Sweet success eludes proud Swiss in narrow Norway defeat

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BASEL, Switzerland - When Switzerlands Nadine Riesen put her side 1-0 up against Norway in their Womens Euro 2025 opener at St. Jakobs-Park on Wednesday the whole nation erupted and even though the Swiss let their lead slip and lost 2-1, they still left the stadium with their heads held high.

It felt amazing. I couldnt imagine that I would score a goal, and even happier that we could celebrate all together. The atmosphere was so nice, and the whole stadium and, yeah, its something I will never forget, the 25-year-old Riesen told Reuters, beaming with pride despite the defeat.

The first half, I think we played pretty well, we showed what we can do. We wanted to give the whole of Switzerland something back... and its so sad that we didnt make it through the second half.

Norway captain Ada Hegerberg scored just after the break and Switzerland then conceded an own goal. Despite plenty of chances and a penalty award that was overturned after a VAR review, the hosts could not fashion another goal.

Wednesdays game was Switzerlands third single-goal defeat to Norway in 2025 but Riesen said her side were proud of what they had done.

Its a positive feeling, leaving from here -- of course, were disappointed that we couldnt win, we wanted the three points for sure, so we will keep looking for that, and we will take the first half into Sunday, she said.

And hopefully also the atmosphere, because we felt like we were 12 players on the pitch, not only 11, because everyone was supporting, everyones rooting, and we really felt that.

Switzerland face Iceland, who lost 1-0 to Finland in the