Euro 2025 opens with Finland win over Iceland

Katariina Kosola's goal gave Finland a 1-0 win over 10-woman Iceland in the opening match of the Women's European Championship on Wednesday, giving the Finns the perfect start in Group A which also contains hosts Switzerland and Norway.

Finland lost all three games at the last tournament, scoring one goal, but after Iceland's Hildur Antonsdóttir's red card in the 58th minute, Kosola made the breakthrough 12 minutes later.

The first half ended goalless, with Iceland threatening from set-pieces and Sveindis Jonsdottir's long throw-ins while Finland created the better chances but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Cecilia Runarsdottir.

Inter Milan's Runarsdottir, voted best Serie A keeper last season, made an excellent diving save to keep out Kosola's shot from the edge of the area. 

Another throw-in from Jonsdottir brought Iceland their first real opportunity after the break with Finnish keeper Anna Koivunen saving one effort and Emma Koivisto blocking another shot but it also led to the red card for Antonsdottir.

Antonsdottir had been booked six minutes earlier and a rash off the ball challenge brought a second yellow card and left Iceland down to 10 with over half an hour remaining.

The drums of the Icelandic fans echoed around the Arena Thun but it was Finland who now controlled the tempo on the pitch and deservedly found a way through.

Kosola took the ball into the box and cut inside before smacking a beautiful shot, which Runarsdottir got a hand to but could not stop the ball sailing into the top corner.

Iceland pushed to the end for an equaliser but Finland held on to take the three points.

"The result is important for our confidence," Kosola said after Finland ended a winless run that stretched to Euro 2009. "It was the kind of goal I have been practicing a lot. I had a couple of chances in the first half."

Iceland had drawn 1-1 in each of its three group-stage games at Euro 2022 and lost all three at the 2017 edition.

"It's terrible to lose and we feel frustrated," Iceland coach Thorsteinn Halldórsson said in comments reported by UEFA. "It is an even group and we knew Finland were good, but our first half wasn't good enough."

Iceland were also was hurt by having captain and star defender Glódís Viggósdóttir slowed by a stomach illness before being replaced at halftime, rather than a knee injury that forced her to miss playing time in Bayern Munich's German league and cup-winning season.

"I've had it for a few days. I tried to play with it but couldn't," Viggósdóttir said.

Switzerland and Norway play later on Wednesday in Basel.

Finland face Norway next in Sion on Sunday, with Iceland, who have one win in 14 Euros matches, facing the Swiss in Bern.

Euro 2025 started with two Nordic teams playing in the heat wave that had Switzerland sweltering since before the squads arrived in the Alpine nation.

It had cooled to 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) for the 6 p.m. kickoff in Thun as electric storms threatened nearby. 

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.