When Switzerland open their World Cup Round of 16 campaign against Spain in the early hours of Saturday morning Central European time, it will be a reunion with many old acquaintances for the Nati’s top scorer.
Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic will start her knockout games at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on Saturday with great confidence and against many well-known colleagues. The 32-year-old striker will play against Spain at Eden Park in Auckland.
And with them, numerous team-mates from her club life. For Crnogorcevic, after many years in German football (Hamburger SV, 1. FFC Frankfurt) and a stint with the Portland Thorns in North America, has been playing for FC Barcelona since 2019 The Catalans, industry leaders in Spanish women’s club football, have a total of 18 players at this World Cup (top figure), half of whom play for Spain.
There has been teasing for some time
Of course there are also very good friends of Crnogorcevic. The 150-time national player didn’t have to mention that at the press conference. And that’s why she’s in for a very special duel. But: “On the pitch, the friendship has to rest for 90 or 120 minutes. After that we are friends again.
Since the preparation for the World Cup, Crnogorcevic and her Barça colleagues have been keeping in touch, teasing each other. After all, it was already clear when the table was announced: “Hey, we could meet in the last 16. “
Unhappiness about departure on Friday
The Swiss will leave their base in Dunedin, New Zealand, as unbeaten group winners. It’s on from the south of the South Island to the North Island in the metropolis of Auckland – and not as smoothly as hoped. The journey only starts on Friday morning local time. Not ideal, says Crnogorcevic: “It would have been better if we could have flown on Thursday evening. Then we could unpack everything on Friday and go to the final training. According to FIFA, however, this was not possible.
Despite the stress of travelling and being underdogs, the Nati, coached by former German international Inka Grings, are approaching the clash with Spain full of optimism. “Of course we’re confident, otherwise we wouldn’t even have to play,” said the record goalscorer, who was of course aware of Spain’s 4-0 defeat to Japan.
Praise for Japan’s tactics
“We saw how to beat Spain,” Crnogorcevic said. “They also have weaknesses. Japan did a fantastic job tactically, ran the counters superbly. They were also extremely determined.”
And so the Nati will have to direct their attention above all to an unerring switching game as well as to “securing the ball up front”. Which will then affect Crnogorcevic above all. However, five to six team-mates should always move up to support her. So that Switzerland can also outplay the top-ranking Spaniards. And Crnogorcevic is the one who sends off the quips against her friends after the game with the quarter-final ticket in her hand.
