Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland hail ‘take-off’ moment despite exit

BERN, Switzerland — Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage hopes the team’s run to the quarterfinal of their home European Championship will prove to be a take-off moment for women’s football in the country despite Friday’s 2-0 loss to Spain.

Second-half goals from Athenea del Castillo and Clàudia Pina booked Spain’s place in Wednesday’s semifinal against either Germany or Francebut the tournament has still exceeded all expectations for the hosts.

Switzerland have been given fantastic support in all four of their matches on their run to the knockout stages, with a sellout crowd of almost 30,000 staying well beyond the final whistle at the Wankdorf Stadium on Friday to congratulate them for their performances.

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“I am disappointed that I have to go back home,” Sundhage said in a news conference. “The atmosphere in the locker room and the first half tells me this is a good team.

“But Spain are world champions. We tried. That is the most important thing. I am also very proud of Switzerland. If you look at the people coming to the games, it’s been phenomenal.

“It’s been a once in a lifetime feeling, very emotional. And they didn’t leave! They stayed. That shows me there are people in Switzerland that think that women’s football is important and I am very grateful for that.”

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“It’s very important [to continue this] going forward,” the Swedish coach added. “This is, I feel, a take-off. After hosting on home soil and so on, this is a chance.

“We lost the game, but I think at some point we are winning a positive attitude for women’s football. Some players are sad, some disappointed, but if you give us time, I think all of us will be proud of how we continued the journey.

“Now it’s the next step. That will be important. Before this Euros, I was thinking there would be big crowds, but the fan zones, the people supporting the national team, has been phenomenal. I was dreaming about this, but this is more than I dreamt of.”

Switzerland, ranked 23rd in the world, were given little chance before the game against Spain.

The evening got off to the worst possible start when the world champions were awarded an early penalty, but Mariona Caldentey missed and the Swiss managed to get to half-time with the game goalless.

Substitute Del Castillo finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute after Spain had hit the woodwork three times, with Pina adding the second five minutes later.

There was still time for Spain to miss a second penalty, this time through Alexia Putellasand for Noelle Maritz to be sent off for the hosts, with Sundhage admitting her side would have needed even more fortune to pull off an upset.

“Oh yeah, we had a little bit of luck,” she smiled. “If you look at the penalty kicks and so on. We would have needed even more luck. It was tough, but the team did very well if you look at the first half. We almost made it.”