Precocious Fimian leading Switzerland by example

Chantal Fimian is only 17 but Switzerland trust her enough to ask her to play at the other end of the pitch to where she is used to and throw her the captain's armband – yet as she has displayed time and again, the youngster thrives on a challenge.

If Switzerland coach Yannick Schwery needed confirmation that he was onto something when he drafted Famian into his squad for 2009 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship at only 15, the youngster duly provided it. In a losing cause against England in the semi-finals she simply refused to accept defeat, running herself into the ground until exhaustion finally halted her committed charge.

She exited on a stretcher, her face as red as her shirt, yet it says everything about her that she was soon back in action, and still there when the final whistle confirmed a 3-0 defeat. It has become a familiar trait for Schwery and his staff, though that devotion almost prevented her from coming to Italy as, in the second qualifying round on 2 April, she injured her knee in the process of clearing the danger against Ukraine.

"I was OK for four weeks after that but then I hurt my knee again in our first training session [ahead of the finals] and I went through a lot of stress because I did not know until the week ago that I could be ready."

But ready she was, her distinctive golden locks providing a reassuring presence at the heart of the Swiss defence for Monday's successful Group A opener against Belgium. She admitted, though, that a 4-1 triumph did not come without "30 minutes of suffering" even if "the back line did not offer many chances to Belgium. We were only in danger on set pieces."

If her well-honed technique and poise on the ball appeared to be on par with the opposing forwards, then it probably was: Fimian plays as a striker for Grasshopper Club. "It's not a problem for me [to make the transition to centre-back]. It was the same situation when I played for my junior team with the boys and it gives a certain advantage in terms of anticipating what strikers will do."

On top of playing out of position for the good of the team Fimian also wears the captain's armband – some responsibility for the third youngest member of the squad. "Though I'm younger I have been in this group for two years now and have been accepted as a leader," she said. "Plus, we have a good group of girls so it makes it easier for me."

Nothing seems to faze her, and it is characteristic that while she admits she knows little about Thursday's opposition, hosts Italy, Fimian points out that in four previous meetings with the Azzurine she has never lost.