Sundhage bends rules for Arsenal midfielder despite injury | OneFootball

Lia Wälti is expected to feature for Switzerland at this summer’s European Championship, even though the Arsenal midfielder is still not fully fit.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Head coach Pia Sundhage has been clear in her preference for selecting players with regular minutes for their clubs. Nadine Riesen and Alisha Lehmann have both recently been left out of squads due to lack of game time, with Sundhage stating that only consistent performers are guaranteed a place.

However, in Wälti’s case, the rule has been bent.

“A Lia that is not at 100 percent is better than no Lia,” was how it was put, according to Schweiz am Wochenende.

That sentiment underscores just how critical Wälti remains to her national side,.

The same leeway is being extended to Viola Calligaris and Luana Bühler, both of whom have struggled for minutes at Juventus and Hoffenheim, respectively.

Sundhage’s frustration with the situation has already surfaced. In April, she turned to Laia Ballesté, a previously uncapped defender from RCD Espanyol with Swiss eligibility. But Ballesté endured a poor debut against Iceland and has not been called back.

Despite limited recent action, Calligaris remains upbeat about her readiness. “I haven’t played a lot since January, but I have before that. Just like I have always played in the National team. I’m not afraid of not having a game practice,” she said, adding that she had also been carrying a minor injury.

Bühler echoed that confidence: “When I played, I was able to gain self-confidence. Because I was able to show that I perform very well even without a lot of playing practice.”

While former Gunner, Noelle Maritz, and Julia Stierli bring more stable form into the tournament from Aston Villa and SC Freiburg, Switzerland’s defensive core remains a concern due to the lack of rhythm among its established names.

Still, Calligaris believes the squad is prepared. “We’ve been training a lot this week. It is clear that there is more to be done to fill any gaps.”

With Wälti expected to anchor the midfield despite lingering fitness questions, Switzerland will hope her presence, even at less than full sharpness, proves more valuable than her absence.