Kathrin Lehmann
Former Switzerland goalkeeper on 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

We’ve put it all out, all the creativity we have in Switzerland, to welcome everyone so we are happy that [the Euros] finally starts.

There will be a lot of public [match] viewings and also the Swiss Federation have made it so you don’t need an extra licence to show the games in the pubs and the restaurants so everyone is involved. You can’t walk any metre without seeing a picture or hearing anything about the Euros.

We are happy to show the world again how beautiful and how funny we are.

Everyone thinks that Switzerland is a little tiny country and that we don’t talk to anyone but we are very funny, so you have to explore that.

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport in Basel

It’s an extra special day for Swiss sisters Marianne and Rafaella as Rafaella’s eight-year-old daughter Jana will walk out alongside one of the players as mascot at tonight’s game.

“She doesn’t know yet which player she will walk out with or what to expect but she is really excited,” Rafaella said

“We are so excited to see her be part of this historic night for Switzerland.”

Jana won the prize through a raffle where children aged between seven and nine could enter to be mascot for Switzerland’s group games.

There’s a third cheese hat ready for Jana to wear when she joins her family in the stands to watch the game.

Áine O Donnell
BBC Newsbeat in Basel

Image source, Getty Images

Basel fan Sarah Reinprecht will be in the crowd at St. Jakob-Park tonight when Switzerland take on Norway.

“It’s really exciting for me because I’ve been playing soccer since I was little,” she says about the tournament coming to her home city. “I will go to all of the Swiss games.”

All across the city, there’s a familiar face from the WSL being used to promote the tournament - Alisha Lehmann.

The Swiss player is the most followed women’s footballer in the world on socials with more than 12m followers on TikTok.

“It’s great to have someone who puts the focus on women’s soccer – she played for some really good clubs,” says Sarah. “When I started playing I didn’t know any female players.

“Many years ago the image of a female football player will have been quite masculine. She has been a great contributor to changing the image.”

Image source, Getty Images

With women's football less established in Switzerland than it has been at other recent major tournament hosts, they need a star player to capture the public imagination.

Could that be 18-year-old Sydney Schertenleib? In a Barcelona squad brimming with top talent, you could be forgiven for not knowing her name.

However, since moving to Spain from Grasshopper Zurich last summer, the 18-year-old has quickly established herself as a first-team regular, starting all but two of Barcelona's league matches since the beginning of March and coming off the bench in both legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Wolfsburg.

Although she typically plays on the left side of a midfield or forward three for Barcelona, Switzerland boss Pia Sundhage has preferred to use her as a right-sided striker, yielding two goals in her first 10 appearances.

In her first senior tournament, and playing on home soil, the setting is perfect for Schertenleib to make an impact - although she starts on the bench tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

The hosts have put their faith in coaching experience at this tournament, with Pia Sundhage serving as Switzerland manager.

The Swedish veteran won the inaugural 1984 Euros as a player, finishing as top scorer. She later managed her country, guiding Sweden to the semi-finals in 2013, having had a successful stint in charge of the USA with back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

Sundhage's last major tournament experience was less fruitful, as her Brazil side suffered a shock group stage exit from the 2023 World Cup.

She was appointed Swiss boss in January 2024, with the task of taking the hosts as far as possible on home soil.

Rachel Brown-Finnis
Ex-England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

One massive disappointment for Switzerland is [striker] Ramona Bachmann, who has played in the US and played in the Women’s Super League for a long time. She tore her ACL at the beginning of June.

That is a massive loss – over 130 caps for her, 60-odd goals for her country. She would’ve been a very familiar name to most people in world football.

There are players that are recognisable, goalscorers a little less so. But they’ve got a good mix of experience and youth players.

Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

For the tournament it would be absolutely amazing for the home nation to get out of the group and progress. They did amazingly to get out of the group in 2023 at the World Cup. Switzerland have had a pretty tricky time in the Nations League. It was amazing to see them get that result against Czech Republic a few days ago when they won 4-1. They hadn't scored since April. For the fans and for everyone in Switzerland it was a huge buzz to see their team win and score four goals.

