Rafel Navarro’s side celebrate goals yet doubt their display

In the cramped changing room after the match, the air was thick with tension as the Swiss women’s national team, known as Nati, reflected on a night that produced a torrent of goals but also a lingering sense of disappointment. The players knew a four‑goal lead for the return leg was at stake, yet the performance left them uneasy.

Switzerland’s Frauen‑Nationalteam struck seven times against Israel in the playoff first leg, while conceding three. Coach Rafel Navarro now heads into the Tuesday second leg with a four‑goal cushion. The Team will look to protect that advantage.

"I can’t quite describe my feelings," captain Lia Wälti said after the game. "Scoring seven is great, but conceding three does not meet my expectations."

Locker‑room backlash after first half

The half‑time atmosphere turned heated, with players venting frustration. “We hit the table, I was loud and angry at myself,” Wälti added, using the German phrase “auf den Tisch gehauen” to describe the outburst.

Navarro reminded the squad that Israel possessed quality and that the team had given them chances. “We should not have allowed three goals against such an opponent,” he warned.

Midfielder Viola Calligaris echoed the sentiment, saying the side was not at 100 percent and had paid dearly for the lapse. She called the weak first half a wake‑up call for the remaining fixtures.

Double‑scorer Riola Xhemaili shrugged off a bruised eye, noting the team’s seven‑goal haul. “The first half was poor, no player was up to standard,” she said, recalling a dream of scoring a “falling back heel” goal for her second strike.

With World Cup qualification on the line, both nations know the next encounter will decide who progresses, underscoring the urgency of tightening up before Tuesday’s decisive match.