Mumbai, July 7: Host nation Switzerland put its Women's European Championship campaign back on track with a 2-0 win over Iceland on Sunday, eliminating its opponents in the process and avoiding the possibility of a penalty shootout in its final group match. Géraldine Reuteler netted with 14 minutes remaining as the Stadion Wankdorf erupted in celebration in a sea of red, and Alayah Pilgrim sealed the result right at the death to leave their team on the brink of history. Vivianne Miedema’s 100th Goal Sparks Netherlands to 3–0 Win Over Wales in UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.

"This is something special I have to say," said Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage, who steered the United States to two Olympic titles. "I did not believe that Swiss people could create this kind of atmosphere."

It was only a second-ever win at the Euros for Switzerland, which has never made it to the knockout stages. It will now be all to play for on Thursday when Switzerland meets Finland in their final group match, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.

Both teams are level on three points — three points behind Norway, which beat Finland 2-1 earlier and has now advanced to the knockout stage as Group A champion.

Every Goal Matters

The 90th-minute goal for Switzerland also means that the hosts can progress to the last eight with just a draw against Finland, courtesy of a better goal difference. Had its match against Iceland ended 1-0, Switzerland would have been level with Finland on all the other tiebreakers if their match finishes in a draw on Thursday, necessitating a penalty shootout.

“We said it today: Every goal matters, and I'm glad we scored the two. So we have maybe a tiny little advantage as well with our home advantage. I hope we're going to write history on Thursday,” Switzerland captain Lia Wälti told British broadcaster ITV. UEFA Women’s Euro 2025: England Becomes First Reigning Champion To Lose Opening Match in Women's European Championship.

Iceland has zero points and is out of the tournament regardless of what happens in its final match against Norway. Many of the players were in tears as they performed the Icelandic thunder clap with their fans after the final whistle.

In contrast to when the teams played the opening matches last Wednesday, when Switzerland was engulfed by a heat wave, it was raining for most of the match in Bern. Iceland almost scored in the opening minute but Ingibjörg Sigurdardóttir volleyed off the crossbar.

Switzerland thought it had taken the lead on the half-hour mark. A corner was whipped in and Svenja Fölmli's header was inadvertently nodded into the net by Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir. Swiss fans celebrated but it was ruled out after a review on the pitchside monitor for a foul by Fölmli in the buildup. UEFA Women’s Euro 2025: Arianna Caruso’s Crucial Goal Secures Italy’s 1–0 Win Over Belgium in Group B Clash.

Fervent Fans

Inside a packed stadium, with a capacity crowd of nearly 30,000, the 2,000 Icelandic fans made themselves heard, while the equally fervent home support yelled “Hopp Schwiiz.” And almost all of them thought Switzerland had taken the lead in stunning fashion in first-half stoppage time as Iman Beney's long-range attempt rippled the side netting.

Iceland started the second half in almost exactly the same way it had started the first — by hitting the crossbar. This time Karolína Lea Vilhjalmsdottir's free kick skimmed the top of the woodwork. Switzerland had barely had a shot on target until it broke the deadlock in the 76th minute.

Sydney Schertenleib threaded an intelligent ball through for Reuteler to run onto and slot into the far bottom corner and Switzerland wrapped up its first win in its home tournament when Pilgrim collected a pinpoint pass from another substitute Leila Wandeler and cut inside before curling into the back of the net.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)