The start was successful. Pia Sundhage’s team convincingly beat Turkey 3-1 in Zurich
Last year, scoring goals was the Swiss team’s biggest problem. After the 3-1 win, one thing is certain: Under the new coach Pia Sundhage, the team seems to be much more energetic, more determined and more dangerous to score.
Ramona Bachmann was an asset in Zurich’s Letzigrund in front of a good 5,000 spectators. The move to Houston in the USA, which was announced on Thursday, seemed to have given the offensive player new impetus. The 33-year-old repeatedly posed problems for the Turkish defense.
After half an hour, Bachmann’s corner found the head of Viola Calligaris, who scored her sixth goal in her 51st international match. But her partner in the defense center also knew how to set an accent on the offensive. First Luana Bühler tested the Turkish goalkeeper with a shot from a long distance, then, shortly after the restart in the second half, the Tottenham Hotspur player was there with her head and scored for the second time in her 49th appearance for Switzerland. In the final phase, the third blow came for Calligaris, who is currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain to Juventus Turin.
The fact that two defenders provided the offensive highlights doesn’t mean that others couldn’t have scored. Bachmann, Smilla Vallotto and Alayah Pilgrim had good opportunities to make the victory even clearer.
For Switzerland, this European Championship qualification is not about a ticket to the 2025 finals. As host, it has already secured this. The team’s aim is to return to the top division of the Nations League.
Since their group opponents Hungary and Azerbaijan drew 1-1 on this first matchday, the Swiss lead the table and are taking their first step towards promotion. The group winners of the four groups in League B are promoted to League A and can then compete again with the best teams in Europe in the Nations League.