Key events
45 min: One minute added on here.
44 min: Amazing save from Peng in the Swiss goal! Finland swing a deep free-kick into the box, the ball takes a double deflection of Wälti and I think Sallstrom, before the ball deflects towards the near post. Peng is going the other way, but quickly readjusts and flings herself to her right, just clawing the ball out from her goalline.
42 min: A one-two nearly unlocks the Swiss defence and only a magnificent sliding tackle from Riesen prevents the overlapping Koivisto from getting in behind. It was a perfectly timed tackle inside the Swiss box, and it had to be!
39 min: Finland remain a threat in this game, particularly down the left with Kosola. West Ham’s Oona Siren has also been very useful in midfield for Finland.
37 min: Schertenleib gets free down the right but tries a snazzy chop past her marker when a simple turn would have done. Finland get back in numbers and crowd out the Barcelona forward. Schertenleib is sublimely talented and obviously bound for big things at just 18 years old, but that wasn’t a very intelligent piece of play.
34 min: Reuteler is booked for a late tackle on Eveliina Summanen, the Tottenham midfielder, who has looked tidy in the opening half. Boos from the raucous Swiss crowd as Reuteler is shown the yellow card, she is obviously the home hero.
32 min: Close from Reuteler! Schertenleib gets to the byline and cuts back neatly to Reuteler on the edge of the box. The 26-year-old takes the shot first time with her left foot … just wide! It was a sliced effort of sorts that looped towards the back post but just fell the wrong side of the post.
29 min: Kosola skips away from Beney but Reuteler is there to tidy up for Switzerland. The latter has got her plaudits for her attacking game this tournament but she does the ugly defensive side of it so well.
27 min: With that other game in mind, it’s worth repeating exactly what is at stake here. Norway have already topped the group and Iceland are definitely last, having lost their opening two games. This match, Finland v Switzerland, is effectively a battle for that second qualifying spot. Both teams are level on points but Switzerland are ahead on goal difference, which means the tournament hosts only need a draw here to qualify.
25 min: Beney takes a ball flush to the face. Ooooof, that’s a stinger for the new Manchester City recruit. A brief pause in play.
Two goals to tell you about in the other Group A game tonight. It’s Norway 1-1 Iceland. Join Sarah Rendell for live updates.
23 min: Whisper it, but after a slow start, Finland are on top. There is a nervous hush around the stadium. The home fans have quietened.
21 min: From the resulting corner, Peng makes another save as Sevenius ghosts into the far corner completely unmarked and plants a strong header low towards the near post. Peng gets down well but only parries and there is a frantic goalmouth scramble as Finland try to force the ball home, and Switzerland away. The latter win the battle of the bounce, and are fortunate to get away with that one.
20 min: Speaking of players that have just moved to the WSL, Switzerland keeper Livia Peng makes her first contribution, clawing a Finland corner behind. It’s a good job the new Chelsea signing did get something on it, as Sallstrom was lurking at the back post.
18 min: We haven’t seen too much of Switzerland’s Iman Beney, who has just signed for Manchester City. The 18-year-old, of Brazilian descent, has had a quiet start to the game.
15 min: In case you hadn’t gathered by my last few posts, Finland are really under the cosh. They will hope to keep this goalless, frustrate Switzerland, and maybe nab a goal on the break.
13 min: Switzerland pour forward once more! Schertenleib knuckle-balls a fierce, dipping shot from 25 yards towards the top corner … saved by Koivunen! The Finland keeper pushes to her left but Switzerland soon have the ball back, whipping a low cross towards Folmli, who audiciously backheels a finish towards the back post … just wide! That was a very similar attempt to that famous Kanu goal against Middlesbrough in 1999.
11 min: Big chance for Calligaris! From the resulting free kick, Riesen swings a ball to the back post, there’s a knock down from Folmli and Calligaris, up from the back, tries a spectacular bicycle kick from just six yards out. She has a free swing at it, but airballs the shot! What a waste!
