Sydney Schertenleib: Swiss Starlet Ready for Euro 2025

Sydney Schertenleib is the name on every Swiss supporter’s lips as the Alpine nation gears up to host UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. The 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy has already lifted silverware in Spain, and her Ballon d’Or ambition is fuelling hopes that Switzerland can finally smash through the group-stage glass ceiling on home soil.

Sydney Schertenleib leading Switzerland’s charge

Sydney Schertenleib debuted for La Nati at just 17, instantly showcasing the technique and tenacity that persuaded Barça to lure her from FC Zürich last summer. Versatile enough to operate as a roaming No. 8, an inverted winger or even a full-back, she offers head coach Pia Sundhage a tactical Swiss army knife. In 12 Liga F appearances she has registered three assists and two goals, numbers that barely scratch the surface of her high-pressing, line-breaking influence.

From Bern backstreets to Barcelona brilliance

Born in the Bern suburb of Ostermundigen, Sydney Schertenleib spent childhood evenings juggling a badly scuffed ball against garage doors. Those countless touches nurtured a velvet first touch that scouts from Zürich snapped up at U15 level. A domestic double followed before Barcelona’s talent department made its decisive move in 2023. Training alongside Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí has accelerated her learning curve; the youngster openly admits she studies their body-shape adjustments and passing angles after every session.

Why Sundhage is building around her

Pia Sundhage, a two-time Olympic-gold coach, rarely places blind faith in youth, yet she is restructuring Switzerland’s midfield around Sydney Schertenleib. The coach views the teenager as the missing link between Lia Wälti’s composed recycling and Ramona Bachmann’s creative spark. Expect the Swiss to line up in a 4-2-3-1 morphing into a 3-4-3 in possession, with Schertenleib drifting between the half-spaces to overload central lanes. Her progressive carry per 90 minutes (5.8) already tops the current Swiss squad.

Women’s Euro 2025: a stage set for Sydney Schertenleib

The tournament kicks off on 2 July, with matches spread across eight picturesque cities—Basel, Geneva, Zürich, Bern, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Thun and Sion. Switzerland have been drawn in Group A alongside Norway, Iceland and Finland. Opening night at Basel’s St. Jakob-Park will see Schertenleib go head-to-head with Caroline Graham Hansen, her Barcelona team-mate and, for 90 minutes, sworn rival.

Stat pack: Switzerland at past Euros

• Appearances: 2017, 2022
• Wins: 1
• Goals scored: 5
• Best finish: Group stage

Those modest returns amplify the pressure and the opportunity. Home success can have a transformative effect; look to the Netherlands in 2017 or England in 2022. The Swiss Football Association (SFV) estimates that advancing to the quarter-finals could inject CHF 20 million into the women’s game domestically, improving grassroots pitches and youth development. Sydney Schertenleib is central to that vision.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths: quick transitions, set-piece variety and newfound midfield dynamism driven by Schertenleib’s forward thrusts.
Weaknesses: depth at centre-back and a tendency to concede late—five of their last eight goals against have come after the 75th minute.

Key supporting cast

• Lia Wälti – The Arsenal anchor frees Sydney Schertenleib to roam.
• Ramona Bachmann – Holds the record for most Swiss international goals (66) and remains a tireless dribbler.
• Seraina Piubel – The FC Zürich winger offers width that stretches defences, creating lanes for Schertenleib’s surges.

Barcelona’s influence on Sydney Schertenleib’s evolution

At Barça, daily rondos sharpen decision-making. Assistant coach Jonatan Giráldez credits Sydney Schertenleib’s “unusual spatial awareness” for her rapid assimilation into the possession-heavy system. She maintains a 91% pass-completion rate under pressure—five points higher than the Liga F average for midfielders under 20. Off the pitch, she studies Andres Iniesta videos, seeking to replicate his pausing rhythm to unbalance opponents.

Mentality of a future Ballon d’Or contender

Schertenleib’s room in Barcelona is plastered with handwritten goals: “Win Champions League,” “Start Euro opener,” and, at the top, “Ballon d’Or before 25.” Team-mates describe an athlete who is first to training and last to leave, often practising disguised passes with academy boys. That relentless drive mirrors the personality of other global superstars, hinting that the accolade she covets might not be a pipe dream.

The commercial boom riding on Sydney Schertenleib

Ticket sales surged 18% in the week after Sundhage confirmed the teenager’s inclusion. Adidas launched a limited-edition Swiss home kit with her name pre-printed; initial stock sold out in 36 hours. Streaming platform NOW TV, Switzerland’s official broadcaster, is running a five-part mini-series following Sydney Schertenleib’s preparation. In short, she has become the marketing face of the tournament.

What success would mean for Switzerland’s future

Advancing beyond the group would be historic; reaching the semi-finals could lock in long-term investment. SFV plans a national training centre for women and girls in Zürich, contingent on positive Euro results and attendant sponsorship. Sydney Schertenleib knows her performances carry ramifications far beyond 90 minutes; they could shape the future of Swiss women’s football for decades.

Match-ups to watch in Group A

Switzerland vs Norway (2 July, Basel)
Schertenleib versus Graham Hansen—club chemistry becomes chess-match intrigue.

Switzerland vs Iceland (6 July, Bern)
Dictating tempo against Iceland’s physical midfield will test her composure.

Switzerland vs Finland (11 July, Geneva)
Likely to decide quarter-final qualification. Expect Sydney Schertenleib to start closer to the forward line if Switzerland need goals.

How to watch and travel

• Tickets: Remaining seats are available via UEFA.com, from CHF 49.
• Broadcast: Swiss viewers can tune in on SRF; international rights holders include BBC (UK) and FOX Sports (US).
• Travel tips: Swiss Railways is running late-night services after every match, while fans can bundle match tickets with discounted rail passes.

Counting Sydney Schertenleib mentions

By the time the final whistle blows in Basel on 28 July, commentators will likely have uttered her name more times than any other Swiss player—a testament to her centrality. Whether orchestrating build-up play or flying into pressing traps, Sydney Schertenleib will be the heartbeat of a side dreaming big.

Opinion: Switzerland has produced several top talents, but none have combined technical mastery, tactical IQ and marketability at such a tender age. If Sydney Schertenleib stays injury-free, the home Euros could be her global coming-out party—and a watershed moment for football in the Alps.