Euro 2025 daily newsletter: Day two
Red cards, penalties, VAR, and a buzzing home crowd
Welcome to day two of the Euros! The opening day certainly did not disappoint. While the first Group A matches featured four sides not tipped to win the competition, they delivered anything but a dull start, with plenty of drama and intensity already. Finland and Norway picked up three points and are currently leading their group, with Group B set to play this evening.
Results
Iceland 0-1 Finland
Player of the match: Katariina Kosola
Finland secured their first European Championship victory since 2009, thanks to Katariina Kosola’s 70th-minute goal. Neither team had scored by half-time, but it seemed clear that Finland – and specifically Kosola – were going to score first, given their relentless pressure and chances. Iceland suffered two major blows: first, captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir was subbed off at half-time due to illness; then, they were reduced to 10 players when Hildur Antonsdóttir was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. In true women’s football fashion, the first red card came before the first goal of the tournament.
Switzerland 1-2 Norway
Player of the match: Géraldine Reuteler
This match perfectly illustrated how momentum and emotion can shift in an instant. The noise in Basel was deafening from the moment the Swiss players walked out, and the home crowd’s energy and atmosphere propelled Switzerland to dominate the first half. It is proof that home advantage really does matter, as shown by the British tennis players’ success at Wimbledon over the past couple of days.
A goal from Nadine Riesen put Switzerland in the lead; however, Ada Hegerberg levelled the score after the break with an excellent header from a set-piece corner. The turning point came when Switzerland’s Julia Stierli conceded an own goal in the 57th minute. Norway were soon awarded a penalty after a handball by Géraldine Reuteler, which Hegerberg surprisingly missed from the spot. Just seconds later, Switzerland were awarded a penalty of their own, which was eventually overturned by VAR. It was a devastating start for Switzerland, but their tournament is far from over, with at least two more matches still to come.
Read The Cutback’s match piece.
News
Norway’s Ada Hegerberg scored her 50th international goal in their opening match.
Finland’s Adelina Engman – a former Chelsea player – is out for the rest of the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
The city of Basel has changed traffic lights to the silhouette of a women’s footballer kicking a ball instead of a green man.
What’s on today
Group B
Belgium vs Italy – 17:00 BST, Stade de Tourbillon, Sion
Spain vs Portugal – 20:00 BST, Stadion Wankdorf, Bern
Spain are favourites to win the tournament and therefore are likely to finish top of Group B, so Belgium vs Italy will likely be a battle for the runners-up position. Belgium’s only win at Euro 2022 came against Italy.
Spain have always been dominant against Portugal, winning all six of their previous competitive encounters. Aitana Bonmatí is not expected to play after receiving hospital treatment for viral meningitis.
Catch up on The Cutback
Sion Misra sat down with Lois Joel to talk about Wales’ underdog spirit.
Speaking of underdogs, check out Yash Thakur’s piece all about the sides that could cause a few upsets in Switzerland.