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As a guest in the “Sport Panorama”, women’s national team trainer Inka Grings explains her strict approach and the largest construction site.
Bundesliga record scorer, two-time European champion, multiple league and cup winner in Switzerland: Inka Grings is an undisputed luminary of women’s football.
Her nose for goals was notorious on the field – feared on the one hand and admired on the other. She has always had this instinct, and her vocation as a striker quickly became apparent. Grings looks back: “I was told early on: ‘Inka, stay in front, you’re just doing nonsense in the back. Better score the goals in front.»»
No success (yet), no worries (yet).
And so did Grings. This has resulted in a unique career, both on and off the field: she is currently on the sidelines of the Swiss women’s national team. “You can work and train with the best of the best,” enthuses the German about her new job. The success with 0 wins from their first 4 friendlies is still manageable, but: “That doesn’t worry me at all.” The team has yet to find itself.
Last Tuesday, despite a good performance against Iceland, Switzerland suffered its first defeat under Grings (1:2). “We have to work on effectiveness and callousness,” the 44-year-old says of the problem children. “But the players have to do that first and foremost with their clubs.”
I demand more discipline and rely on harder, more intensive and generally more training.
When asked whether Switzerland could use a Grings in their heyday in the storm, she says, laughing, but also simply and without false modesty: “Yes.” Grings generally speaks directly and clearly, sometimes tackles her protégés harder. She clearly sets herself apart from her predecessor Nils Nielsen: “I demand more discipline and rely on harder, more intensive and generally more training.”
Combining the standards with the beautiful
This training should bear fruit for the first time next summer, namely when a Swiss women’s national team travels to a World Cup finals for the second time. From mid-July, the Grings squad will meet co-hosts New Zealand, Norway and the Philippines.
“The round of 16 is our stated goal,” Grings confirms the already known Swiss ambitions. Her main focus in the preparatory camp before the highlight of the year: “Act even more as a team and go hard on goal. Standards will also be a big issue.”
In addition to all the hard work on the pitch, Grings is also trying to find a balance: “We will also do something nice on the side. I know from my own experience how important it is to get away from football.”