INTERVIEW - The women's football expert says: "The national team is more diverse today. For me, that reflects Switzerland."

Marisa Wunderlin, what can the Swiss women's football team do to have a chance against Spain in the European Championship quarter-finals?

Everything that has to do with the team spirit, the way we perform as a team. Fighting to the limit, for example. That's non-negotiable when you're playing against such good teams. Then you need a foul at a clever moment to prevent the Spanish from getting going. And good transition situations after winning the ball. That's where I see Spain as vulnerable.

The Swiss women demonstrated at this tournament that they live the team spirit.

Yes, that's been clear to me over the past two weeks. By that, I mean everything they can control on the field: How much do I run, how do I seek out duels, how do I communicate?

One of Sundhage's main concerns was that Swiss women should communicate more.

It was already like that earlier, for Nils Nielsen, when I was assistant coach. He worked with very good symbolic images. Once, he drew a giant shell with a pearl and a Swiss cross inside. He said: "If we want the essence of our team to be visible, we have to speak up." Speaking is difficult when there are 30,000 to 40,000 people in the stadium. But gestures are also part of communicating, taking initiative, and radiating something.

Have the Swiss women improved in this regard?

Admittedly, I've seen this especially in the past two weeks. Team dynamics are incredibly exciting. Who knows, maybe I'll have the chance to talk to Pia or other staff members after the tournament and find out if things just "clicked" or if more concrete measures have been taken.

You're a coach yourself. How did you perceive the criticism of Sundhage before the European Championships?

I didn't like everything about the national team's performances either. But I think it's important to ask ourselves: Do we know what the staff deliberately provoked in order to get a reaction from the players? Do we know how the players felt personally? Let's pick out one point of criticism: Iman Beney's positioning. Do we know how many alternatives there were to choose from? Pia is certainly aware of the players' strengths and weaknesses. She knows that a defensive positioning error could lead to a goal being conceded. But also that a goal can be scored because hardly anyone else with space in front of them can drive the ball like Iman Beney . It's always a balancing act.

In which area could the staff have deliberately provoked a reaction?

Let's take the criticism of the tough training before the tournament. Perhaps the players will react to it, bond together, and start communicating more. Pia's "lack of planning" regarding the squads was also written about. That players were sometimes included, then again not, like Nadine Riesen. When you play with a back five, the two wingers have to be able to run a lot, and of course, match practice helps with that. What if Nadine's non-call-up should inspire her to think about a club change or to reinterpret her role at Frankfurt? The conscious directing and provoking of energy, attention, and emotions is what fascinates me about the coaching job.

What has changed compared to when you were an assistant coach?

The squad is broader. Pia can choose from many more players.

Does this mean that youth work has improved?

I wish I could say yes. But I think the youth development has stayed the same. Because a little more money has flowed into the Women's Super League, more foreign players have come along. Young Swiss players have fewer opportunities to play unless they are among the top talents. I think it's a bit of a coincidence that there's more depth now. Or to put it another way: In recent years, the national team has been lacking middle-aged players. There was no one who came close to having the quality to make the national team. There now seems to be more potential in the 2005, 2006, and 2007 age groups.

What else has developed in the team besides the increased breadth?

I find the team more diverse, because of the people and the personalities within it. That's refreshing; it's an opportunity. For me, today's team reflects Switzerland. It's a country with an incredible number of cultures and backgrounds, which is evident in this team; the players speak six languages among themselves. The third point is that they're bolder in attack. That also has to do with diversity. And it's necessary. I always joke: "You won't win a match with a team full of Marisa Wunderlins."

What was the player Marisa Wunderlin like?

I embody the classic Swiss, traditional, and orderly nature. You always do what you're told, you're punctual, you comply with everything that's required. You won't win a game that way. And isn't that precisely the value of sport: that different personalities with strengths and weaknesses, cultures and backgrounds work together and learn from and with each other?

Is today’s national team the best Switzerland has ever had?

Yes, for me. But I'm convinced that the same applies to 90 percent of the other nations at the European Championship. Given the development of women's football, it's almost impossible to do otherwise.

What makes this Swiss national team special?

