New Zealand Nati Stars: Lehmann and Arfaoui are pretty much best friends

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The two Bernese Alisha Lehmann (24) and Amira Arfaoui (23) are two of the Swiss debutants in a final and spend a lot of time together in New Zealand. “We’ve known each other since we were 12 and played together at YB,” says Lehmann. Even then they were very good colleagues. Even later, when they broke up, contact was not broken. “Alisha is like a sister to me,” says Arfaoui, who is six months younger than Lehmann. Being at a World Cup together is a dream. ‘I’m glad Alisha’s here. And I also think she’s happy I’m here.” The two celebrated a joint success in the Swiss jersey in Iceland in 2015 at the U17 European Championship, when Switzerland only lost to Spain in the final. Géraldine Reuteler of the current national team was there at the time.

Just like at the European Championship in England a year ago, Fabienne Humm (36) also has her work laptop with her in New Zealand. Instead of watching Netflix or hanging on her mobile, the logistics employee occasionally logs in for an hour and supports her office colleagues at home. “It’s not a must, and I don’t mind. It’s good for my balance and distracts me a bit from football,” says the striker, who has extended her contract with FCZ for another season. “It is my way of saying thank you for the support my employer gives me. Because it is not obvious that he has released me indefinitely.”

A small but fine Swiss community lives in the regions of Otago and Southland. About 250 to 300 Swiss have found a new home here in the southernmost part of New Zealand’s South Island. According to the embassy, ​​there are about 7,000 Swiss living throughout New Zealand. The co-host country has more than five million inhabitants.

Tahuna Park, the national training camp, is steeped in history. In 1905 the All Blacks, the New Zealand rugby team, played against Australia for the first time on New Zealand soil. According to media reports, heavy rain at the time meant the game had to be moved to Tahuna Park. The national team has been virtually spared from the rain since arriving in New Zealand a week ago.

The World Cup opening match on Thursday in Auckland between Swiss group opponents New Zealand and Norway has been sold out for weeks with no fewer than 40,536 fans. It will be the largest audience ever to watch a football match in New Zealand. The previous record – during the 2009 Men’s World Cup qualifier in Wellington against Bahrain – is 35,194 spectators.

The game between Switzerland and the Philippines arouses slightly less interest and that is why Fifa is giving away 5,000 free tickets for Friday’s game in Dunedin, just like for three other New Zealand matches. The action evokes mixed feelings among the Nati stars. “We already knew that New Zealand is very far away for Swiss fans. Moreover, Dunedin is not exactly the largest city,” says Julia Stierli. “Still, we hope that the stadium is as full as possible.” The normal prices for the game are between 11 and 22 francs.

Source : Blick