10 min: A very soft free kick for Switzerland as Koivisto pulls back Riesen. The Swiss are going to load the box, with the set piece to come in from deep on the left wing.
8 min: The Swiss crowd is really up for this one. The hosts are in no mood to end their tournament tonight.
6 min: Huge block(s) to deny Maritz! Folmli held the ball up well for Switzerland in Finland’s box, laid the ball back towards the penalty spot. Maritz took a touch and three Finland bodies flung themselves in front of the shot. Great defending.
3 min: First half chance, though, comes on a Switzerland counter-attack! Finland are loose with the ball in midfield and Schertenleib pounces, breaking a Finnish tackle and nearly setting Reuteler off down the right, but those in white get back in numbers and crowd out the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder when she was threatening to cut into the box on her left foot.
2 min: Both sides feeling each other out. Surprisingly, it’s Finland who are on the front foot with possession. They have tended to favour the counter-attack in this tournament.
Peeeeeeeep!
We’re off.
The teams are out! It’s a gorgeous evening in Geneva, around 23°C. The referee tonight, Stephanie Frappart, is probably the best in the world. This is her fifth major tournament.
Géraldine Reuteler was brilliant in Switzerland’s own win over Iceland, earning the player of the match award. She offers a more attacking threat than Wälti in midfield and Finland will be wary of her here.
In case you didn’t see Finland’s 1-0 win over Iceland, Katariina Kosola scored one of the goals of the tournament so far. Wow.
Switzerland’s star player is undoubtedly Lia Wälti. The Arsenal star captains her country and has played every minute of the tournament so far, anchoring the midfield.
This profile from our Switzerland team guide, provides some more detail:
Lia Wälti lost her starting place at Arsenal during the second half of the season but she is still the most important player for the national team. Her calmness on the ball and her experience are huge factors for the team to function at its best. Off the pitch she is the squad’s integration figurehead, making sure that the younger players feel welcome. She is the public face of the Nati and, since 2019, its captain. She won the Champions League with Arsenal in May but has had problems getting back to her best after surgery to remove an abscess at the end of last year. Wälti’s fitness is one of the big questions going into the Euros – for Switzerland she is simply irreplaceable.
“Finland v Switzerland, the Neutrality Derby!” emails Peter Oh. “It should be exciting even for neutrals like me.”
This being the final group game, the other two teams in Group A – Norway and Iceland – are kicking off at the same time. You can follow that match with Sarah Rendell right here. Norway are already qualified for the knockout stages and are feeling confident enough to leave Caroline Graham Hansen and Ada Hegerberg on the bench.
Team news!
Finland: Koivunen, Tynnila, Kuikka, Nystrom, Emma Koivisto, Summanen, Oona Siren, Sevenius, Oling, Kosola, Sallstrom.
Subs: Tamminen, Korpela, Vilma Koivisto, Hartikainen, Ahtinen, Emmi Siren, Heroum, Kollanen, Lehtola, Franssi, Roth, Rantala.
Switzerland: Peng, Beney, Calligaris, Stierli, Maritz, Riesen, Reuteler, Walti, Vallotto, Schertenleib, Folmli.
Subs: Herzog, Bohi, Wandeler, Ivelj, Xhemaili, Crnogorcevic, Sow, Balleste, Mauron, Pilgrim, Lehmann.
Referee: Stephanie Frappart (France)
Preamble
An absolutely gargantuan game of football here.
Hosts of Euro 2025, Switzerland, are level on points with today’s opponents, Finland. The former have never before reached the knockout stage of a European Championship but hold a slender one-goal advantage over Finland with their goal difference, meaning a draw will do for the Swiss.
Don’t count out Finland, who only narrowly lost to group favourites Norway in their last game. Wide players Katariina Kosola and Emma Koivisto have particularly impressed in a team that has pressed well so far this tournament, beating Iceland in their opener. They look well drilled under Marko Saloranta, and I expect them to come out fighting tonight.
Geneva is absolutely rocking, by the way, with fans from both sides organising a fan walk to the stadium. The atmosphere looks sensational.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.