It would be fascinating to ask the team itself. Perhaps an identity is currently forming. Nils and I have always searched for the answer to the question: What do we stand for? We probably have a bit of everything. Many strengths, but nothing that runs through the entire team. That makes it all the more important to create an identity. And I hope the players achieve that through this European Championship. What are we in Switzerland? World champions of innovation and integration?

Where do you see innovations in Swiss football?

That was generally speaking for Switzerland. But the question is: What can we do with it? How can we utilize Switzerland's diverse cultures, languages, excellent educational and vocational training, and also technological innovation? Perhaps we could involve the players more, involve them in decisions, or find other solutions. I'm sure the team and staff are further along in this search than they were two years ago.

How do you assess the quality of the other nations and the performance gap at this tournament?

The top tier has broadened. There are five or six teams that can become European champions. There used to be fewer. But the gap to the next level, which Switzerland belongs to, has become significantly larger in my opinion. And the gap between these mid-tier teams and the bottom tier has narrowed. Switzerland's goal must be to establish itself among the top nations. But that will be a challenge.

Is there a chance to close the gap to the top teams?

I don't think that's realistic.

Isn't it justified to place so much hope in young people ?

It's always justified to have hope. At the same time, my alarm bells would ring if the conclusion after this European Championship were to be: "Everything's fine." The reality is: In Switzerland, for example, we now have six to eight really good young players in the exceptional 2006 and 2007 age groups. But countries like France or England have ten to fifteen of them in each individual age group. Our goal must be to adapt our conditions and structures somewhat to those of the other countries so that we ultimately have at least four or five such players in each age group.

Which player caught your attention the most at the European Championships?

I really like Delphine Cascarino of France. I had the chance to coach her a few times when I was a coach at Lyon. She has the dynamism in her moves, her explosiveness, her dribbling, her beautiful goals. And I love the center-back position. Leah Williams of England is the queen, even though I haven't followed her specifically at this tournament. Her build-up play is like a symphony to me.

Are there any Swiss players who surprised you, positively or negatively?

I would think it wrong to say anything negative about myself as a coach. On the positive side, there were a few players I hadn't followed closely for a few years, but now I notice that something has changed. Noelle Maritz has found her stride again , defensively and in her emotional control. I have found her to be outstanding so far. Viola Calligaris seems to me to be much more consistent offensively than before, when she made the occasional mistake in her build-up play. Nadine Riesen inspires me with her mentality, her power and her team spirit. She knows that her left foot isn't the best, but she doesn't always rely on her right. I think that's great.

What happens when Wälti stops playing?

We should enjoy her for now and then consider which player could take on her responsibilities. Perhaps these could be shared between two or three players—that could give the team a lot of consistency, as it would avoid being dependent on one person. I'm optimistic that something positive will come out of this. Noemi Ivelj could take on some of Wälti's responsibilities. Or Géraldine Reuteler, who, at her age, can bring more structure to the game than before . Then Vallotto. And there are younger players in midfield who still need a year or two to reach that level.

What is the team’s shortcoming?

That it depends on the individual strengths of the players. As I said, we don't have an identity like, for example, the Spanish. That's a shortcoming, but it can also be used positively. And we're not yet calm enough when in possession against better teams. So far, we haven't been able to have dominant periods of possession against top teams, although we saw a new level in the first half against Norway. It would be nice if the Swiss could surprise themselves with some dominant periods against Spain.

How does it feel for you, a long-time campaigner for women's football , to see what is happening in Switzerland during this European Championship?

I feel a great sense of gratitude and joy. There's a certain lightness. At the same time, I also feel the burden and responsibility that we now have to take advantage of this. For many people who have been involved for so long, two feelings always resonate: impatience because we wanted to do this years ago. And gratitude that we've now reached the point where we can make a difference.

You're currently involved in projects that also affect legacy systems. Are you seeing any positive results?

Yes. I see that there are good initiatives to attract more women to official positions. Discussions are underway about how to give elite women's football a more powerful voice within the Swiss Football Association. Efforts are underway to organize the Super League so that even within the sluggish association structure, action and decision-making can be made more quickly. And I strongly feel that internally at the association and in the clubs, people have finally been sensitized to the issue, so that we no longer encounter defensiveness, but rather genuine interest.