Down & Dirty: Swiss Women's Team Suffers Jaw-Dropping Loss to FC Luzern U15
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Young Swiss professionals face defeat at the hands of Lucerne's Under-15 squad
The Swiss women's football team, known for their fiery determination, are honing their skills in secret ahead of the home Euros. Their training strategy? A little friendly competition, courtesy of the U15 boys at FC Luzern. But this ain't your typical friendly - the result ain't what you'd expect.
You got it - the Swiss women's football team tasted a bitter 1:7 defeat against a young clan of football prodigies. Sounds crazy? Here's the lowdown.
According to Swiss tabloid Blick, the women's team went head-to-head with FC Luzern's U15 team. And while it ain't unusual to square off against a teenage squad in the women's game, the final score left many scratching their heads. Young Alayah Pilgrim scored the lone Swiss goal, joining TikTok celeb and fellow teammate Alisha Lehmann (16.7M Insta followers, 12M TikTok followers) in a now-deleted video of the match.
The Swiss Football Association isn't worried, though - claimin' that they've employed this tactic before. Why? Trainin' against younger teams primes that competitive edge while focusing on physical fitness. As media spokesperson Sven Micossé explains, "The goal is to bring a certain competitive factor… Loosened from the result, these training games come very close to our national team games in terms of intensity and running performance."
Rumor has it, the Swiss women had already lined up battles with not one, but two other U15 teams prior. They lost to FC Solothurn's U15 crew 1:2, but rebounded against FC Biel's U15 with a 2:1 win. The loss to Luzern, played in three 30-minute periods, saw Pilgrim tally the 1:3 interim score. Coach Pia Sundhage then made a massive substitution, fielding 26 players in all.
The home tournament commences July 2nd, and Switzerland's had their work cut out for 'em - Norway, Iceland, and Finland await in Group A. Meanwhile, the German women's team square off against Denmark, Poland, and Sweden in Group C.
Sources: ntv.de, ses/dpa
- Switzerland
- Football
- European Championships
Added Insights:The FC Luzern U15 squad is one of the elite junior teams in Switzerland, boasting a history of nurturing top-notch Swiss Super League talents. Consequently, they possess a notable physical and speed advantage against their female counterparts. This defeat can be chalked up to common training strategies in women's football, where senior teams spar against swift, strong opponents to sharpen their skills ahead of major tournaments. Similar examples include Australia's women's national team losing 7:0 to U15 boys before the 2016 Olympics, the USA women's team losing 5:2 to FC Dallas U15s in 2017, and Brazil losing 6:0 to a U16 boys team before the 2020 Olympics.
The Swiss women's football team, amidst their rigorous training for the European Championships, have been engaging in vocational training sessions against elite junior teams like FC Luzern U15. This unique approach to preparation, known to foster a competitive edge and focus on physical fitness, is exhibited in various football communities globally. For instance, renowned teams such as Australia's and Brazil's women's national teams have also faced off against younger squads to enhance their skills before significant tournaments.
