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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sundhage faces her 'biggest challenge' as she prepares host nation Switzerland for Euro 2025
Switzerland's head coach Pia Sundhage watches her players during a training session, May 28, 2025, ahead of a UEFA Women's Nations League soccer match against France in Saillon, Switzerland. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) Switzerland head coach Pia Sundhage, right, talks to her players during a UEFA Women's Nations League match against France, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Nancy, France. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's head coach Pia Sundhage talks to the media during a press conference Monday, June 2, 2025, ahead of a the UEFA Women's Nations League soccer match against Norway in Sion, Switzerland. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's head coach Pia Sundhage talks to the media during a press conference Monday, June 2, 2025, ahead of a the UEFA Women's Nations League soccer match against Norway in Sion, Switzerland. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's head coach Pia Sundhage watches her players during a training session, May 28, 2025, ahead of a UEFA Women's Nations League soccer match against France in Saillon, Switzerland. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) Switzerland head coach Pia Sundhage, right, talks to her players during a UEFA Women's Nations League match against France, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Nancy, France. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's head coach Pia Sundhage talks to the media during a press conference Monday, June 2, 2025, ahead of a the UEFA Women's Nations League soccer match against Norway in Sion, Switzerland. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) GENEVA (AP) — Soccer great Pia Sundhage's long international career stretches back a decade beyond the first Women's European Championship she won decisively for Sweden in 1984. Now aged 65, the two-time Olympic title-winning coach — both times for the United States — is preparing host nation Switzerland's team to kick off Euro 2025 next Wednesday. Advertisement 'I would say it's the biggest challenge I have ever had,' said Sundhage, who has coached in a World Cup final, three Olympic gold-medal games and a Copa América final. 'It is really, really interesting.' Her first tournament coaching the Swiss is 41 years after the inaugural Euros was won in conditions that seem more than a lifetime ago for women's soccer. In 1984, the four-team UEFA competition was home-and-away semifinals and final, with second legs played weeks after the first in games of 70 minutes, not 90. The title was won in England with fewer than 3,000 fans in the stadium and no national television coverage. Sweden beat England in a penalty shootout after each won the home leg 1-0. At the muddy, rain-soaked home field of Luton Town, Sundhage added to her first-leg goal to score the winning spot-kick, captured in fuzzy footage of the game. Advertisement The Swedish champions got home to find their victory celebrated in a rare two-page newspaper spread. 'That was just unique,' Sundhage recalled to reporters at a recent briefing. 'Two pages, are you kidding me? Oh look, there's a picture as well.' In 2025, Switzerland will play to packed stadiums in a 16-nation event that will set a tournament record of about 600,000 spectators. The venues are Switzerland's best and four of the eight also were used at the men's Euro 2008 co-hosted with Austria. Sundhage has been there for most stops on the women's soccer journey: helping Sweden win that first European title, then taking third place at the first Women's World Cup in 1991. She coached host Sweden to the Euro 2013 semifinals and now has a second chance with a home team. Advertisement The challenge to get Switzerland tournament-ready has Sundhage drawing on what she learned coaching in China, the U.S, Sweden and Brazil — leaving her, she said, 'really rich' in experiences. 'All these different teams, countries have made me really open minded,' said the coach who believes passionately in teamwork though is very much her own person. After each Olympic title, in 2008 and 2012, she declined the traditional invitation for U.S. team gold medalists to visit the White House. From presidents on each side of the aisle. 'I felt like I'm not connected to the White House,' Sundhage explained recently. 'If I have a choice I can go in the other direction, I'm going to do that. Regardless, Bush or Obama, I'd rather go back to Sweden.' Advertisement For five years she coached a stellar U.S. squad that was denied a World Cup title in 2011 by Japan only by a penalty shootout. She was immersed in a sporting culture where 'they know how to bring out the best,' Sundhage recalled. Switzerland is different, with players that have experience and promise yet a tendency their coach sees of taking too few risks, being too 'correct.' 'You have to get crazy. That means you are going to make a mistake. And that is scary for a Swiss player,' she suggested. 'The biggest mistake you can actually do is not trying,' said Sundhage, who defied social expectations in her Swedish childhood to forge a career in soccer. 'Otherwise you will never ever find out how good you are.' ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Norway captain Hegerberg's leadership highlighted as key to Euro 2025 challenge
