Vallotto relishing Norway challenge in Switzerland's opening match at Women's Euro '25

Hosts Switzerland kick off their Women's Euro 2025 against Norway in Basel on Wednesday, and for Swiss midfielder Smilla Vallotto the game will be a dream come true as she faces the country where she grew up and fell in love with the game.

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Vallotto was born in Geneva before her family moved to Norway four years later, and it was in the southwestern city of Stavanger that Smilla began her path in the game.

However, despite a successful start in Norwegian grassroots football, when the time came to pick a national team to represent, the choice fell on the country of her birth.

"To play against great players who play in the biggest clubs in the world, it will absolutely be tough, but it will be a great experience," Vallotto told Reuters in an interview.

The two sides have already met twice in the Women's Nations League this year, with Norway winning 1-0 away and 2-1 at home, giving Vallotto a flavour of what awaits at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on Wednesday evening as the tournament gets underway.

"It will be a little strange to hear the (Norwegian) national anthem, I always hum along to it. We are hungry for revenge for two defeats that weren't deserved, we could have had draws so we are hungry for revenge," Vallotto said.