Switzerland trembles against Finland to the quarter-finals of the women’s European Championship

With a little luck, Switzerland has made the leap into the KO phase at home. A late goal brought redemption on Thursday evening in Geneva and caused grief at Finland. The substitute Riola Xhemaili became a heroine.

In a game, which is over long distances, Finland initially took the lead through a penalty from Natalia Kuikka after 78 minutes. Switzerland ran against the early tournament off in the final phase, Xhemaili finally caused cheers and relief among the Swiss federal witnesses with her goal in the second minute of stoppage time and fell into the valley of tears by late 1: 1 (0: 0).

Limitless cheers at Switzerland

The contrast on the lawn of the Stade de Genève could not have been greater after the final whistle. On the one hand, the Swiss formed a single jubilee grape and buried match winner Xhemaili. Trainer icon Pia Sundhage hugged every single staff member with a wide grin on the face.

Smilla Vallotto could hardly put her emotions into words after the game: “This is incredible. This game – this day – we played really well. Riola scored the goal, that was amazing.” She didn’t care that the game was not always in Switzerland’s interests before: “We don’t have to talk about that anymore. We are in the quarter -finals”she shouted into the microphone of Swiss television.

The Finnish players, on the other hand, buried their faces in their jerseys and tried to hide the tears. Some cried bitterly due to the missed historical opportunity.

No experiments on both sides

For a long time, the fact that the game was decided in this dramatic way had not been indicated. Before the game, the starting point was clear: Finland had to win to fulfill the dream of the first participation in the KO phase in a European championship since his 2005 EM premiere. The hosts, on the other hand, were enough. So there was tension.

Accordingly, there were no big surprises in the starting formations. Both Sundhage and their counterpart Marko Saloranta rely on the same eleven players as in the second group game.

Swiss women with the first opportunity

Finland first tried to play the game, Switzerland was compact and tried switching game and thus came through a counterattack that was not well played in the end for the first time into the opponent’s penalty area (3rd). A few minutes later, Frankfurt’s Nadine giant moved to the baseline. Her back pass landed with Noelle Maritz, but whose shot was blocked.

And the next chances also had the Swiss federales. A long free kick ended up at Viola Calligaris, who started to become a side puller freestand at the five -meter space, but did not hit the ball properly (11th). Less than a hundred seconds later, Svenja Fölmli from SC Freiburg tried with a chopping trick, but she also did not bring the play equipment onto the goal.

Finland without creativity in the building game

Switzerland was now better in the game, Finland seldom managed to pick up speed and usually ran after. It was only after 22 minutes that the Helmarit could play one of their strengths. After a corner kick, Oona Sevenius climbed up on the back of the fifth, but her header was blocked by a Swiss woman.

Finland became more active again without working out great chances because the Nati continued to defensively made the rooms tight and still got a foot in between. And so it was like against Norway that the Finnish selection generated too few degrees despite more possession.

It only became dangerous again shortly before the break. Again it was a standard for Finland, this time the ex-bremian Livia Peng was wide awake in the box of Switzerland and parried against Eva Nyström class, who fell on the foot a few meters in front of the goal.

Lots of pieces in midfield

At the second half, Sundhage made two changes and brought the record national player in Switzerland with Ana-Maria Crnogorčević, which was also accompanied by a system change. Instead of a chain of five, only four players now formed the defensive network. This should create a little more offensive urge.

However, as in the first round, many actions remained pieces, most duels took place around the center line, rare breakthroughs were interpreted quite confidently by the defensive rows.

Finland shocks Switzerland

It was only after 63 minutes the first degree in the second half, but the shot from Smilla Vallotto was too unplaced. Shortly afterwards, the Leila Wandeler, who was also substituted, tried a little too stubbornly from a distance, but clearly shot over the Finnish housing.

And so the game rippled away, up to the 78 minute. Three Swiss and a Finnin fought for the play equipment on the Swiss goal line, Emma Koivisto was added and was taken off his legs by Viola Calligaris. Clear thing: penalty. Natalia Kuikka stayed cool and pushed the ball into the goal.

Now Switzerland had to throw everything forward, Sundhage brought more offensive forces and there was actually still a feeling explosion in Geneva. Xhemaili pressed the ball over the line after presenting Reuteler from five meters. Switzerland was thus in the quarter -finals.

In the round of the best eight, the hosts meet the first of the group B. Whoever will be, will decide on Friday (from 9 p.m. live in the first and on Sportschau.de) in the duel between Spain and Italy.