18-year-old Natty star scores dream goal against France

In their first Test match a year before the European Cup at home, Switzerland proved itself against top teams Australia and France. In the win over the Blues, one 18-year-old stood out: Naomi Luyet, who scored the winning goal.

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After the game, Naomi Luye could not hide her joy in front of the TV microphone. The Swiss team had just defeated the great French team 2-1, and the 18-year-old scored the winning goal with a wonderful shot. “It's certainly special, especially against an opponent like this,” Luyette said.

And even if it is just a friendly match, it is of great significance to the national team. “We showed that we can beat even the biggest teams,” Luye said. Although France's women's team is not as strong as the men's team, it has been one of the best national teams in the world in recent years. The Blues have reached the quarter-finals at both the World Cup and the Olympics, and two years ago they even reached the semi-finals at the European Championship.

The next European Championship will be held in Switzerland next summer. Achieving such a result in front of more than 10,000 spectators in Geneva is of course very valuable for a home game. Or as Luyette said: “It's great to see that our team has a lot of potential and quality and that we have the ability to beat any opponent.”

The Valais woman is a bit like Switzerland's current football player. At YB, she topped the Women's Super League and became the top scorer with 8 goals and 4 assists. Last season, the 16-year-old Luye made his debut in May 2022 and scored 23 points (18 goals, 5 assists) in 22 games and performed well. They secured a professional contract at YB, then received their first national team squad and debut in June.

A month later, the winger made his first start against Turkey and provided an assist in Turkey's 2-0 win. Naomi Luyet is on the rise at the moment – ​​and of course moving abroad is also an issue. She is currently leaving inquiries from other clubs to her agent so that she can fully focus on the YB season, as she told BlueSports: “Of course one of my goals is to go overseas”.

Naomi Luyet also had a great season at YB.Image: trapezoid

Then Luyet should be able to fully focus on the sport. The 18-year-old graduated from high school last year, studying economics and law, and currently works 25 percent of the time as an office worker at her club. Regarding her salary as a player, she said: “YB pays for our accommodation, so it's enough to live on.” That's fine for now, “but when I think about the future, it's not enough.”

That is why the move abroad should take effect within a year or at the latest after the contract expires in the summer of 2026. It is of course extremely important to perform well in the national team, especially in next year's European Cup. At the moment, Ruye appears to be under coach Pia Sundhage – albeit on the wing next to the three-man chain, which is unusual for her. In YB, she plays on the left wing, so she also has to contribute more defensively in the national team than in the club.

After Friday's 1-1 draw with Australia, Natti coach Sandhage praised the team, with Luye also starting. Appreciation is mutual. The Swede may be one of the reasons why the youngster has established himself in the national team so quickly. “Pia is someone who makes things very easy for you, doesn't put pressure on you and gives you the freedom to do your best work.”

The national team has performed exceptionally well so far under Sandhatch. In ten games, seven wins and two losses. This was in stark contrast to the performance of her predecessor Yinka Greens. In addition to established stars such as Ramona Bachmann, Leah Vardy and Anna Maria Znogorcevic, young stars such as Ruyette and her contemporaries Iman Beni are also included. Recent performances against strong teams such as Australia and France have given Switzerland hope for the European Cup.

“I don't feel like I have such an important role right now,” Luyette said after Friday's game, but she wanted to make it clear she wanted a spot on the team. A dream goal against France certainly didn't hurt their standing.