Lots going on in Basel: Switzerland botches start to home European Championship
Basel. Own goal, missed penalty, video review: In a thrilling European Championship opening match, the Swiss women's soccer team began their home tournament with a defeat despite plenty of Bundesliga power. Coach Pia Sundhage's team lost the official opening match 2-1 (1-0) to Norway in front of 34,063 spectators in Basel.
Former World Player of the Year Ada Hegerberg (54th minute) with her 50th international goal and Freiburg's Julia Stierli (58th/own goal) gave coach Gemma Grainger's team an optimal start to the tournament. Eintracht Frankfurt's Nadine Riesen (28th) had given the Swiss team the lead before halftime at St. Jakob-Park, but Hegerberg missed a handball penalty (70th).
Scored to make it 1-1, but also missed a penalty: Norway's captain Ada Hegerberg.
Source: IMAGO/Bildbyran
A colorful opening show, complete with choreography, initially gave the hosts, led by Arsenal captain Lia Wälti, who had just returned fit, an additional boost. The strong wingers Riesen and Iman Beney, in particular, interpreted their roles aggressively. The lead was therefore well-deserved, especially since Géraldine Reuteler, also on contract with Frankfurt, had just blasted the ball onto the crossbar from 18 meters.
Norway, led by FC Bayern's defensive leader Tuva Hansen, initially remained rather passive. That changed after the break. Hegerberg headed in the equalizer from a corner. And, in keeping with the initial chants of "Norge, Norge" from the small away section, Stierli slid the ball into his own net in an attempt to save the ball. Goalkeeper Livia Peng, who is moving from Werder Bremen to Chelsea, even managed a reflex save to prevent Hegerberg from making it 3-1.
Sundhage reacted, bringing on the 18-year-old super-talent Sydney Schertenleib from FC Barcelona. The Swiss now pressed, but were also fortunate when Hegerberg sent the ball woefully wide from the penalty spot. In return, video review prevented a potential penalty for the hosts, who put in a lot of effort in the closing stages but were unlucky in the final stages.
Finland had previously beaten Iceland 1-0 (0-0) in their Group A opening match. The disappointment was that defensive leader Glodis Viggosdottir, also captain of FC Bayern, had to be substituted at halftime due to injury. For Finland's women's football team, it was their first European Championship victory since 2009 in front of around 8,000 spectators in Thun. Katariina Kosola scored the decisive goal of the match in the 70th minute.
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