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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.
