In a cozy restaurant in Sion, Switzerland, a group of women's football pioneers gathered to witness something they once could only dream of. Their country is now hosting three games of the Women's European Championship, showing just how far the beautiful game has come.
For 72-year-old Madeleine Boll, this moment carries special significance. The tournament's mascot, a Saint Bernard puppy named Maddli, honors her groundbreaking role in Swiss women's football. Back in 1965, at just 12 years old, Boll became Switzerland's first licensed female footballer with FC Sion's boys' team.
"I was the happiest little girl," Boll told Reuters. "But the day they took away my licence, I was the unhappiest because I didn't understand why I was forbidden to play." The club revoked her license months later, claiming they had made an error.
That setback, however, sparked a revolution. By 1970, the first Swiss Women's Football League was created with Boll's father as president. Madeleine later played for FC Sion, one of Switzerland's earliest women's football clubs.
From Struggles to Stadium Sellouts
The contrast between then and now is striking. Switzerland currently boasts 40,000 registered female players and 134 women referees, according to the Swiss FA. The days of makeshift equipment are long gone.
"We didn't have jerseys, we didn't have means to travel... We had to make people understand that we are capable of playing," recalled 72-year-old Rosemarie Siggen, who began playing in the late 1960s.
UEFA has announced a record 600,000 tickets sold for the tournament. The final will be held at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on July 27, Switzerland's largest football stadium - something unimaginable decades ago.
For bettors following the tournament, Switzerland's opening 2-1 loss to Norway suggests they face an uphill battle. The hosts entered as outsiders in the betting markets, and their early performance confirms they'll need to improve to make a deep run.
Building a Lasting Legacy
Both Boll and Siggen see Euro 2024 as a crucial catalyst for women's football in Switzerland. The Swiss FA aims to double female participation by 2027, inspired by how Euro 2022 transformed the women's game in England.
"The Euros will be a catalyst," Boll emphasized. She believes this tournament presents a perfect opportunity for greater investment in women's football.
Siggen echoed this sentiment: "It's a bit difficult for these young girls. They need help. I think there should be stronger support, a real investment... we want to see them progress."
Boll specifically highlighted the need for professionalization. "If we want to have a good Swiss team, it will be important that girls become professional because it is difficult to achieve results while having a job or being a student."
For punters considering future bets, this transformation could eventually make Switzerland a more competitive force in women's football. The host nation might be worth watching as a potential dark horse in upcoming tournaments if the promised investment materializes.
As the tournament unfolds across eight Swiss cities, these pioneers watch with pride. What started with a young girl fighting for her right to play has blossomed into a movement that's changing Swiss football forever.