It is going to be huge for Switzerland as a nation to get behind this team and push them over the line. They have a great chance to do something against Norway with the fans behind them and the atmosphere.

Switzerland are the ninth different nation to host the Women's European Championship, and will be hoping to follow the tradition of the home side putting on a strong showing.

Three of the last six hosts have won the Euros, including the last two - Netherlands in 2017, and England in 2022.

Of the eight previous hosts, none have ever lost their opening match.

No pressure, Switzerland - who will be watched by some packed crowds this month. Switzerland are only the sixth country to host both the men’s and women’s Euros and they have already sold out 22 out of 31 matches.

Switzerland

Image source, Getty Images

Switzerland captain Lia Walti on what it means to captain the host nation at Euro 2025: "It's incredible. It’s something I think when I started my national team career I was never picturing it. I never thought we were going to be able to host a tournament.

Sitting here right now in Basel just one day before the first game of a European Championships, it’s extremely special for all of us. Women’s football is growing worldwide extremely fast as well in Switzerland. We still have a lot of steps to go here.

"We want to use this tournament to be positive role models, inspire the nation and make sure that we can be really successful in Switzerland in the future."

Emily Salley
BBC Sport at Euro 2025

Having qualified automatically as the hosts, Switzerland still impressed during the qualifying tournament, winning five of their six games.

A win against France in October was seen as a big deal but they have since been thrashed 6-0 by Germany and failed to beat both Norway and Iceland in the Nations League.

Making just their third appearance at a European Championship, they have never advanced past the group stage.

However, they surprised people when they topped their group at the 2023 World Cup, pipping Norway and co-hosts New Zealand to first place before losing to eventual champions Spain in the last 16.

The hosts have a good mix of youth - with the likes of Barcelona teenager Sydney Schertenleib - and experience, with players like Lia Walti and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, although striker Ramona Bachmann misses out with a serious knee injury.

The big news for Switzerland is that captain Lia Walti starts. Pia Sundhage was giving nothing away in her pre-match press conference, but the Arsenal midfielder will lead out the hosts at their Euro 2025 opener. Barcelona midfielder Sydney Schertenleib was touch and go and is on the bench.

Switzerland XI: Peng, Beney, Calligaris, Stierli, Maritz, Riesen, Ivelj, Walti, Valotto, Reuteler, Xhemaili

Subs: Herzog, Bohi, Wandeler, Crnogorcevic, Terchoun, Sow, Balleste, Mauron, Folmli, Pilgrim, Schertenleib, Lehmann

Gemma Grainger picks a Norway starting XI stacked with attacking talent. Ada Hegerberg captains the side, with Guro Reiten and Frida Maanum either side of her.

Norway XI: Fiskerstrand, Bjelde, Mjelde, Hansen, Bratberg Lund, Boe Risa, Graham Hansen, Engen, Maanum, Hegerberg, Reiten

Subs: Panengstuen, Mikalsen, Woldvik, Ostenstad, Saevik, Kielland, Harviken, Bizet, Terland, Jensen, Naaslund, Gaupset

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport in Basel

Earlier I was on the Swiss fan march from Munsterplatz to St Jakob-Park.

The sun was shining, the cow bells were ringing and thousands of fans sang their hearts out. Great vibes.

The downside? It was a 45 minute walk in 32 degree heat. I shouldn’t complain though, one girl in front of me made the trip on crutches.

It was a sea of red with fans of both sides in their red shirts. Luckily my red face blended in.

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One down, 30 to go.

Welcome to match number two of Euro 2025, and this one sees the debut of the host nation at the competition.

Switzerland face Norway at St. Jakob Park in Basel - can the hosts put on a show, or will the visitors spoil the party?

Let's find out.