Finland’s national team is the lowest-ranked team in their group, but still has some chance of progression.
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Finland are hoping to give Iceland a tough test on Wednesday. Picture shows celebrations after Finland scored against Serbia in the Nations League match in Helsinki on 3 June 2025. Image: Tomi Hänninen/Chilipictures
Finland start the European Championships on Wednesday evening when they face Iceland in the first game of the tournament. The game starts in Thun, Switzerland, at 7pm Finnish time.
The Women’s Euro’s opening ceremony takes place later in the evening, before the hosts Switzerland take on Norway.
Finland, coached by Marko Saloranta, have suffered a rash of injuries in the buildup to the tournament and disappointingly finished second in their Nations League group after a draw with Serbia in Helsinki.
Despite the setbacks, the Finns are hopeful they can spring an upset or two in a group with no overwhelming favourites.
Tight game expected
Iceland are the highest-ranked team in Finland’s Group A, at 14 in the FIFA rankings. Finland are 26th in those rankings, while Switzerland are 23rd and Norway 16th.
Finland and Iceland have played 10 times in women’s football, but never before in the finals of a major tournament. Their games have been quite even, with Finland taking four wins, Iceland three and three games ending in a draw.
Finland are hoping to maintain that tradition by keeping things tight in Thun.
“Iceland are a good, direct team,” said Finland defender Joanna Tynnilä. “They have good individuals, whose strengths we have been through along with ways to counter them. But it is the kind of team that we have a chance of getting a result against. We have enough quality for that.”
Iceland star lauds Finland
Iceland’s most well-known player is Glodis Viggosdottir, who captains Bayern Munich. She was ranked 26th in the voting for last year’s Ballon d’Or.
She was polite about Finland when asked about Iceland’s first opponents in the tournament.
“Finland are a similar kind of team to us,” said Viggosdottir. “They have a really good team, that has developed their possession game. They are quick on the counter attack, and we have to be prepared. We’re expecting a tough match., we will have to be at our best to beat them.”
This is Finland’s fifth European Championship finals tournament. In 2005 they reached the semi-finals in England, and in 2009 they reached the quarter finals as hosts. In the last two tournaments they qualified, but in 2013 and 2022, they failed to advance past the group stage.
Yle is showing the championships on TV2 and Yle Areena.