A few days after the launch of the 2022 World Cup, the blue team has returned to the past to share with you its best memories related to the competition. From the 1978 World Cup in Argentina to that of 2018 passing through the Swiss epic of 1994, relive the great moments in the history of football. Today Grégoire Galley evokes memories of him.
Switzerland – Ukraine: many tears and many sobs!
My first memory in relation to the World Cup is not the most pleasant. It dates back to June 26, 2006. At 13 I was vibrating body and soul for our national team led by Johann Vogel, Alexander Frei and Raphaël Wicky. After having successfully extricated herself from a group consisting of France, South Korea and Togo, she will have to face Ukraine before a possible quarter-final gala against Italy, the future world champion. Fever rises across the country as this crucial meeting approaches. An euphoria that spreads at the FC Prez / Grandsivaz bar. That evening, the committee of the time went to great lengths to set up a giant screen. Enough to spend a memorable evening that unfortunately would have had a very cruel outcome.
After 120 minutes of play, the two teams had not yet been able to decide. So on the way to the penalty shootout it would turn into a nightmare. Unable to keep calm, Marco Streller, Tranquillo Barnetta and Ricardo Cabanas miss their goal. Switzerland is eliminated from the World Cup in Germany!
A tragedy for me at the time that I could not hold back the tears after this mortifying defeat. So I cried the first time watching a sporting event in 2006. I thought it would be the first and last time … not counting Roger Federer’s win at the 2017 Australian Open.
