Switzerland Advance in Dramatic Fashion
Switzerland booked their place in the UEFA Women’s EURO quarterfinals for the first time ever with a stoppage-time equalizer that sent their fans into a frenzy. Finland, who needed all three points to progress, had one foot in the knockout stage after taking the lead with 11 minutes to play. But they couldn’t hold off the late Swiss surge in a match full of drama and emotion.
It was a night of heartbreak for Finland and celebration for the host nation. While the Swiss move on to face a giant in either Spain or Italy, Finland leave the tournament with pride — and no shortage of frustration.
Finland 1 – 1 Switzerland
Scorers: Kuikka (79’ pen), Xhemaili (90+2’)
Possession: Finland 51.6% – Switzerland 48.4%
Shots: Finland 6 – Switzerland 16
Shots on Target: Finland 3 – Switzerland 4
Expected Goals: Finland 1.30 – Switzerland 0.46
Swiss Come Out Flying
Fueled by a home crowd of over 20,000, Switzerland started with high energy, pressing from the front and attacking with urgency. In the 10th minute, a free kick found Calligaris unmarked, but she missed on an attempted overhead kick from close range. Moments later, Schertenleib cut in and fired from 20 yards, forcing a save from Koivunen. The follow-up nearly resulted in a goal, but Fölmli’s creative backheel slipped just wide.
Finland Take Control
As the first half wore on, Finland began to dominate possession and territory. They nearly grabbed the lead just before halftime when Nyström volleyed a free kick from 10 yards out, only for Swiss goalkeeper Livia Peng to make a stunning save low to her right. The teams went into the break level, with Switzerland still in control of their quarterfinal destiny.
Finland Strike — But Can’t Hold
Finland continued to dictate tempo in the second half. Switzerland’s only real chance before the final minutes came in the 73rd, when Vallotto headed over from a promising position.
In the 79th minute, Calligaris brought down Koivisto inside the box. Kuikka calmly converted from the penalty spot to give Finland a 1-0 lead — and what looked like a path to the knockout round.
Swiss Heroics at the Death
Swiss manager Pia Sundhage threw on Xhemaili and Lehmann to chase the game. With time slipping away, Finland stayed composed, but their defensive line began to sink deeper.
In the 92nd minute, Reuteler struck a driven shot toward the far post, and Xhemaili redirected it in from close range. The stadium exploded. Switzerland had their historic moment. They held off Finland through seven tense minutes of stoppage time and reached the quarterfinals for the first time ever.
A Bitter Exit for Finland
Despite their elimination, Finland were one of the most balanced teams in Group A. They had the edge in possession in all three matches and were just minutes from the next round. Statistically, they exit with their heads high — but hearts heavy.
Switzerland move forward with the full backing of their fans, who showed up in force — over 90,000 combined across all group stage matches.
Norway 4 – 3 Iceland
Scorers: Gaupset (15’, 26’), Maanum (49’, 76’) | Jónsdóttir (6’), Eiríksdóttir (84’), Viggósdóttir (90+5’ pen)
Possession: Norway 60.4% – Iceland 39.6%
Shots: Norway 15 – Iceland 10
Shots on Target: Norway 7 – Iceland 5
Expected Goals: Norway 1.11 – Iceland 2.42
Norway Survive Iceland’s Late Surge
Norway finished the group stage a perfect 3-for-3, but not without a scare. What was supposed to be a “dead rubber” turned into a seven-goal thriller, as Iceland nearly pulled off a wild comeback in the final minutes.
Grainger Mixes It Up
With first place already clinched, Norway head coach Gemma Grainger made seven changes to the lineup. Iceland, still looking for their first goal of the tournament, struck early. Jónsdóttir scored in the 6th minute after reacting quickest to a rebound.
But Norway hit back quickly. Gaupset volleyed in a corner to equalize in the 15th, then added another with a composed long-range finish in the 26th.
Maanum Doubles the Lead
Norway extended their lead shortly after halftime. Maanum finished a neat one-two with Gaupset to make it 3-1, then added her second 27 minutes later after Viggósdóttir failed to close her down at the edge of the box
Iceland Refuse to Quit
Trailing 4-1 in the 85th minute, Iceland stunned everyone with a late surge. Jónsdóttir burst into Norway’s half and set up Eiríksdóttir to cut the deficit. In stoppage time, Lund pulled down Eiríksdóttir in the box and was shown a second yellow. Viggósdóttir buried the penalty to make it 4-3.
Norway saw out the final seconds with 10 players, but concerns will remain about how quickly they let a three-goal cushion evaporate.
Final Group A Standings
| Team | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway (Q) | 8 | 5 | +3 | 9 |
| Switzerland (Q) | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| Finland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Iceland | 3 | 7 | -4 | 0 |
xG + xGA Comparison: The Story Behind the Stats
| Team | xG | xGA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finland | 3.18 | 2.79 | +0.39 |
| Iceland | 4.64 | 2.78 | +1.86 |
| Norway (Q) | 3.73 | 4.51 | -0.78 |
| Switzerland (Q) | 2.34 | 3.81 | -1.47 |
Finland and Iceland were the most statistically balanced teams, yet both were eliminated. Norway won the group but didn’t keep a single clean sheet. Defensive lapses could cost them deeper into the tournament.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Norway vs Group B Runners-Up (likely Italy)
- Switzerland vs Group B Winners (likely Spain)
