This is how the nation works

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The connection in a team. The deep trust and belief in each other. The dynamics that can develop in a team often remain a mystery to outsiders. In a dressing room, their character is formed, their soul grows – and both can take a company to great success.

Important ingredients for a strong unity with anchored values ​​are also provided by many things off the ice and outside the dressing room: shared moments, fixed points, rituals, traditions. Quite a few of these are in the context of a World Cup tournament. SonntagsBlick picks up important things that enrich the inner workings of the national team.

Goal and Victory Song from “DJ Bertschy”

They could be remembered forever: the songs played after a goal or a victory of the Swiss national team at the World Cup. Traditionally, all countries are allowed to submit their song selection before the start of the tournament. The Swiss have had a lot: unusual, Swiss, rock. In the silver year of 2013, “Can’t stop” roared from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In 2018, the Swiss cheered for the infectious “079” by Lo & Leduc, and a year later for “Legändä und Heldä” by Bligg.

Since that year, his World Cup debut, Christoph Bertschy has been the national DJ in the dressing room and therefore responsible for all song selections. In the 7-0 thrashing of the opening game against Slovenia, the Swiss fans sang along to “Petra Sturzenegger” from the Stubete Gäng seven times in Riga yesterday – a glitch!

Because Bertschy, together with Enzo Corvi and after consultation with other team members, actually chose “Göschene Airolo” from the Zug dialect band. From today’s game against the Norwegians, the right goal anthem should play in the arena. And the victory song? “DJ Bertschy” relies on the new party hit “Peter Pan” by Julian Sommer and Mia Julia, which is already warming up the masses at Ballermann in Mallorca.

What does Bertschy value when making his selection? «I prefer songs in Swiss German or German that are easy to sing along with and create a good atmosphere. Just nothing boring, but songs that carry you away,” explains the 29-year-old. Bertschy realizes that a song like this can still bring back special memories years later, which is why he enjoys his work as a DJ. On match days, the Friborg striker chooses music from his own playlists for the dressing room and on training days he simply leaves the radio on.

A captain of stature

After Nico Hischier in 2022, Nino Niederreiter is another NHL star captain of the Swiss national team. Coach Patrick Fischer suggests who will lead the team with the “C” on their chest and who should be on the captain’s team as assistants. The candidates are discussed in the panel with the rest of the staff. The required properties? “It’s about his leadership skills, his communication, being able to raise his voice when needed,” says Weibel.

Weibel emphasizes that in this 25-strong team everyone actually has the qualities of a captain, “we already pay attention to that in the selections. Everyone respects each other, there is no jealousy in the team.” According to Weibel, the exchange between the coaching crew and the captain’s team is intensive, which is why the role of this leading group is important – even though the creed in the national team is: “No one is bigger than the team.”

Internal MVP Award

Despite the credo: the internal MVP, ie the most valuable player of the match, is awarded in the dressing room immediately after the match. In this way respect is shown to an achievement, to a commitment. Something is symbolically handed over to the chosen one. This is tracked from tournament to tournament. So it was last year in Helsinki (Fi) a leather aviator cap and goggles. “It’s a great ritual,” says Weibel. What and if the players came up with something this time here in Riga remains a mystery.

The arrangement of the chairs in the wardrobe

Coach Patrick Fischer has the biggest influence on who sits next to whom in the locker room. Because the arrangement determines the seating arrangement. This allows line colleagues to communicate better with each other during breaks.

The traditional «SAC hut»

It gives a homely feeling and has cult status: the so-called «SAC-hut» is a lounge for the players of the national team, which masseur Karl Müller has furnished in the hotel with a lot of Swissness and passion. The Swiss spend a lot of time there, “camaraderie and the idea of ​​Switzerland are encouraged,” says Weibel. The players can get a massage, watch the other World Cup matches on TV, duel in board games such as Brändi-Dog or Jas or play a game of ping pong. Occasionally there is also a cold plate with cheese and cold cuts.

The room layout: Oldie Ambuhl with Corvi

The players spend even more time in the rooms than on the ice and in the locker room. But how does the layout of the double rooms actually work? Are the assignments random? Or are the temporary housemates simply assigned? Nati director Weibel explains: “Our team manager Ricardo Schödler asks the team in advance who wants to share a room with whom. We try to take these wishes into account. For the rest he makes suggestions.” Ex-Nati goalkeeper Weibel cannot remember that anything went wrong.

Andres Ambühl is already playing his 18th (!) World Championship here in Riga. The native of Davos already had a corresponding number of different “Gspänli” rooms. He is currently sharing a room with HCD colleague Enzo Corvi (30) for the second time in a row – this is already the fifth week. “You get used to each other and you are attentive,” says Ambühl, “It’s a good match with Enzo and I, we look alike. We like to have our peace and quiet and don’t disturb each other.” That’s why you go into the room with someone you know from tapping. “It’s important not to get on your nerves from the start. Including preparation, it can be six to eight weeks in the shared room. That’s why the setup is important.”

Just as important as the time you spend together in general. Ambühl agrees that unity is mainly formed from the ice. “The longer a tournament lasts, the closer a team has to come together. Time together also melts together,” says the 39-year-old. Of course, it’s easier to pick up momentum when it’s skating. “But apart from the ice you can influence a lot. That everyone works for each other, that you have a good cement.” You become a family.

Source : Blick

Emma

I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.