SION, Switzerland (AP) — A full rehearsal for their opening day game at the Women's European Championship saw host Switzerland beaten 1-0 by Norway on Tuesday in the UEFA Nations League.
The game was played at Sion, a Euro 2025 host venue about 40 kilometers (25 miles) down the River Rhone from the valley where the village of Blatten was destroyed last week by a landslide of rock and ice. The stadium observed a minute's silence before kickoff.
On July 2, Switzerland will host Norway in the prime-time game on opening day of the Euros — likely not forgetting the manner of the only goal Tuesday in the fourth minute.
When a Swiss defender purposely put a deflated ball out of play, Norway took the throw-in with a fresh ball and started an attack. That quickly led to a shooting chance for Vilde Boe Risa to score.
“It’s not even a goal, because they haven’t played with ‘fair play,’” Switzerland midfielder Smilla Vallotto told broadcaster RTS. “That motivates me for the next match. It’s really not possible that they did that.”
The young Swiss team coached by Pia Sundhage, who led the United States to Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, is now relegated from the Nations League top tier in a group won by France, which beat Iceland 2-0 Tuesday.
After hosting Norway in Basel in four weeks' time, Switzerland will play Iceland in Bern and Finland in Geneva.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
The Associated Press
