Swiss ambassador shows his neutral colours!

When Wales and England kicked off their campaigns at the Women’s Euro 2025 on Saturday in Switzerland, the country’s ambassador to the UK showed their true neutral standing by watching the games in Llanymynech which famously straddles the border!

Tuning in from the village was Markus Leitner who watched Wales play their opener against the Netherlands on the Welsh side of the border, then walked a few paces for the England opener against France in a different pub.

Mr Leitner said: “Swiss neutrality runs deep. When the draw was made – with England and Wales kicking off on the same day – we knew we had to find a way to be on each nation’s home turf for their opening games in Switzerland. Llanymynech was the perfect place.

“There is a real buzz in Switzerland for the tournament, boosted by the tens of thousands of England and Wales fans making the journey over. Thank you to everyone in Llanymynech for their warm reception and for making my visit so memorable.”

Alongside the Ambassador to watch the games were the local MPs representing the constituencies on each side of the border.

For the Wales game at the Dolphin Inn – which marked the women’s team’s first match at a major tournament – the Ambassador was joined by Steve Witherden, MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr. Then it was over to England and the Cross Keys, where the Ambassador and Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, watched the Lionesses kick off their title defence. 

Mr Witherden MP said: “It was fantastic to welcome the Swiss Ambassador to Llanymynech this weekend to watch the Wales v Netherlands game in The Dolphin, before sending him across the road (to the Cross Keys) – and over the border – to watch the England game with Helen Morgan MP.

“A brilliant demonstration of the famous Swiss neutrality capped a great day despite the result.”

Prior to kick off, the Ambassador explored Llanymynech and learned about its history as a major centre of the lime industry until the early 1900s. 

The UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 runs until July 27. More than 600,000 tickets have been sold for the competition – a new record – with 22 of the 31 matches already sold out. Alongside host Switzerland, some of the quickest games to sell out were those of England and Wales.

The legacy of the previous Women’s Euros in England in 2022, and the explosion of interest in the women’s game since then, are ideal blueprints for Switzerland’s own legacy ambitions. Switzerland’s legacy programme, called Here to Stay, aims to double the number of female players in Switzerland to 80,000, as well as doubling the number of female coaches and referees.

PICTURES

Top: Ambassador Markus Leitner, Steve Witherden, MP, and the team at the Dolphin Inn pub.

Bottom: The Ambassador with Steve Witherden MP.