de Genève crowd into raptures and Switzerland into the knockout stage. Spain are clear favourites to reach the semi-finals, having won their three group games, scoring 14 goals in the process, but the atmosphere around the home team has been building and the Swiss believe that support can carry them far. Switzerland 1-5 Spain, 5 August 2023, AucklandOn the way to their maiden World Cup triumph in New Zealand, a ruthless Spain put five past Switzerland in the round of 16. Aitana Bonmatí's fifth-minute opener was quickly cancelled out by a freakish Laia Codina own goal from near the centre circle. Alba Redondo restored their lead, Bonmatí struck again and Codina made amends for her error. Jennifer Hermoso then added a fifth, showing Spain's strength in depth. 'We proved we are a team of 23 players,' said Spain's coach, Jorge 5-0 Switzerland, 26 September 2023, CordobaThe world champions were greeted by a record 14,914 fans for their homecoming match at the Nuevo Arcángel stadium. Before kick-off both teams held up a banner reading 'Se Acabó (it's over) Our fight is the global fight' in reference to Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales's resignation for forcibly kissing Hermoso on the lips. On the pitch, it was a routine Nations League group win for Spain with Lucía García, Bonmatí (twice), Inma Gabarro and Maite Oroz on the 1-7 Spain, 31 October 2023, ZurichSwitzerland suffered their third heavy defeat in as many months to La Roja at Stadion Letzigrund, though this time they managed a consolation from Alayah Pilgrim when trailing 4-0, courtesy of goals from Oihane Hernández, Alexia Putellas (with two) and María Méndez. The substitutes Athenea del Castillo (two) and Oroz added three more to cap off another Nations League thrashing. Ervin Ang 'The support we have had is impossible do describe,' the Aston Villa defender Maritz said. 'We all thought that there would be a good atmosphere at a home tournament … but on this scale? It gives you a lot of energy when you see the fans marching towards the stadium. You saw it at the Finland game – and to be able to share that success with the fans was really something.' Sundhage's side have improved substantially since the 2-1 loss to Norway, with the midfielder Géraldine Reuteler in outstanding form and the 18-year-old Barcelona forward Sydney Schertenleib coming in to give the attack a new dimension. And now there is real belief. Sundhage said they 'will need a bit of luck' to beat Spain but that they could force that luck with the way they play. Maritz was more bullish, saying they would stick to their gameplan and 'walk off as winners'. 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 'We are very much looking forward to the game,' she said. 'We know that it will be hard but we also believe in our qualities. We have had a lot of meetings, have watched a lot of clips and have a good gameplan.' Maritz, who played for Arsenal between 2020 and 2024, also spoke of the excellent team spirit that has developed. 'You can see that in the last few weeks and the last few games we have grown into a stronger unit. We have a super team spirit and have been able to take a lot of positive energy from the past two games. We have a good feeling about this game.' The Spain defender Irene Paredes said the world champions would have to be calm in the face of the home support. 'We need to be patient,' she said. 'They will have the crowd behind them, so they will come out very strong. 'They're a team who know exactly what they're about. They defend in great numbers and also get a lot of their players into the box to attack. They have very direct players and their midfielders love to keep the ball. Like I said, we'll have to be very alert.'
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Euro 2025: Switzerland draws inspiration from historic upsets as it preps for Spain in quarterfinals
Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage is leaning into soccer history to prepare for one of the toughest games in her storied career Friday at the Women's European Championship. Her fast-improving young team has a quarterfinal against world champion and tournament favorite Spain in the Swiss capital that once staged a legendary upset. The 'Miracle of Bern' — when West Germany stunned Hungary in the men's 1954 World Cup final — might have seemed ancient history to Switzerland's players who have been taken to the nation's hearts this month. A more recent vintage is Switzerland's men surprisingly beating Spain, the soon-to-be champion, at their opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 'We try to share stories, that's what life is all about,' Sundhage said Thursday, hours after showing video of that 1-0 Swiss win to her players. 'Sharing stories brings us together.' 'And just the mindset that it is possible,' the veteran coach said. 'We feel it, we remind each other it is possible because it's football.' Switzerland defender Noelle Maritz said listening to Sundhage and watching the game film 'really made me feel goosebumps.' World Cup miracle The modern Wankdorf Stadium that hosts Switzerland's first game in the knockout rounds at any Women's Euros is built on the site of soccer lore from 71 years ago. The great Hungary team captained by Ferenc Puskás had beaten West Germany 8-3 in the group stage, and in the final scored twice within eight minutes. The Germans rallied to win 3-2 in a shocker that was the subject of a movie, 'Das Wunder von Bern,' which was released in 2003. 'We told that story as well, of '54,' Sundhage said Thursday. 'Those old stories and pictures are wonderful. If you want to change something you have to repeat it and have to spread the word.' Sundhage credited the idea of seeking inspiration in the past from the squad's sporting coordinator, Johan Djourou. The former Arsenal defender went to three World Cups with the men's national team though missed the 2010 tournament in an injury-hit season. 'He was talking about it in a very emotional way,' she said of one of just two wins in 27 games against Spain for the Swiss men. 'There are some stories that we would like to happen again.' Alexia and Aitana On Friday, as it was 15 years ago, Switzerland will face Spanish generational talents: Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Harnandez then, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí now. 'She's a unique player,' the California-born Maritz said of trying to control Bonmatí. 'She really knows how to decide matches.' The host nation's Euro 2025 already will be remembered as a success in the national soccer story, even if it is Spain advancing to a semifinal against France or Germany. Yet Sundhage wants more facing the 2023 Women's World Cup winner, which she expects will dominate possession of the ball. 'I would say this is the biggest ever' challenge, the 65-year-old coach said. 'We're going to play against the world champs, and on home soil. This is the moment.' ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fan energy key for Swiss in Euros clash with Spain, says Maritz
Noelle Maritz said Thursday that fervent home support will help Switzerland in their task of beating world champions Spain in the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025. The Swiss host Spain in Bern on Friday trying to reach the last four of a major international women's tournament for the first time, and will be backed by enthusiastic fans at the Wankdorf Stadium. "There is a positive energy which we've taken from the previous matches... we lived up to the challenge and we were confident, we believe in ourselves," Aston Villa defender Maritz told reporters. "It's really indescribable, we all expected to have a positive atmosphere, but playing in such a big stadium in front of so many people is really special. The energy of the fans really pushes you on. "It was a really special moment when we equalised against Finland (to qualify from Group A) and could see the crowd cheering us. It was great to share such a unique experience with our fans. I also think the fans will give us lots of energy tomorrow." Switzerland have a huge task on their hands against Spain, who rattled in 14 goals in their three Group B matches, but have less pressure to win than their opponents who are favourites to lift the trophy later this month. "I think the pressure comes from inside now... we have a chance, and it's a quarter-final," said coach Pia Sundhage. "We played five against five today (in training), just a couple of minutes, and we were standing like this and saying: 'this is so much better than it was just a couple of weeks ago'. "And I think part of that is that we are able to deal with the pressure, because it has been a lot of pressure." The winner of Friday's match will play one of France or Germany in the semi-finals, in Zurich on Wednesday. td/nf
