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Not long now: The time for talking is over as the teams line up in the tunnel and prepare to walk out out on to the pitch. Mercifully, they’ll be walking out together in the traditional gladatorial style, as opposed to being introduced individually and at great length as we’ve seen in the Club World Cup over in the USA.
An email: “I thought I understood naming conventions in Iceland and was not surprised that almost the entire squad ends in ‘dottir’,” writes Joe Pearson. “What’s up with Jensen, Zomers, and Anasi? Ringers from other countries?”
It’s a good question, Joe. Natasha Anasi was born and reared in the USA but received Icelandic citizenship in 2019 after living there for five years. Diljá Ýr Zomers and Sandra Jensen are both native Icelanders, so I am not sure why their names don’t end in ‘dottir’.
I’m going to hazard a quite possibly incorrect guess that they might have got married and taken other surnames but if anyone out there knows better feel free to drop me a line.
An email: “I’m Icelandic and my wife is Finnish, so our children are therefore both,” writes regular correspondent Kári Tulinius. “Given that both nations could really do with a win here and a draw might suit neither, this has weighed especially heavily on my son and daughter, who have been debating who to support. It’s not often that my life resembles a Bluey episode, but this is literally the plot of the season 3 episode The Decider.”
The view from Switzerland: Enthusiasm is palpable in a country where fans are buying in to a tournament where progress should be made on and off the pitch, writes Nick Ames in Nyon.
The opening ceremony: While this contest between Iceland and Finland may be the first game of the tournament, the official opening ceremony won’t take place until just before Switzerland’s match against Norway in Basel later this evening.
It says here that the three-act cermony will feature 185 cast members, 16 flag banners, 40 inflatable props and 29,000 Tifo cards distributed to fans in the stadium, and will be followed by Swiss popster Beatrice Egli and her Norwegian counterpart Astrid S singing their countries’ national anthems. In the meantime, here’s a nice land art painting by Saype to keep you culturally nourished …
Iceland: Thorsteinn Halldórsson’s side will be tough to beat but can they turn tightly contested games into victories? Words: Víðir Sigurðsson.
Finland: A poor Nations League and an injury troubled buildup has taken the shine off Marko Saloranta’s side after an impressive qualifying campaign, writes Ari Virtanen.
Iceland v Finland line-ups
Iceland: Runarsdottir, Arnadottir, Viggosdottir, Sigurdardottir, Arnardottir, Johannsdottir, Vilhjalmsdottir, Antonsdottir, Eiriksdottir, Jessen, Jonsdottir.
Subs: Ivarsdottir, Birkisdottir, Agustsdottir, Heidarsdottir, Zomers, Brynjarsdottir, Anasi, Tryggvadottir, Albertsdottir, Gunnlaugsdottir, Halldorsdottir, Andradottir.
Finland: Koivunen, Emma Koivisto, Kuikka, Nystrom, Tynnila, Kosola, Oling, Summanen, Oona Siren, Sallstrom, Franssi.
Subs: Tamminen, Korpela, Vilma Koivisto, Ahtinen, Emmi Siren, Heroum, Kollanen, Lehtola, Roth, Sevenius, Rantala.
Guardian's Women's Football Weekly
Pre-tournament listening: Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Wrack, Tom Garry and Marva Kreel for a full preview of Euro 2025, with the tournament kicking off today in Thun. Faye and the Guardian panel will be recording regularly throughout the tournament, so please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Today’s match officials
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Referee: Katalin Anna Kulcsár (Hungary)
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Referee’s assistants: Anita Vad and Irina Pozdejeva
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Fourth Official: Catarina Isabel Ferreira de Campos
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Video Assistant Referee: Tamás Bognár
Prediction time: Spain are expected to win the tournament but England have a Golden Boot contender in Alessia Russo. Our writers, including the USA manager Emma Hayes, make their tournament predictions ahead of kickoff in Switzerland …
Group A: Iceland v Finland
Iceland and Finland are the first of the 16 teams participating in this summer’s Euros to get a run out and while neither side is fancied to go too deep into the competition, a win at the Arena Thun this evening will get either off to a flyer.
Thorsteinn Halldórsson’s Iceland side go into this game as favourites against a Finland team managed by Marko Saloranta and who are the lowest ranked team in a group also containing Norway and the hosts, Switzerland.
Finland qualified for this tournamnet via the playoffs, seeing off Montenegro and Scotland in the process, while Iceland qualified in second place in their group behind Germany, winning four and drawing one of their six qualifiers. They are ranked 14th in the world, compared to Finland’s 26th. Kick-off in Thun is at 5pm (BST) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
