Pia Sundhage’s greatest problem simply received larger. The Switzerland coach was disenchanted watching her group drop its opening match, 2-1, towards Norway within the Girls’s European Championship.
Ada Hegerberg led Norway’s revival, canceling Nadine Riesen’s opener by equalizing 4 minutes earlier than she compelled an personal purpose from Julia Stierli. A missed penalty wasn’t even a setback for Hegerberg as her group claimed three competitors factors and left the hosts with none in Group A.
For Sundhage, the frustration of defeat sat deep after her group had performed a lot proper in entrance of a near-capacity crowd at St. Jakob-Park, the place the overwhelming majority had been Swiss followers who had been something however impartial.
The scene had apparently been set for a triumphant begin for the house group, nevertheless it wasn’t to be.
“There are such a lot of issues occurring behind the scenes, excessive efficiency coaches, medical employees, social issues and so forth, particular person talks. And we felt ready at this time,” Sundhage stated. “That’s why I’m just a little bit … It might have been such a giant distinction if we had tied the sport, which we had an opportunity to do.”
Geraldine Reuteler rattled the crossbar with a shot within the first half. Then she conceded the penalty within the second. Switzerland may need had a penalty too if VAR hadn’t intervened and located an offside name.
Switzerland subsequent faces Iceland, which misplaced its opening recreation 1-0 to Finland.
“Tomorrow we’re going to work once more and produce out the most effective efficiency within the group and provides Iceland a tricky recreation,” Sundhage stated. “I can promise you that.”
Even throughout her post-game information convention, the two-time Olympic title-winning coach was reflecting on the constructive adjustments she has seen since taking the Switzerland job a yr in the past.
“I’ve by no means seen that type of locker room beforehand,” she stated of her gamers’ readiness for his or her opening recreation. “Earlier than we left the lodge and so forth, step-by-step. And the most effective half is it’s completely different gamers. They use their voice.”
Sundhage stated she instructed her gamers to make use of their phrases, their language and even their physique language to specific themselves after the defeat.
“As a result of we nonetheless have an opportunity to play the quarterfinals. And we begin with Iceland, and if we play a very good recreation, then we put ourselves in a great spot as nicely,” she stated. “So, be accountable for what you’re saying, what you do, and the way you behave, as a result of that would be the smartest thing for the Swiss nationwide group and the Swiss individuals.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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