Switzerland, hosts of the Euro 2025, suffered a painful 2-1 defeat against Norway in their opening match, marked by an own goal and VAR controversy. The game, held at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, saw a promising start for the Swiss, but ultimately ended in disappointment in front of their home crowd.
Switzerland took the lead in the 28th minute with a goal from Nadine Riesen. However, Norway, a team with a strong pedigree in women's football, fought back in the second half. Ada Hegerberg, Norway's star player, equalized in the 54th minute with a header from a Vilde Bøe Risa corner. Just four minutes later, Julia Stierli'sattempt to clear Caroline Graham Hansen's cross resulted in an own goal, handing Norway the lead.
Hegerberg had a chance to extend Norway's lead when they were awarded a penalty, but she missed the target, giving Switzerland a lifeline. Shortly after, Switzerland thought they had a penalty of their own when it appeared that Harviken had fouled Riesen in the box. However, VAR intervened and overturned the decision, denying Switzerland a potential equalizer.
Despite creating several decent chances, including opportunities for Geraldine Reuteler, Switzerland were unable to find the net again. Norway held on to secure a 2-1 victory, taking the top spot in Group A.
The match was broadcast in the UK on ITV1 and ITVX, and in the USA on FOX Sports and Disney+. Platforms such as UEFA.com also provided live access and updates for international viewers.
This defeat puts Switzerland under pressure as they continue their Euro 2025 campaign. Norway, on the other hand, gained a valuable three points in their quest to reach the knockout rounds. Norway had previously defeated Switzerland twice in the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League. They won 2-1 in Stavanger on February 25th, with Caroline Graham Hansen scoring a late goal, and 1-0 in Sion on June 3rd, thanks to an early goal from Vilde Bøe Risa.