Football

Switzerland cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Estonia in their penultimate warm-up match before the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. The match, played in front of a home crowd of 14,473 at the Swissporarena in Lucerne, marked Switzerland's first home game since November after a series of away fixtures.Steven Zuber opened the scoring for Switzerland in the 20th minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty box. It was the AEK Athens winger's first goal for the national team since 2021. Burnley forward Zeki Amdouni doubled the lead in the 47th minute, finishing off a pass from Ruben Vargas.Defender Nico Elvedi extended Switzerland's advantage in the 63rd minute, capitalizing on Estonia's failure to clear a Xherdan Shaqiri free kick. Shaqiri, winning his 122nd cap, sealed the victory with a penalty in the 69th minute, despite his initial attempt being saved by Estonia goalkeeper Matvei Igonen.Switzerland coach Murat Yakin, who will announce his squad for the Euro 2024 tournament on Friday, was joined by Swiss Olympic giant slalom ski champion Marco Odermatt for the national anthems. The victory serves as a confidence booster for Switzerland as they prepare for their final warm-up match against Austria on Saturday at the Kybunpark in St Gallen.Austria, who are in Euro 2024 Group D alongside Poland, France, and the Netherlands, will provide a stern test for Switzerland. In the European Championship, Switzerland will face Hungary on June 15, Scotland on June 19, and hosts Germany on June 23 in Group A. Switzerland's best-ever performance in the tournament was reaching the quarter-finals in 2020.

India's senior women's football team is set to kick off their campaign at the Turkish Women's Cup 2024 in Alanya, Turkey, on Wednesday, February 15. This marks the third time India has participated in this prestigious tournament, having previously competed in 2019 and 2021. The team will face Estonia, Kosovo, and Hong Kong in a round-robin format, aiming to showcase their improved skills and determination.Seasoned defender Dalima Chibber expressed her excitement about the tournament, highlighting the team's familiarity with the environment and the positive impact of the ongoing Indian Women's League (IWL) season. She emphasized the importance of gaining experience through game time and utilizing it to deliver a strong performance in Turkey.Head coach Langam Chaoba Devi acknowledged the strength of Estonia as a physically and technically proficient team. However, she remained confident in India's abilities, emphasizing the team's unique qualities that can make a difference on the field. The Indian team has not seen action since their three games in the second round of the Olympic qualifiers in November 2022.Currently ranked 65th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings, India will face Estonia, ranked 98th. In 2023, Estonia faced Kosovo and North Macedonia, resulting in a 1-2 loss and a 1-1 draw, respectively. The Estonian team is led by former internationals Anastassia Morkovkina and Sirje Kapper, and features a young squad with thirteen players born after 2000.The Turkish Women's Cup 2024 serves as a valuable opportunity for India to gauge their progress and prepare for upcoming challenges. The team will look to build on their experiences and deliver a commendable performance against their opponents.