**Swiss Women’s Football Team Endure 7-1 Defeat to U15 Boys Side Ahead of Euro 2025**
Switzerland’s women’s football team, featuring star Alisha Lehmann, have faced a striking setback as they gear up to host the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 Championships. In a surprising turn of events, they were beaten 7-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly against FC Luzern’s under-15 boys team. The result comes less than a week before the much-anticipated tournament commences in Switzerland, raising questions about the team’s preparations and morale heading into the opening matches.
The match, intended as a private training exercise to boost intensity and sharpen the squad’s edge, was not supposed to attract public attention. However, news of the game leaked after a young participant shared photos and the scoreline on TikTok. The social media post, which has since been deleted, exposed a result that the Swiss team perhaps hoped would remain hidden, considering the scale of the defeat.
Swiss officials have attempted to contextualise the loss. Sven Micossé, head of communications for the Swiss women’s national team, commented: “It is quite standard in women’s football to play against younger boys’ teams during our preparations. The aim is to introduce a competitive atmosphere, particularly focusing on the physicality required for top-level matches.” Micossé also mentioned that despite the unfavourable scoreline, the squad derives considerable fitness and tactical benefits from these fixtures.
Alayah Pilgrim managed to pull one back for Switzerland, offering a small consolation on what was otherwise a difficult day. Lehmann herself was confirmed to be involved, a notable detail given her recent absence from Switzerland’s starting line-up due to restricted appearances at club level with Juventus. Her inclusion now suggests that she is fighting for a place in the squad’s plans for the tournament held on home soil.
Further information emerging from Swiss sports outlets indicates this is not an isolated incident. Before the drubbing at Luzern, the national side had already played two other friendlies versus under-15 squads: a narrow 2-1 loss to FC Solothurn and a 2-1 triumph over Biel’s youth side. The mixed results imply experimentation is part of Switzerland’s strategy during this crucial preparation window.
The defeat nevertheless casts a shadow over Switzerland’s readiness, especially with the opening Euros fixture looming. The tournament kicks off on Wednesday, 2 July in Basel, where the hosts will entertain Norway at St Jakob-Park following the opener between Iceland and Finland. Switzerland’s performance will be under heightened scrutiny in front of the home crowd, especially after such a chastening friendly result.
Meanwhile, the outcome holds interest for Wales, who are one of Switzerland’s group rivals at Euro 2025. With Rhian Wilkinson’s Dragons set for their own stern tests against the Netherlands, France and reigning champions England, the Swiss team’s apparent fragilities could provide a glimmer of hope for their opponents. For Wales, who begin their campaign against the Dutch side on Saturday, 5 July, every detail about potential rivals is significant in their quest to progress beyond the group stage.
As the Swiss squad prepare to face Czechia in their final warm-up fixture, coach and players alike will need to quickly regroup and put the Luzern episode behind them. With the tournament set to attract fans from across Europe, the eyes of the footballing world will soon be on Switzerland, eager to see how they handle the pressure of being hosts and whether this setback is a mere footnote or an omen for things to come.
This episode also continues the broader debate within women’s football about the value—and potential pitfalls—of using boys’ youth teams as part of senior women’s team preparations. Supporters argue it fosters intensity and physical adaptation, while critics question the impact on morale and public perception when results such as this emerge.
What is certain is that the Swiss have little time to dwell on this defeat. With the Euros less than a week away, all focus will be on turning a difficult warm-up into motivation—and ensuring that, come the opening whistle, their preparations translate into a more positive performance in front of their home supporters.