Women’s Euro 2025 Talk | Switzerland leave it late and Norway still haven’t been convincing
What late drama it was yesterday as Switzerland make it to the quarter-finals after a late equaliser save their tournament hopes. Plus, Norway still leave a few questions to be asked.
Talk about ending with a bang. Group A ended by serving up a dose of drama across both games as the hosts made history for themselves and Norway decided to make things a little nervy for themselves in an entertaining seven-goal match against Iceland.
We wanted Euros drama and we definitely got it yesterday, so now it is the turn of Group B to deliver to those levels as well. The only difference is that it might be a bit more cut-and-dry with the permutations in today’s games.
Celebrations for Switzerland as they make history
Starting first with the hosts needing a late equaliser to keep themselves in their home tournament as substitute Riola Xhemaili made history with that important goal to help her nation progress to the quarter-finals for the first time at a European Championship.
It was an intriguing watch in that first half, because it had the feeling of two teams that wanted to make sure they didn’t lose the game, which meant it didn’t have that sort of crazy energy about it where a team needed to score a goal, which was surprising given that was the situation Finland were in. Marko Saloranta’s side had to get the victory to avoid elimination, but the attacking intent wasn’t there from Finland as much as it had been in other games.
When they did get forward however in the later stages of the game, they won a penalty after a reckless tackle from Viola Calligaris on Emma Koivisto. Natalia Kuikka stepped up in the high-pressure moment and scored what looked like the goal that was creating history in its own right for Finland. But as the drama amped up, Switzerland too found better attacking intent of their own.
The moment that seven minutes appeared of added time, there was this feeling of chaos ready to emerge, and it appeared a few minutes later when Riola Xhemaili made herself the hero with a tap-in after a shot found its way to the goal scorer. Cue the bedlam and celebrations in the stands, the fan zones and even the pubs as well if you have seen any of the videos going around. It ended 1-1 and the draw was enough for the Swiss to go through.
They have deserved their place given how they have done in these group stages with good performances as a team and with individuals shining as well. It is gutting for Finland considering you could also make the same claim for them. Ultimately, they will feel proud about how they played, even if the disappointment will still be felt for a while as they were so close to doing enough to be quarter-finalists.
There was just maybe a question with Switzerland in that while they do have some good young players that clearly have a lot of talent, which does make them exciting to watch, they also have an issue in that you can see the inexperience show at times with their decision-making. It’s also something to wonder if maybe they are feeling that pressure at times of doing well at their home tournament, plus the tag that they all have as the players who will lead the next generation of Swiss internationals. It’s not easy to overcome that mindset, and also, any young player who can play amazingly well even when the pressure is raised to its highest level must be quite a player. You could perhaps argue that they did rise to the pressure in the end due to the manner in which they have made it through in the end.
Pia Sundhage’s team set about making it through and they did it. What awaits them next however could very well be the biggest test they could have gotten. Because they have finished second in the group, it means there is the potential of a date with the world champions Spain, that is if they finish top in Group B. The tournament favourites vs the hosts? Sounds spicy to me.
"I am going to dance tonight."
Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage speaking to SRF after the game
"I had to breathe for a while at full time. I'm proud of how committed my players have been, how crazy they've been. Nobody believed in us outside the camp but we knew we could compete. We ended a 16-year wait for a finals win against Iceland, played well against Norway and then came so close to getting the result here to progress. We're hurting."
Finland coach Marko Saloranta speaking after the game
Norway still have something to prove, but Signe Gaupset is a star in the making
So Norway have finished top of Group A with a 100% winning record, but by the end of this game, we are probably still asking more questions about them even though there were a few more positives about them. For a moment it looked like Norway were on for their best showing yet at this tournament, but then a weird end to the game against Iceland saw it conclude with a 4-3 scoreline, and Gemma Grainger’s side also ended with 10 players on the pitch.
Things didn’t start well when Iceland scored their first goal of the tournament. Sveindís Jónsdóttir sent it home after the original header from Alexandra Johánsdóttir was initially saved. The lead for the eliminated side did not last long, as Norway’s equaliser came a few minutes later when Signe Gaupset levelled things back up at 1-1. It was a brilliant volley by the 20-year-old as she hit it into the bottom right corner following the corner in by Vilde Bøe Risa.
Iceland goalkeeper Cecilía Rúnarsdóttir was very active in the first half in having to make a few saves off of a few Norway’s attacks, with Elisabeth Terland going close on more than one occasion. Then Norway grabbed the lead, and it was their young prospect among the goals again, Signe Gaupset with her second goal of the game. She linked up with Bøe Risa once again, who found her teammate in space after she picked off a loose long ball from an Icelandic defender. Then it was another top finish by the midfielder who certainly knows how to score a goal or two given the season she has had so far with SK Brann this year. Vilde Bøe Risa even has three assists now at these European Championships, which puts her level with England’s Alessia Russo.
