From the picture-perfect opening half of Euro 2025 for hosts Switzerland came the rage of Norway, and with it, the fury of St Jakob-Park. Their thunderous comeback in Basel, and a dizzying couple of minutes where a penalty was awarded both ends, with one missed and the other disallowed, silenced Switzerland’s party, as well as the ear-splitting whistles from the home fans. As they soaked in the boos at full-time, it was clear Norway were far from popular winners, not least because of the fact that Switzerland had just become the first dedicated host nation to lose their Euros opener.
Those boos will still be ringing in Norway’s ears, but this was raucous and fun in front of the sell-out crowd of over 34,000. Buoyed by the home support, Switzerland played with a sense of growing belief from kick off and took a deserved lead when Nadine Riesen drilled a finish inside the near post. Norway, who have a painful and chaotic history of underpowering at major tournaments, especially in games against the hosts, looked to be following the same script. They looked unorganised, and incohesive, as they went into the break behind and fortunate it was only by one.
