The first week of Sundhage: a little Beatles, a lot of Swedes and a big goal

Sundhage convinced her new players immediately. Not because of her track record, but rather because of her manner, especially very calm and relaxed, but with clear statements at the important moments. If you listen to the players of the national team, they all have the same first impression: after the epidemic year of 2023 with only two wins in 16 matches, the 64-year-old is just the right woman for a new start.

Problems in the dining room

Sundhage has set herself a clear goal for her first step together: she wants to get to know her team well – both on and off the field. From the start, she had no problem telling her 28 players apart on the field. “Everyone has their own unique movements,” said Sundhage, who watched dozens of hours of video footage in preparation for training camp.

Off the field she has more problems. As the week begins, Sundhage is still struggling in the dining room with all the new faces. But that is changing quickly because in the south of Spain there is not only singing but also a lot of talking. Sundhage will have an individual conversation with each player during the first few days.

The Swedish coaching trio is well rehearsed

“I want to know what each player’s strengths and weaknesses are,” she explains. The 2012 world trainer also wants to know who wants feedback from her and how much. “They’re all different people, so I don’t treat every player exactly the same,” Sundhage said.

In addition to a lot of English, Swedish is also spoken by the new trainer. However, only as much as is absolutely necessary. With her two assistants Lilie Persson (57) and Anders Johansson (57), Sundhage forms a well-coordinated team. They have looked after the Brazilian national team together for the past four years and Persson has even worked with the national coach since 2012. This simplifies communication on the training ground. Only rarely does an instruction from Sundhage last more than a few seconds before the training cones are exactly where the national coach wants them.

A finger ring for Olympic victory

Her coaching team isn’t the only thing Sundhage has brought from her glorious past to the Swiss team. On her right hand she wears a ring with the Olympic symbol stamped into it. A gift from the American federation after the 2008 Olympic victory in Beijing. Four years later the title was successfully defended in London and there was another ring. “Unfortunately it’s too big for me,” said the Swede.

The footsteps she has to follow as national coach are not too great. Nevertheless: Sundhage does not want to change everything in the almost year and a half before the home championship. Just turn the right screws. The test match in Friday’s 4-1 win against Poland showed that the Nati coach had already found the first of them.

Sundhage is glued to her notepad

But despite the Swiss scoring four goals – more than in a year and a half – Sundhage is only halfway satisfied with their debut. She knows where she wants to continue working. The build-up game is still too error-prone. The standard situations are also in urgent need of refinement. She writes everything down in her notebook. With yellow pen with the logo of the Swedish association. “I’m old,” Sundhage says, laughing. “That’s the only way I’ll survive.”

She would like to get as much information as possible from the two test matches in Marbella. In the first Test, Sundhage had written only 18 names on the scoresheet. The ten remaining players watch the match from the stands. These in turn must be used in the second match on Tuesday against the same opponent. The trainer wants to give everyone enough working time.

Bachmann: “We can learn a lot from her”

The Nati coach rules out the possibility that she has already found her starting eleven after the first assembly. But what is already certain: Ramona Bachmann (33) will play a central role. Sundhage told this to the PSG striker before they moved in – in Swedish. From her time in Umea, the Lucerne native still speaks the language fluently.

“We can all learn a lot from her. We want to implement everything she tells us as best as possible,” Bachmann promises. The help Sundhage hopes for from her new friends seems certain after just a few days.