Finland defeat 10-player Iceland in opening game at Euros
Kosola curls in superb effort for opener
Antonsdottir sent off for two yellow cards
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Iceland 0-0 Finland
Emily Salley
BBC Sport in Thun
Risky stuff from the Iceland defence. They're determined to play it out from the back it seems, but a couple of wayward passes hand possession straight back to Finland.
The Finns can't do anything with it, though.
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland 0-0 Finland
Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir spills the corner and Finland come again.
Ria Oling connects really well as she has a go inside the box but it's straight at Runarsdottir.
Iceland 0-0 Finland
It's Iceland who are doing the early pushing forward at the moment but there's a chance to break as Alexandra Johannsdottir plays an awful pass in the middle.
Corner for Finland now.
Iceland 0-0 Finland
There may only be 8,000 inside the sold out Stockhorn Arena but these fans are certainly making plenty of noise!
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland 0-0 Finland
Karen Bardsley
Former England goalkeeper on Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
Early on you can see the direct approach from both of these sides
It's almost like they're going to bypass the midfield maybe for the first five minutes and feel out the game, see where the joy is.
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland 0-0 Finland
In comes the corner and Anna Koivunen gets a strong punch on it but there's a scramble in the area before Finland win a free-kick.
Massive sigh of relief there.
Iceland 0-0 Finland
It's lifted in towards the back post but Natalia Kuikka gets a vital head on it.
Corner.
Iceland 0-0 Finland
The first yellow card of the tournament is dished out and it's Finland's Eva Nystrom gets the honour.
She was too physical on the edge of the box and it's a chance for Iceland now.
Iceland 0-0 Finland
Finland look to get the ball in the box through Sanni Franssi but her cross is cleared well by Iceland.
Iceland 0-0 Finland
Euro 2025 is a go!
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Karen Bardsley
Former England goalkeeper on Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
I think both of these teams are aggressive in the way they like to play. It's quite direct and quite transitional.
Will we see that heat affect the intensity of these two teams?
There's a nice breeze, hopefully that'll provide a respite from the heat.
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Emily Salley
BBC Sport in Thun
First game of Euro 2025? You'd expect it to start with a bang, right?
Wrong. No fireworks, no nothing.
It's all a bit strange but the party, understandably, is coming later in Basel when hosts Switzerland face Norway.
Iceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Two belting renditions of the national anthems there.
Buckle up, it's almost time for kick-off.
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
If you're wondering what to expect from Euro 2025 then head over to our preview piece where you can read about who may win the golden boot, Spain and the weather.
You can even vote for your winner of the competition and the golden boot.
Head over there by clicking here.
Iceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Emily Salley
BBC Sport in Thun
While the scenery might be stunning, Switzerland have taken quite a different approach to their opening game for Euro 2025.
While England opened Euro 2022 against Austria in a 74,310-capacity Old Trafford, the first game of Euro 2025 will be played in a stadium nine times smaller - the Stockhorn Arena only has a capacity of 8,100.
Iceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Here we go then.
Both sets of players make their way out on to the pitch in Thun.
It looks roasting!
Iceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Maddli, a Saint Bernard puppy, is the official mascot of Euro 2025. Saint Bernards are known for being working and rescue dogs in the Western Alps in Italy and Switzerland. Maddli's name is inspired by Madeleine Boll, Switzerland's first ever professional female footballer.
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Finland head coach Marko Saloranta on facing Iceland: "Iceland is 15th in the Fifa rankings but it suits us that we are ranked lowest in our group. We are not going to start by bowing to others. We will challenge Iceland, but Iceland is the favourite tomorrow.
“We have a very good spirit. The players are very focused and clear on what we are doing all the time, so we’re looking good.
“Of course, it would be a very important start to get three points in the first game. I expect in this group, not one team will take nine points because it is so tight. If you take three points in the first game, it’s a fantastic start and it’s very important for the next games."
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Finland are among the weakest sides at Euro 2025 if records are anything to go by.
Euro 2021 was one to forget after they picked up no points, conceding eight goals and scoring one along the way.
Better this time around?
Image source, Getty ImagesIceland v Finland (17:00 BST)
Euro 2025 tickets have been on sale since October 2024.
More than 570,000 tickets have been sold for the tournament, which has a 673,000-capacity.
Euro 2022 holds the overall tournament attendance record, with 574,875 attending the 31 matches in England - an average of 18,544 per game.
Uefa said most matches were sold out, while the largest number of tickets have been sold in Switzerland, followed by Germany and England.
Watch highlights from Finland's win against Iceland
Katariina Kosola's fine strike clinched a 1-0 win for Finland over 10-player Iceland to kick off Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
Rather than the hosts opening proceedings, as has become expected at major tournaments, these nations started the Euros in Thun - but both struggled to break the deadlock in a scrappy first half at Stockhorn Arena.
Iceland were reduced to 10 players when Hildur Antonsdottir was shown a second yellow card for stamping on Eveliina Summanen's ankle with 33 minutes remaining.
Finland capitalised on their advantage and found the back of the net 12 minutes later when Kosola curled a terrific strike past goalkeeper Cecilia Runarsdottir into the top corner.
Sveindis Jonsdottir had a chance to equalise moments later when through on goal but swept her effort wide, much to the disappointment of the raucous Iceland support.
Despite it being the opening game of Euro 2025, there was little fanfare as the players took to the pitch.
It was similar to every other competitive international, with fans belting out their national anthems and the countries' flags laid out on the pitch.
While Euro 2022 kicked off in spectacular fashion when hosts England edged past Austria in front of 68,871 fans at Old Trafford, the first game in Switzerland was played in a 8,100-capacity stadium with some empty seats.
It seemed a strange way to get the tournament under way, but the party atmosphere will begin in the later Group A fixture as hosts Switzerland and Norway start their campaigns after a three-part opening ceremony at St Jakob-Park in Basel.
'Terrific opening goal' for Finland
Even before her sublime goal, Kosola was the liveliest player on the pitch.
The winger, who plays for Swedish club Malmo, came close with a wayward cross early in the first half, before forcing a diving save from Runarsdottir moments later.
Iceland's Antonsdottir, meanwhile, had a game to forget with a reckless challenge on Summanen, having already been on a yellow, costing her side.
Iceland have further cause for concern after their captain and star centre-back Glodis Viggosdottir was forced off with an injury at half-time, after requiring treatment twice.
Finland ended an eight-match winless run in the competition that stretched back to Euro 2009, when they lost to England in the quarter-finals.
Finland face Norway next at the smaller 7 ,750-capacity Stade de Tourbillon in Sion on Sunday at 17:00 BST.
Iceland are up against hosts Switzerland later that day (20:00) in Bern's Wankdorf Stadium.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Norway | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
2 Finland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
3 Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
4 Iceland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Belgium | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
2 Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
3 Portugal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
4 Spain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Denmark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
2 Germany | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
3 Poland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
4 Sweden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
2 France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
3 Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Manager: Thorsteinn Halldórsson
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager: Marko Saloranta
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager: Thorsteinn Halldórsson
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager: Marko Saloranta
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
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