Taddei sets Swiss goals
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Article summary
The Switzerland coach Claudio Taddei wants his team to make the women's U19 knockout stage for the first time.
Article body
Previous bids
A year ago, defeats by eventual winners Spain and soon-to-be world champions Germany eliminated the Swiss with a game to spare, which they won against hosts Finland. Two years earlier they were pipped in a three-way tie by England.
Familiar foes
This time they face two familiar foes in Hungary. Their Group A campaign begins against the Finns tomorrow, before a meeting with Germany two days later. Then, just as 12 months ago, they conclude against the hosts.
Prolific duo
Former U21 international Taddei will have to do without Bettina Thomet, Sara Schwarz and Clio De Siebenthal through injury in a squad based around the attacking talents of Vanessa Bürki and Isabelle Meyer. That pair were the top scorers in the 2004/05 domestic championship, both managing 19 goals in 21 games for FFC Zuchwil 05 and SC LUWin respectively.
Moser experience
Meyer's club-mate, Martina Moser, is in her third finals having been part of the 2002 and 2004 campaigns, tournaments in which Taddei assisted Beatrice von Siebenthal. The coach, whose team have not lost to Finland in almost three years and have a positive head-to-head record against Hungary, believes Switzerland can come through despite the presence of Germany.
Taddei's aim
"We want to reach the semi-finals," he said. With the Swiss having won five ties out of six in qualifying - scoring 20 goals - a last-four spot and world championship qualification are within reach.
Switzerland squad
Stenia Michel (FFC Zürich-Seebach), Gaelle Thalmann (FFC Zuchwil 05), Caroline Abbé (CS Chênois), Vanessa Bernauer (FFC Zürich-Seebach), Beatrice Burger (FC Schwerzenbach), Vanessa Bürki (FFC Zuchwil 05), Evelyne Camenzind (FFC Zürich-Seebach, Manuela Derungs (FC Schwerzenbach), Katrin Eggenberger (FC Ruggell), Isabelle Kaufmann (SC LUWin), Sandy Maendly (CS Chênois), Isabelle Meyer (SC LUWin), Andrea Michel (SC LUWin), Martina Moser (SC LUWin), Priska Schaufelbühl (FFC Zuchwil 05), Flavia Schwarz (FFC Zürich-Seebach), Simone Zahno (FFC Zuchwil 05), Valérie Zürny (SC LUWin).
