Hope is alive for Sundhage’s Switzerland
Hope lives for the home nation.
They narrowly defeated Iceland in the European Football Championship 2–0.
Now a decisive meeting with Finland awaits.
The conditions for Switzerland’s meeting with Iceland were clear. A victory was needed to move towards safe ground in the group stage.
It looked heavy for a long time.
But with a quarter of an hour left in regular time, Geraldine Reuteler saved the home team by kicking in 1–0 behind Icelandic goalkeeper Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir.
With the goal, she breathed life into the Swiss hopes of reaching the European Championship finals.
To secure the victory, Alayah Pilgrim sent the Swiss women into a 2–0 lead in the final minutes.
Condemned
It was a tough game for Switzerland. The first goal of the match was a long shot, but after just 30 minutes it seemed like the home nation could sniff out the Finnish group runners-up.
Svenja Fölmli appeared to have headed home 1–0 for the red-clad, but a VAR review would show that she had pushed down the Icelandic captain Vilhjalmsdottir at the origin of the header and the goal was ruled out.
One of Iceland’s great weapons during the match was the long throw-ins, where they created several good chances. But before the throw-in, the players wiped the ball of moisture, which took a lot of time.
Tried to take the towel: “I was completely scared”
Lilie Persson, Switzerland’s assistant national team coach, said after the match that she tried to pull the towel off the Icelandic players.
– I ran to the little girl (the ball girl), she was completely scared, I still tried to politely take their towel, she says in Viaplay and continues:
– That’s frustrating, no one wants to see that. It’s cool, it’s part of the deal, but having to stand and dry it… it takes several minutes. I don’t like that, says Persson.
“I’m terribly tired”
Viaplay’s expert Pär Lagerström was on the same line:
– This needs to be addressed, I’m tired of Johnsdottir’s (Sveindís Jane) throw-ins. Not that they’re really long, it’s a fascinating tactical detail, but I’m terribly tired of them wiping the ball with a towel, says Viaplay expert Pär Lagerström.
With the victory against Iceland, Switzerland still has a chance to make it to the finals of the European Championship. Norway is ready for the finals. With the loss, Iceland has no chance of advancing after the group stage.
Switzerland is tied on points with Finland in Group A. On Thursday at 9:00 PM, a decisive meeting between the nations awaits to determine who will play in the playoffs.
check Euro 2025: All matches and TV times • Full schedule
- 23’I. Sigurdardottir
- 25’A. Johannesdottir
- 34’S. Heidarsdottir G. Arnadottir
- A. Crnogorcevic J. StierliL. Wandeler S. Folmli56′
- 65’K. Vilhjalmsdottir
- 67’H. Halldorsdottir A. Albertsdottir
- S. Schertenleib G. Reuteler (1-0) 76′
- A. Pilgrim N. Riesen78′
- 81’K. Tryggvadóttir I. SigurdardottirA. Gunnlaugsdottir A. Johannesdottir
- L. Wandeler A. Pilgrim (2-0) 90′
