Euro 2025: Switzerland riding wild emotions on and off the field into quarterfinals debut
GENEVA AP Let s go crazy Switzerland The national women s soccer band is riding a wave of passionate advocacy in a country where emotions are typically kept under control Crucial goals like Switzerland got in the th and nd minutes of the past two games in sold-out stadiums helped unleash those strong feelings We feel the whole of Switzerland behind us It s unbelievable defender Viola Calligaris disclosed late Thursday after a frantic finish to the - draw with Finland The stoppage-time leveler by substitute Riola Xhemaili advanced the Swiss at the expense of the Finns and earned the hosts a full week of anticipation before its first ever knockout encounter at a Women s Euros The wait was a mighty long time years and will end next Friday in Bern likely against world champion Spain You have to get crazy It is what veteran coach Pia Sundhage inquired of her players before the tournament when there was much less populace faith in their foreseen You have to get crazy Sundhage saw in her first year in the job that good Swiss players were precise and correct but lacked the risk-taking to reach for greatness Sometimes that is not good enough Sundhage who coached ultra-confident United States players to win two Olympic titles declared in May And that is scary for a Swiss athlete They look fearless now Fans and gang in harmony The noisy crowds in Geneva on Thursday and Bern last Sunday when Iceland was swept aside - by a late tide of attacks have responded to their high-energy organization It is so much more fun to coach and play when you have a loud crowd Sundhage commented in the glow of staying in the tournament The reason we are in the quarterfinal is because we are on home soil The -year-old Swedish coach perhaps underplayed her own tone-setting role in the late drama Switzerland needed only a draw with Finland to advance alongside Group A winner Norway on goal difference ahead of its opponent Yet at halftime of a goalless championship Sundhage rejected caution and went for the win Top teenage prospects She sent on -year-old Leila Wandeler and pushed forward -year-old Iman Beney to form an all-teenage attack with Sydney Schertenleib top talents signed by Lyonnes Manchester City and Barcelona respectively She brought on Switzerland s record goalscorer Ana-Maria Crnogor evi to play at right-back Swiss play became faster more fluid chances were created and Finland scored only from a th-minute penalty that was recklessly conceded Sundhage then put more attackers on the field including Xhemaili who was in the Finland goalmouth in stoppage time to total by diverting in G raldine Reuteler s shot I just saw in everyone s eyes that we would still figure this goal Reuteler declared about the strike that kept Switzerland in Euro Was this the get crazy moment Sundhage sought she was required A little bit of a start maybe she disclosed I try to lead by example That s why Wandeler she plays Iman plays Sydney Schertenleib plays It s okay to make a mistake They go in and they just play Finland s goalscorer Natalia Kuikka the experienced Chicago Stars defender also saw it They clearly came to the event that they longed to win and it kind of displayed Kuikka commented of the Swiss Joyous Swiss A tournament veteran like Sundhage saw the positive signs in camp of what she called this phenomenal company coming together Since we went into the tournament bubble I think they ve been louder she reported They are dancing and they are creating this capacity which I think helps us when we go on the pitch It is so key to embrace that delight that is all that matters And we are not finished yet AP soccer https apnews com hub soccer Source
