The U16 EuroHockey 5s Championships in Alanya (TUR) offered the players the opportunity to play against strong European opposition, gain international experience and represent Switzerland on a major stage.

Girls finish a strong fifth

The U16 girls made an excellent start to their campaign, opening with a convincing 6–1 victory over Georgia. They then faced Ukraine, losing 2–6, before producing a strong performance against Croatia and winning 3–2 to secure their place in the quarterfinals. In the quarter-final, they faced Austria and narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals, losing 2–3. The team responded remarkably in the classification matches, beating Denmark 4–3 and then Croatia 5–3 to finish the tournament in fifth place. The final ranking saw Poland claim the European title, followed by Ukraine, Türkiye and Austria, with Switzerland just behind in fifth.

Boys show great fighting spirit

The U16 boys also had a promising tournament. After a 3–5 defeat against Croatia in their opening match, the team bounced back immediately with a 4–2 win over Poland. They then continued its strong group-stage performance with a convincing 5–1 victory over Denmark. The quarter-final against Ukraine produced one of the most dramatic games of the tournament. The Swiss U16 boys led 6–4 but Ukraine turned the match around with three late goals to win 7–6. Despite the disappointment, the Swiss team showed great character in the classification matches. They finished sixth overall after a 4–4 draw with Poland followed by a shoot-out defeat. Türkiye won the boys’ title on home soil, beating Austria 6–5 in the final, while Croatia took bronze.

For a relatively small hockey nation, the development pathway is always a challenge. The experience gained in Alanya will provide an important foundation for the players’ continued development.