Lotta Schelin extend contract with Lyon :http://www.olweb.fr/fr/Accueil/100007/Article/59399/Lotta-Schelin-prolonge-a-l-OL Good news for OL as she would probably have had a few teams willing to sign her.
Swiss cup final SC Kriens - FC Zurich live on TV at 9pm CEST tonight (90 mins from now), and a stream will be available here (shouldn't be geoblocked): http://www.schweizersportfernsehen.ch/ssf/start.asp? Inka Grings and Sonja Fuss should be part of the Zurich side.
Wow, that was easily the best game I've ever seen Swiss clubs play (and that's not because I've seen so few ). It went into extra time because Kriens (losing 0-1 since a Grings goal just before half time) fought like hell towards the end of the game, throwing everything forward and finally scoring the equaliser in the fourth minute of injury time - inmidst of pouring rain and thunderstorm, an appropriate backdrop for what was happening on the field. Then in extra time, Zurich managed to get ahead again (which was certainly deserved considering the game overall, they were better individually), and this time Kriens didn't have the little bit of luck it would have taken for them to score on the few chances they got. But they definitely made it a lot harder for the Zurich girls than most people would have expected. And my little national team favourite Lara Keller had a fantastic game, as did Kriens goalie Nadine Böni, just turned 18 and definitely a hope for the national team in future (do people still grow at 18...?). Grings looked genuinely happy and excited and was up there lifting the cup, celebrating and chanting with the best of them. Everyone agrees that she's good for Swiss football because she helps the younger players grow, but it seems that Swiss football also agrees with her.
I forgot to mention the pre-match interview. Zurich coach Tsawa was asked whether there was anything special about this cup final. I expected some professional media blabla along the lines of "good season but of course a final is always special blabla", but he said, "Yes, the team had dinner together, paid for by a sponsor, before we went to the stadium for the match". Bless him. Bless Swiss football. (Only one cramp though. They held up amazingly well.)
The cramp in the calf due to exhaustion is........both agony and instant disability. Its quite bizarre to be helpless, and then that treatment you see where another player grabs the foot and yanks it to stretch the muscle - is instant relief - the disabled can suddenly walk again. There may be acting in soccer, but with cramps, the miracle is perfectly real. In heavy rain - yes it is amazing to get just one in a 120-minute game.
Highlights from the abovementioned Swiss cup final Zürich-Kriens http://www.sport.sf.tv/Nachrichten/Archiv/2012/05/05/Fussball/Cupsieg-fuer-FCZ-Frauen
Italy needs a new national team coach; Pietro Ghedin is taking over Malta's men. Anybody interested? Pia looking for a new job? Carolina Morace?
Boah, sometimes it's so hard to understand Swiss German. But their pronunciation of "Cup" is funny: "Göp."
Nope, Italy's new national team coach is Antonio Cabrini. He won the World Cup as a player. No idea whether he has any experience in coaching women?
Wow, one would think he doesnt need a job that probably has no real prestige and little pay. I say, give him a chance. Wonder which World Cup was that? In the 80's maybe.
Micol, I wrote something about Cabrini's training experience in the "Women's league in Italy" thread (Women's International)...about this choice, most of the people think that the Federation likes better to have a "famous trainer" (who helps improving the visibility of the women's soccer among sponsors and media) rather than a "good trainer", so that some journalist is asking now for an assistant trainer to help him, somebody already into the women football world... We'll see, next NT duty is 16th of June againt Macedonia, Euro2013 qualifying...
Thank you gricio! Let's see how it goes... In the meantime, Swiss international and Grasshoppers Zurich captain Daniela Schwarz is transferring to Kolbotn in Norway. I haven't seen her play very often, she hasn't been getting much playing time on the national team recently. But I sat next to her father at a match a few years ago, we chatted a bit, he seemed a very nice guy and I've had a soft spot for her ever since. So all the best to her!
PSG seem to be after a couple of OL players: According to this article, they'd like to sign Abily, Bompastor, Nécib and Schelin. Well, good luck!
That surely means more $ is flooding in to the French game? I dont know who is aware, but the victory of Manchester City in the English Premier league was a sensation - in Dubai, which is where the money came from. As far as I recall, PSG has a large financial investment from those parts already. Given that the WPS just gave up the ghost here, it is refreshing news.
Schelin and Bompastor apparently are not interested. The one that could happen is Necib who is out of contract by the end of June.
Work rate orientated decision is my guess. For all her technical brilliance, she is not the strongest player and won't get stuck in...in general
German 19yo player Valentina Maceri (obviously of italian origin) just signed with Verona; the girl last year played in 2BL with Crailsheim, and was part of the U17NT in the past too. Source (with photo): http://www.cfbardolino.com/ultime-news.php?id=2405
Lyon win the league and does the treble with a 3-0 away win at Arch rivals Juvisy. And straightaway the transfer window opens and it will be a BIG one this summer. First one Bussaglia from PSG to OL. Numerous rumours send Necib, Georges and Bretigny the other way...And also Rosana going back to Brazil.