A stoppage-time goal for Switzerland in a frenetic atmosphere will keep the host-nation buzz going for at least one more week into the quarterfinals at the 2025 Women’s Euro.
Switzerland’s frantic wave of late attacks set up substitute Riola Xhemaili to level the score 1-1 against Finland in the second minute of added time in a tense end to Group A. Xhemaili was in the ideal spot in front of the Finland goal to divert a low shot by Geraldine Reuteler that would have drifted wide.
Switzerland only needed a draw to advance, but Finland had taken the lead against the run of play with a 79th-minute penalty by Natalia Kuikka.
Switzerland will now play its first knockout game at a Women’s Euros against the winner of Group B.
Finland vs. Switzerland UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 Highlights | FOX Soccer
That is likely to be world champion Spain, the standout team at Euro 2025 which has scored 11 goals in two games so far.
Switzerland will get a full week of rest, though, to celebrate its achievement before worrying about the next challenge on July 18 in Bern.
The Swiss and Finns were playing for the runner-up spot in Group A as Norway had already secured top spot after two rounds. Norway rested key starters Thursday in a 4-3 win against Iceland, which had already been eliminated.
Veteran Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage did not play safely for a draw Thursday. Far from it. She sent on more attackers for the second half, including a forward line of three teenagers.
The 19-year-old Leila Wandeler and 18-year-olds Sydney Schertenleib and Iman Beney stretched the Finland defense and energized the sold-out Stade de Geneve.
Switzerland’s all-time record goalscorer Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic went on as right wing-back and made a key block in the center of defense.
The strategy was working and Switzerland dominated the second half until conceding a foolish penalty.
It was all vindication for Sundhage, the 64-year-old coach who had seemed to be losing the public’s faith in her plans for a young Swiss team after a six-game winless Nations League campaign this year.
When the Swiss goal went in, Sundhage stood calmly next to the touchline as her players and staff leaped off the bench and onto the field.
When the final whistle blew, Sundhage slowly turned to face the fans in the main stand, smiled and held her arms out wide, as if asking: “Well, how about that?”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
recommended
Get more from the UEFA Women’s EURO Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
