Published25. October 2024, 9:59 p.m.
Football: Faced with record attendance, the Nati stands up to the Australians
The Swiss obtained a draw against Australia, in front of 14,370 spectators. They would have deserved better.
<img alt="Florian Paccaud, Zurich” src=”https://media.lematin.ch/4/image/2023/10/26/b92a769b-e98a-4f8a-bf13-63837b270bac.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=crop&w=400&h=400&rect=0%2C0%2C1181%2C590&fp-x=0.5004233700254022&fp-y=0.5&crop=focalpoint&s=f64c582d040e1f80b55a3e10c5e7d87a” class=”sc-494550f5-1 ikfYpm”/>par
Florian Paccaud, Zurich
Letzigrund.” title=”Smilla Vallotto in action during the friendly match against Australia on Friday at Letzigrund.” srcset=”https://image.lematin.ch/2024/10/25/5493cec9-3b2d-48e5-9fff-24b3307fe580.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=400&h=400&rect=0%2C0%2C3500%2C2333&s=46b5c0ba3f19c3d49c18f35618ac9d39 400w, https://image.lematin.ch/2024/10/25/5493cec9-3b2d-48e5-9fff-24b3307fe580.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=800&h=800&rect=0%2C0%2C3500%2C2333&s=2a454fe601750e47e7f9c51ada935779 800w, https://image.lematin.ch/2024/10/25/5493cec9-3b2d-48e5-9fff-24b3307fe580.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=1200&h=1200&rect=0%2C0%2C3500%2C2333&s=cae782a9d933330e57181ace08f49100 1200w, https://image.lematin.ch/2024/10/25/5493cec9-3b2d-48e5-9fff-24b3307fe580.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=1600&h=1600&rect=0%2C0%2C3500%2C2333&s=87ab87bf9023161182bff51666b1a4b3 1600w, https://image.lematin.ch/2024/10/25/5493cec9-3b2d-48e5-9fff-24b3307fe580.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=2001&h=2000&rect=0%2C0%2C3500%2C2333&s=b74ee7852033569c6a9be65f0b5225c4 2001w” width=”1200″ height=”800″/>
Smilla Vallotto in action during the friendly match against Australia on Friday at Letzigrund.
IMAGO/Eibner
Record attendance for a women’s football match in Switzerland! Friday at Letzigrund, the Nati faced Australia in front of 14,370 people, beating the 12,782 spectators present for the Champions League game between Servette Chênois and Chelsea, on November 9, 2021. And, in addition to this superb enthusiasm popular, Pia Sundhage’s troupe responded on the field (1-1). She delivered a very good performance and would have deserved to win against a team that finished 4th in the last World Cup. A good omen just over eight months before the Euro.
The Swiss got into their match very well. Confiscating the ball, they spun the ball while waiting to find the opening. On a superb pass from Naomi Luyet, Viola Calligaris was very close to making the Letzigrund vibrate, but the recovery from the Juve defender was too centered to deceive Mackenzie Arnold (17th). Just like the attempt by Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic (29th), well launched in depth by Nadine Riesen.
Lack of efficiency
Efficiency, a point that will need to be improved between now and next summer in order to shine at the Euro. Like the missed opportunity by Smilla Vallotto just before the break. Perfectly launched in depth, the 20-year-old from Geneva lost her duel against the Australian goalkeeper (40th). The Nati had missed their chance and the visitors took advantage: on a long ball behind the defense, Caitlin Foord got the better of Luana Bühler, forcing Elvira Herzog to make the mistake. Perfectly logical penalty and the Arsenal striker was quick to take justice into her own hands (43rd). Cruel, because so far the fourth in the last World Cup had only had half an opportunity, a crushed shot from Tameka Yallop (26th).
Despite this twist of fate, the Nati did not let itself be defeated. And her efforts were rewarded shortly before the hour mark. During a Swiss highlight, Geraldine Reuteler took advantage of a poorly cleared ball to restore parity (58th). The 6th goal of the season for the 25-year-old midfielder, which confirms her very good start to the season with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Make way for France
At the end of the game marked by several changes – it remained a friendly match – Switzerland lost momentum, despite some great collective sequences and nice gestures, such as a small bridge achieved by Iman Beney. But she almost won, Larina Baumann’s shot crashing onto the crossbar (90th).
The Nati will only have a few days to digest its emotions. On Tuesday, they will have to confirm their very good performance against France, for the first of the Swiss at the Stade de Genève. With an audience as large as at Letzigrund?
Switzerland – Australia 1-1 (0-1)
Letzigrund, Zurich. 14’370 spectators. Arbitrators: Ms. Shona Shukrula (PB)
Buts: 43e Ford (pen) 0-1. 58e Reutes 1-1.
Suisse: Duke; Calligaris; Bühler, Maritz; Luyet (46e Beney), Reuteler, Wälti, Vallotto (65e Mauron), Riesen (78e Baumann); Crnogorcevic (65e Schertenleib), Bachmann (89e Lehmann). Entrepreneur Pia Sundhage.
Australia: Arnold; Carpenter,Kennedy, Hunt, Nevin (65th Catley); Fowler (78th Galic), Gorry (Wheeler), Cooney-Cross (78th Van Egmond), Torpey (65th Heyman); Ford, Yallop (65th Freier). Entraineur: Tom Sermanni.
Warning: 43e Herzog.
Note: 90th Baumann touches the slat.
