Rediscovering the Women’s National Team: A teenager rocks the World Cup camp

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When national coach Inka Grings announces the final selection for the World Cup in New Zealand (from July 20) in a week, the name Iman Beney (16) may also be on the list. The Valais is the discovery of the preparation and – especially with regard to the home tournament EM 2025 – one of the great promises in Swiss football.

“She’s here for a reason and has worked for it,” says Grings of the YB striker. “She exudes incredible dynamism and danger on target. She is brave, free-spirited, unafraid and has no false respect. She defends herself and is extremely well integrated into the team.” The last time there was a problem in the national team was scoring goals. Switzerland scored just two goals in four friendlies this spring.

Physique and personality as the greatest assets

Beney enjoys the moment. That she is still in the selection is “very special”, after all, she entered without expectations. “Participating in the World Cup is of course my goal and my dream, but it would be a bonus.” The trip Down Under would be the highlight of an already successful season. She fought for a permanent place at YB, reached the semi-finals with Switzerland at the U17 European Championship in Tallinn in May and was voted into the team of the tournament thanks to two goals and three assists.

It is no surprise to U17 national coach Veronica Maglia that Beney can also join the A-team. “She is – in a positive sense – very ambitious, has a lot of power and goes into every duel tirelessly until the end.” Maglia sees her physique and her personality as Beney’s greatest strengths. The fact that she made it to the U17 European Championship thanks to her assists proves that she is also an absolute team player.

The father was a goalkeeper, the aunt a national player

Beney was born with a talent for football. Her father Nicolas once played as a goalkeeper for FC Sion, her aunt Noémi played 45 international matches for the national team. Her older brother Roméo is also a talented footballer and is in the youth team of FC Basel. It’s no wonder the daughter was also drawn to soccer, “even if my mom would have preferred me to dance,” says Beney. This is a native Brazilian, which is one of the reasons why Neymar is Beney’s great role model – at least on the pitch.

In addition to her dedication to the YB women, Beney completes three additional units with her male peers, as well as attending commercial school. Beney dreams of one day earning her living as a professional. Her favorite league is the English one, she likes the box-to-box game. But Beney is in no hurry, the move abroad would probably come too soon. “It would certainly do her good to play another season in the Super League,” said Maglia. “Sooner or later, however, it will prevail abroad.”

Beney wants to keep her place in the World Cup selection for the time being. There is a good chance that she will celebrate her birthday on the other side of the world. On July 23, two days after Switzerland’s opening game against the Philippines, Beney will turn 17 years old. It is quite possible that the Valais woman then has a double reason to celebrate.

Source : Blick