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The start of the season is just around the corner – away from the World Cup stage: the FCZ women are back in everyday league life – sport

25 August 2023

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The new season of the Women’s Super League starts on Saturday. The reigning Swiss champions FC Zurich are pursuing ambitious goals.

3 weeks ago, the women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand ended in the round of 16 for the Swiss national team with a severe setback against the eventual world champion Spain. With Julia Stierli, Nadine Riesen, Seraina Piubel, Fabienne Humm and Marion Rey, there were five FCZ players in Inka Grings’ World Cup squad.

Spain defeat is still something to think about

Defender Stierli played a central role at the World Cup. As one of the few national team players, she was on the pitch for all 360 minutes “Down Under”. For reasons of stress control, the 26-year-old is not yet training with her FCZ teammates.

The tournament also left its mark mentally. According to Stierli, the week of vacation after the World Cup would have been needed to switch off a little and devote time to other topics. And yet: the World Cup is still nagging at her: “Especially the way we lost against Spain.”

However, it is by no means only the bitter departure that is remembered: “The atmosphere in the stadiums was great. That makes you want more!” said offensive player Piubel, who was responsible for one of the 3 Swiss World Cup goals.

In 2 years it will be time again for the home EM. With regard to this tournament, Stierli hopes that “the enthusiasm for women’s football in Switzerland will increase a little more as a result of the World Cup.”

Sought-after World Cup players

But now the focus is on the new season of the Women’s Super League. In this, FCZ trainer Jacqueline Dünker will be able to fall back on Stierli, Riesen and Piubel, although they naturally aroused desires abroad due to their World Cup appearances. Piubel admitted that she had received requests from other clubs and had good conversations. “But I’m under contract with FCZ, everything else will show.”

Legend:

FCZ women on the big World Cup stage

Nadine Riesen, Seraina Piubel and Julia Stierli before the game against Norway.

Daniela Porcelli/freshfocus

The reigning Swiss champions have a lot planned for the new season: “The goal is definitely to defend the title. We also want to win the cup and qualify for the Champions League,” Stierli looks ahead. Of course, it would be ideal for such projects if FCZ could keep their seasoned World Cup players.

On Saturday, FCZ will start a season at home against FC Aarau that, according to coach Dünker, is difficult to predict. Especially with a view to the competitors Basel, Servette and GC, the 37-year-old German said: “The bigger the competition, the better the league develops. I think that places 1 to 5 will move much closer together.”

Follow the Women’s Super League game between St. Gallen and YB on Saturday from 4:50 p.m. live on SRF two or in the SRF Sport App.

Last season, the FCZ women won the playoff final against Servette 3-0 and thus won their 24th title. With the push of the World Cup players, the already large title lead over the BSC-YB women (11 titles) should be further expanded.