Signe Gaupset was the standout in this one, and a player that I had picked out as one of the potential breakout stars from this tournament.
After her first start at these Euros, she might have just showcased why she is one of the brightest young talents in women’s football. If you didn’t know about her quality before this game, you are certainly aware of it now after an impressive performance in just her 11th appearance for her national team. She is also the youngest player ever to score twice in a Women’s Euros match. Gaupset may just have given Gemma Grainger something to think about now with team selection for the quarter-final match-up.
The second half began, and Gaupset was involved in a goal yet again, only this time she assisted Frida Leonhardsen Maanum to make it 3-1 with a lovely one-two between the pair, and then it was fired home by the Arsenal midfielder to establish a lead for the Norwegians who had played well for large parts in probably their best performance so far at these Euros. Maanum scored her second to make it 4-1, and instead of cruising through the rest of the game easily, more chances were wasted and then Iceland took advantage of passing mistakes and defensive frailties that still hadn’t been addressed.
Hlín Eiríksdóttir made it 4-2 in the 84th minute, and then it really got mad as Iceland won a penalty in added time, which led to the sending off of Norway’s half-time substitute Marit Lund after a second yellow, then Glódís Viggósdóttir smashed in the penalty. From 4-1 up and being comfortable, they were hanging on by the end and coach Gemma Grainger would not have been happy to have seen them almost fold in such dramatic circumstances.
Six changes were made by Grainger for this game, as most of the team’s key names were given a rest. To be fair, most of them worked out as they at least looked like a team willing to show a bit more energy on the pitch at times. It’s just how it ended that makes me wonder how they actually would fare against a much stronger opposition, because let’s face it, the three teams they have played so far are not the strongest teams in the competition.
Their eyes will now be on Italy vs Spain too as they will face the team that finishes second in Group B. If we were being honest, they would much rather face Italy than the world champions. But they should be up for any test that is put in front of them at this second stage of the competition. However, they have to solve these defensive issues if they do want to go far.
"She takes her opportunities. Tonight it's so nice to see her step on to the pitch and express herself. I see her do that every week in her club [Brann], I've seen her do it in the Women's Champions League, and now I've seen her do it here."
Norway coach Gemma Grainger speaking about Signe Gaupset after the game
"It was ups and downs. We started well, then there was a period where we had trouble with our press and they got through us. We didn’t start the second half well enough. At this moment, there is disappointment with part of the games but there were some positive things in the games as well. But we didn’t achieve our goals so we are disappointed."
Iceland coach Thorsteinn Halldórsson speaking after the game
Group B Games Preview
So as it stands heading into today’s action, Spain are definitely into the quarter-finals of these European Championships, but top of the group is not yet guaranteed. The current world champions face Italy in their final group game, and if they were to actually lose the game, then Italy would overtake them as compared to Spain’s six points; Italy have four heading into today’s game.
There are no injury concerns for either Italy or Spain, so any changes to both sides might be minimal. But if you are Spain, then do you think about the quarter-finals and want some of your top players not to be risked in this final group game? They do have a strong enough depth to still beat this Italy team, but it will be an interesting decision for Montse Tomé to make.
The Italians won’t be backing down from the challenge ahead of them, not just because of the fact that they can still finish above them in the group, but also because they do still have Portugal in third place to contend with. If they can’t get a result against Spain, then it will be vital for them not to be beaten heavily by the team that has scored 11 goals so far at Euro 2025, or Portugal could take advantage of that given the current goal difference gap.
Italy have a goal difference of 1, while Portugal has -5. So it is a six-goal swing required for Portugal to pull off a huge turnaround and reach the quarter-finals for the first time ever at a Women’s European Championship. The most important permutation is that they must beat Belgium today to have any chance of going through.
Belgium’s tournament is already over as they can’t reach the next stage having lost both games in this year’s competition. It’s been a disappointing run for them despite giving Spain a few problems in the last game. Defensively is where they have come unstuck, but they could redeem themselves and go out with a bit of pride if they can get something against Portugal.
It could be quite a frenetic game between the two teams as Portugal will be desperate to score goals, and then that’s when Belgium’s strengths in transitions could come into play as they look for goals themselves. In terms of team news, both teams could make changes to their sides, and for Portugal, one enforced change will be Ana Borges being out of the team due to her red card in the last game.
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