Pia Sundhage Celebrates Switzerland's Historic EM Quarter-Final Qualification
Pia Sundhage's Switzerland reaches the EM quarter-finals for the first time, overcoming Finland in a dramatic match.
Key Points
- • Switzerland qualifies for the EM quarter-finals for the first time in history.
- • The decisive equalizer came in the 93rd minute from Riola Xhemaili.
- • Pia Sundhage expressed her astonishment at the team's comeback.
- • Switzerland will face Spain in the quarter-finals, a challenging but possible match according to Sundhage.
In a thrilling match, Switzerland has qualified for the European Championship (EM) quarter-finals for the first time in history, led by coach Pia Sundhage. The team's journey to this landmark achievement unfolded dramatically against Finland, who took a 1-0 lead through a penalty goal by Natalia Kuikka. This tense situation left Sundhage expressing deep emotional reactions during the game, notably stating, "På ren svenska, fy fan" (in plain Swedish, oh damn) as the stakes rose late in the match.
However, the Swiss squad clawed back in the dying moments, with Riola Xhemaili scoring an equalizer in the 93rd minute, securing their place in the next round. "It’s completely incredible. We were down 0-1 and needed a draw, but it turned out quite fun," Sundhage remarked on the astonishing turnaround. She underscored the historic nature of the win, stating, "This is something I will remember for the rest of my life. This team and nation deserve to write history."
Looking ahead, Switzerland will face the winner of Group B—Spain or Italy—in the quarter-finals. Despite acknowledging that the match against Spain will be challenging, Sundhage remains hopeful, declaring, "Det går att slå dem, men det är väldigt väldigt svårt" (It’s possible to beat them, but it’s very, very difficult). This landmark qualification highlights not only Sundhage's coaching prowess but also marks a significant milestone for Swiss women's football.