Switzerland advance after Xhemaili's late show

Switzerland ensured that local interest in Euro 2025 persists by the skin of its teeth. They were on the brink of heartbreak when Natalia Kuikka scored a late penalty to put Finland on the verge of leapfrogging them into the last eight.

- Nick Ames

Switzerland ensured that local interest in Euro 2025 persists by the skin of its teeth. They were on the brink of heartbreak when Natalia Kuikka scored a late penalty to put Finland on the verge of leapfrogging them into the last eight. It looked as if they had made a mess of a manageable situation but the stands erupted when, two minutes into added time, the substitute Riola Xhemaili finished from close range. Spain await the hosts, who may now believe anything is possible.

At kick-off, Geneva pulsated under the early evening sun. This felt the loudest, most partisan atmosphere of the summer so far; the city had been abuzz all afternoon, the red tide that marched towards the stadium painting a momentous picture, and the sense was of a home country finally ready to embrace the tournament's glorious turbulence unflinchingly.