[Football] Finland win Euro 2025 opener against 10-player Iceland

[S e u o n g]

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.

What was the main talking point?
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.

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