Hardly anyone had expected that: Outsiders Finland secured the first victory at the Women’s European Championship on Wednesday. Against Iceland, the Scandinavians were the better team from the start at 1-0 (0: 0). Katarina Kosola scored the golden gate in the 70th minute. Iceland had to outnumber a good half an hour after Hildur Antonsdóttir had seen the yellow-red card in the 58th minute.
Three hours before the official opening of the tournament, the teams from Iceland and Finland were allowed to play the first game of the 14th women of women. In the idyllic small town of Thun, around 90 kilometers south of Zurich, it was still early in the evening. So bright, partly sunny and above all: hot!
At around 31 degrees air temperature and a good dose of air humidity, the 22 players from the high European north were quite good at operating temperature after warming up. But this did not prevent her from tackling her opening game with speed and passion.
Iceland – standards as an important stylistic device
Quick and directly forward – according to the motto of both teams. Iceland had the first chance: After Eva Nyström’s superfluous foul on Sandra Jessen, Bayer Leverkusens Karólína Vilhjálmsdóttir from the penalty area boundary – but somehow the Finnish defense could clarify.
The strengths of both teams had come into play. Iceland relied on standards: corners, free kicks and thrusts that sail into the dangerous zone by the former Wolfsburg Sveindís Jónsdóttir. Finland, on the other hand,: compact in defense, quickly counterattacking and if possible, looking for the end early.
Finland surprisingly dominant
What the viewers in the 8,500 place of places from Thun could hardly be seen: technical subtleties, liquid ball relays. Both teams are also not known for this. Rather for use and will. Finland, which surprisingly showed the better approaches in the first half, would have taken the lead for a hair in the 17th minute: Kosola had space 17 meters in front of the goal, shot half -high, but Iceland’s keeper Cecilía Rúnarsdóttir used her 1.88 meter height and defended. Finland was better, played more structured. Iceland had Jónsdóttir and their initiates. One of them brought danger in the 27th minute: thrown from the right to the short post, extended by Vilhjálmsdóttir by the back of the head – it would almost have been the Icelandic leadership.
Fixed: Islands Hlin Eiriksdottir (right) and Finland’s Joanna Tynnila
Viggósdóttir injured out
But it remained goalless. Until the break and afterwards. At least first. Iceland – which, after half -time, had to cope with the injury -related loss of captain Glódís Viggósdóttir (Bavaria Munich) – simply couldn’t get his favorite role. The only weapon is still: Jónsdóttir’s throwing. One again brought bright excitement in Finland’s defense in the 57th minute, but again this time the ball found no way through the multi -legged defense into the goal.
It wasn’t playful at Iceland. The chances of winning the world ranking 14. continued to drop in the 58th minute when Hildur Antondóttir was put off the pitch. The midfielder had stamped opponent Eveliina Summanen as to call the step on the opponent’s tension. It was a correct yellow card – your second.
Finland hits the majority
In the majority, Finland opened up increasing chances of winning. The Scandinavians had no longer been able to win an EM encounter since 2009. Now they somehow had a threesome. And it happened: In the 70th minute, Kosola pulled from left inside and fled the ball soulingly with right into the far corner – 1: 0.
Iceland had to do something now – and tried it too. And in fact, Jónsdóttir had the equalizer on her foot in the 75th minute when she closed too hastily after a long ball and the ball shot past the goal in front of keeper Anna Koivunen alone. But it remained. And the women’s European Championship had its first surprise.
For Iceland, the second group game against hosts Switzerland continues on Sunday (06.07.2025, 9 p.m.). On the same day (6 p.m.) Finland meets Norway.