England have announced their base camp and training center for this summer’s UEFA Women’s European Championship in Switzerland.
The Lionesses are the current holders of the competition after their historic triumph at home in 2022. They narrowly defeated Germany in the final clash at Wembley Stadium to win the nation’s first major honor since the 1966 World Cup final.
This time they will again face fierce competition from eight-time winners Germany, as well as the current one world champions in Spain, France and host Switzerland. If they want to retain the title of European champion, they will have to beat some of the best teams in world football.
To do so, England need to get things right off the pitch, which is why this week’s announcement of their base camp and training facility is a significant step in their preparations ahead of the tournament. The selection marks the end of an extensive year-long investigation by the FA, in which staff visited 23 different facilities before securing qualifications.
Sarina Wiegman’s side will be based in Zurich for the duration of their campaign and their ‘home away from home’ will be the picturesque 5-star Dolder Grand Hotel on the outskirts of the city. It is located very close to the city center and boasts a spa and a fully equipped gym, which will provide the team with the best environment for preparation and relaxation during the tournament.
England’s training base will be Sportanlage Au, a first-class sports complex in the nearby municipality of Opfikon. The facility is owned by the local authorities and is home to FC Glattbrugg.
The Sportanlage Au will provide the team with a full-sized training ground, a high-performance gym and all the necessary recovery facilities. The FA confirmed that the members of the St. George’s Park to also work with facility staff before and during the tournament to ensure the pitch is delivered to the highest standards.
After the announcement, Wiegman said: “Finding the right environment for team preparation and training, as well as rest and recovery, is one of the most important elements of tournament football. We have seen that in 2022 and 2023 our ‘home from home’ has been a key part of our success and we are very confident that we have found another base camp that will meet all our needs.
“I thank the FA for sharing this as a priority and for their support in securing these two world-class facilities. Although there is a lot of work and many months to go, we can’t wait to get going.”
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