Switzerland has faced various men’s junior teams as part of their preparation for Euro 2025.
Alisha Lehmann has spoken out following Switzerland’s 7-1 defeat against an under-15 boys squad in training for Women’s Euro 2025.
Switzerland has qualified for the event, which begins on July 2 as hosts.
They’ve been placed into what appears to be a very fortunate group, with games against Iceland and Finland, as well as a tough test against Norway.
In preparation for the event, Pia Sundhage’s team has been playing friendly matches against local men’s junior teams.
They defeated Swiss third-tier club FC Biel’s U15 team before losing 2-1 to FC Solothurn.
They then faced the under-15s of Swiss Super League club FC Luzern, losing 7-1.
Luzern has produced several Swiss Super League and international talents over the last two decades, notably former Switzerland star Haris Seferovic, Club Brugge midfielder Ardon Jashari, and Borussia Monchengladbach captain Jonas Omlin.
As a result, they field among of Switzerland’s most elite junior teams.
Swiss outlet Blick highlighted that Switzerland’s women’s squad used 28 players in all for the 90-minute match, with their third-choice custodian playing for the U15s in one half.
Four players were missing, including their captain and Arsenal star, Lia Walti.
The outcome was plainly far less essential than the training for the next competition, as midfielder Leila Wandeler told Blick: “The result didn’t matter. For us, the goal was to put our game concepts to the test.”
Sven Micosse, the team’s head of communications, stated: “The physical aspect is the primary focus during this phase of training.
“Regardless of the result, these training matches are very similar to our international matches in terms of intensity and mileage.”
That seems to be mirrored by Lehmann, who did not mention the match but said on Instagram, “Work work work.”
Lehmann is a member of Switzerland’s Euro 2025 squad, however he is no longer a significant player, having played sparingly for Juventus this season.
She joined Juventus with her then-partner Douglas Luiz in what was considered football’s first ‘couples transfer’, however the majority of her 16 Serie A outings were late substitute appearances.
The 26-year-old winger was initially overlooked for selection, but was called up owing to injury.
Her manager, Sundhage, told reporters that she had tried out as a full-back in friendly matches.
Following her Euro 2025 call-up, Lehmann commented, “I couldn’t be happier to represent my country in the Euros.
“I’m quite appreciative for this opportunity. Let’s make Switzerland proud by demonstrating how women’s football is expanding. “We’re Switzerland.”
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