Norway's Vilde Boe Risa celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Women's Nations League, group A2, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway in Sion, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi)/Keystone via AP) Norway's head coach Gemma Grainger gestures during the Women's Nations League, group A2, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway in Sion, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's Viola Calligaris, left, and Norway's Ada Hegerberg, right, challenge for the ball during the Women's Nations League, group A2, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway in Sion, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's Viola Calligaris, left, and Norway's Ada Hegerberg, right, challenge for the ball during the Women's Nations League, group A2, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway in Sion, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Norway's Vilde Boe Risa celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Women's Nations League, group A2, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway in Sion, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi)/Keystone via AP) Norway's head coach Gemma Grainger gestures during the Women's Nations League, group A2, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway in Sion, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's Viola Calligaris, left, and Norway's Ada Hegerberg, right, challenge for the ball during the Women's Nations League, group A2, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway in Sion, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) OSLO, Norway (AP) — The leadership of Norway captain Ada Hegerberg was highlighted Monday as key for the two-time former title holder heading into the Women's European Championship next month. Hegerberg, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, headed a 23-player squad picked by coach Gemma Grainger for the July 2-27 tournament in Switzerland. Advertisement 'One of Ada's biggest strengths is how authentic she is,' Grainger said Monday with Hegerberg sitting next to her at a squad announcement event. 'Ada will always tell me what she thinks,' the coach said, adding 'then you get to places a lot quicker' even if it involved 'many uncomfortable conversations.' Hegerberg quipped with a smile: 'That is what you get.' Norway was European champion in 1987 and 1993 and is a four-time beaten finalist, most recently in 2013 when the team had a teenage forward line of Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen. The two storied veterans and former Champions League winners — Hegerberg at Lyon and Hansen at Barcelona — with a combined 100 national-team goals are the biggest stars in the Euro 2025 squad. Advertisement The 30-year-old Hegerberg has 49 goals despite persistent injuries, and a five-year exile from the team ahead of Euro 2022 that helped push the national federation to treat women's soccer more equally. Norway has not advanced from the group stage in the past two Euros editions though looks favored in the 16-nation draw for Euro 2025. Norway plays in the opening-day game against host Switzerland on July 2 in Basel, faces Finland at Sion four days later and Iceland on June 10 in Thun. 'People can say there are none of the bigger names in our group,' Grainger said. 'You don't underestimate anybody.' Advertisement Defender Maren Mjelde was picked for her fifth Euros at age 35 and with 179 national-team games. Four players left on standby include Liverpool forward Sophie Román Haug. ____ Norway squad Goalkeepers: Cecilie Fiskerstrand (Fiorentina), Aurora Mikalsen (Cologne), Selma Panengstuen (Brann). Defenders: Tuva Hansen (Bayern Munich), Guro Bergsvand (Wolfsburg), Maren Mjelde (No club), Thea Bjelde (Valerenga), Marit Bratberg Lund (Benfica), Emilie Woldvik (Rosengard), Mathilde Harviken (Juventus). Midfielders: Ingrid Syrstad Engen (Barcelona), Vilde Bøe Risa (Atletico Madrid), Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United), Justine Kielland (Wolfsburg), Lisa Naalsund (Manchester United), Frida Maanum (Arsenal), Guro Reiten (Chelsea), Signe Gaupset (Brann). Advertisement Forwards: Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona), Ada Hegerberg (Lyon), Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Manchester United), Synne Jensen (Atletico Madrid), Karina Sævik (Valerenga). ___ AP soccer:
CBC
07-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
2025 Women's Volleyball Nations League: Canada vs Japan
Watch Canada and Japan go head-to-head in this Women's Volleyball Nations League bout from TD Place Arena in Ottawa.
Washington Post
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Spain draws Sweden in semifinals of Women's Nations League. Germany gets France
NYON, Switzerland — World champion Spain will continue its defense of the UEFA Women's Nations League title against Sweden in the semifinals after the draw was made on Friday. Spain will host the first leg on Oct. 24 and the return is four days later in Sweden. Germany hosts France first in the other semifinal played on the same dates. France was beaten by Spain 2-0 in Seville in the inaugural final last year.
Associated Press
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Spain draws Sweden in semifinals of Women's Nations League. Germany gets France
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — World champion Spain will continue its defense of the UEFA Women's Nations League title against Sweden in the semifinals after the draw was made on Friday. Spain will host the first leg on Oct. 24 and the return is four days later in Sweden. Germany hosts France first in the other semifinal played on the same dates. France was beaten by Spain 2-0 in Seville in the inaugural final last year. The 2025 final is scheduled over two legs, on Nov. 28 and Dec. 2. All four teams advanced to the finals stage by finishing atop groups that started in February and finished this week — effectively as warmups for the Women's European Championship. Only France won six straight games. First, all four head to the 16-team Euro 2025 that starts on July 2 in Switzerland. Germany and Sweden are in the same Euros group. France is in a tough group with the past two European champions, England and the Netherlands. Spain, the 2023 Women's World Cup winner, starts its Euro 2025 campaign against Portugal on July 3 in Bern. ___ AP soccer:
