England Discovers Swiss Fortress Formula Following Their Historic 2022 Wembley Victory at Women's Euro

ZURICH — Defending a championship title presents unique challenges. Football clubs must learn to cope with being the hunted rather than the hunters. They need to make adjustments because each tournament brings its own distinct circumstances. 

For England, the burden is amplified by their Women's Euro 2022 triumph marking the nation's first major title since 1966. That victory sparked unprecedented enthusiasm for women's football across the country and elevated numerous players to celebrity status almost instantly. 

Three years on, England has navigated fresh obstacles while facing enormous expectations at Women's Euro 2025.

In 2022, playing on home soil, the Lionesses dominated their opponents, cruising through their group by defeating Austria, Norway and Northern Ireland with an aggregate score of 14–0. In 2025, their campaign began with a shocking 2–1 loss to France. 

This marked coach Sarina Wiegman's maiden defeat at a Women's European Championship, having previously won all 12 matches and claimed titles with both the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022. Prior to the France loss, England had maintained a perfect group stage record under Wiegman's guidance. 

Remarkably, England showed no signs of panic following that early stumble. Facing potential group stage elimination, the Lionesses responded emphatically with a commanding 4–0 victory over the Netherlands followed by a dominant 6–1 triumph against Wales, securing Thursday's quarterfinal clash with Sweden in Zurich.

England's adaptability at Women's Euro 2025 has been remarkable. Strategic adjustments, including repositioning Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood in defense, and introducing forward Ella Toone in place of Beth Mead, have helped restore their momentum. 

"It creates a significant impact when you're playing away from home"

A crucial difference is England's status as visitors rather than hosts. For Women's Euro 2025, the familiar comforts of home venues, supporters, family and friends have been exchanged for a temporary base amid the stunning hills above Lake Zurich in Switzerland.

"Looking back to 2022 when we were based in London, the setup was completely different," England captain Leah Williamson explained from the squad's tournament base at The Dolder Grand hotel.

In 2022, players enjoyed greater freedom with regular visits from family and friends at The Lensbury hotel in London. River excursions along the Thames or strolls through Bushy Park provided natural team bonding opportunities and mental breaks. 

In Zurich, England players have found alternative bonding activities including jigsaw puzzles, Monopoly Deal sessions, table tennis matches and dart tournaments.

While family visits and external support remain possible, they're perhaps less frequent than in 2022, when travel arrangements and work commitments weren't always necessary. The squad appreciates their luxurious accommodations at The Dolder Grand hotel, which allows them to welcome loved ones into their team environment.

"Everyone has made tremendous efforts to visit us here. It's been wonderful to share those special moments together. It truly matters when you're far from home. We're human beings with a job to do, but we're away for an extended period," Williamson reflected.

The media erupts in laughter when Williamson jokingly asks, "What if I revealed we were ready to strangle each other?" The Arsenal defender, who considers herself introverted, quickly elaborates on how meaningful it's been to stay engaged with her teammates in this isolated setting throughout their tournament campaign. 

"I want to savor this experience and spend quality time with my teammates," she explained. "The atmosphere is fantastic, and I genuinely enjoy their company … I'm making an effort to be more social. In 2022, I spent most of my free time sleeping when I wasn't training or playing. This time around, things are quite different."

"The Finishers" prepare for their opportunity to impact

England striker Chloe Kelly, who netted the decisive goal in the Women's Euro 2022 final as a substitute, highlighted how the traveling supporters have helped create a home-like atmosphere in Switzerland.

"During the Wales match, it felt like we were playing at home. Honestly, the supporters were absolutely incredible that evening," Kelly shared with reporters Thursday. "It's wonderful to maintain that connection with home, and we can feel the backing from fans both here in Switzerland and those supporting us from England."

Naturally, when seeking parallels between both tournaments, the impact of substitute players emerges as a crucial element in England's recent achievements. Kelly served as a game-changing substitute at Women's Euro 2022 and she's embracing the same responsibility to create more memorable moments in Switzerland. 

Since establishing their Swiss base, England's substitute players, nicknamed "the finishers," have created their own group messaging system and developed a unique celebration ritual. Called "positive clicks," the bench players simultaneously raise their arms overhead and snap their fingers. They see this as a method of boosting team spirit and showing appreciation for every squad member working tirelessly for the Lionesses. 

"Everyone is prepared for their chance to enter the match and give everything for their nation," Kelly stated. "Hopefully supporters at home can recognize that commitment, along with the players who start each game. It's about all 23 squad members being ready for their moment to help the team achieve success."

The audience at Stadion Letzigrund for Thursday evening's quarterfinal against Sweden is anticipated to be much more neutral compared to the 87,000 who supported England at Wembley Stadium in 2022.

Nevertheless, this will mark England's third appearance at that Zurich venue, where the federation strategically chose to establish their headquarters.

Both Williamson and Kelly acknowledged that the federation's efforts and investment in ensuring player comfort and team unity in Switzerland represented a competitive "advantage" in the tournament. Thursday's match may demonstrate exactly how significant that edge has been for the title holders.

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