Soccer
Switzerland head coach Pia Sundhage has no doubt that her side can cause a major upset by knocking Spain out of Euro 2025 in the quarter-finals.
Switzerland reached the knockout stages of the Euros for the first time at the third attempt, after a 1-1 draw with Finland in their final group game secured second place behind Norway in Group A.
Their only previous knockout matches at a major tournament (World Cup/Euros) have ended in elimination in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup: 0-1 vs Canada in 2015 and 1-5 vs Spain in 2023.
This match marks the first time that the host nation of a European Championship are meeting the reigning world champions, but Sundhage is not overawed by the challenge ahead of her side.
In fact, she is adamant that Switzerland can cause one of the major upsets, noting how the men’s team managed a similar feat in the 2010 World Cup.
“I would say this is the biggest [upset] ever,” Sundhage told reporters. “And the reason I’m saying that is because we’re going to play against the world champions.
“And also, on home soil, a quarter-final, so I think this is the moment.
“I promise you this – we’re going to do it. It will be difficult, but I promise you. Not only one by one, we’re going to do it together.
“And if that togetherness works, we have a chance. The most important thing is that we do our very best, we can’t do more, we do our very best in the quarter-final in Bern. I think that is something special.”
She also revealed Switzerland had watched videos of that 2010 World Cup match: “We try to share stories, that’s what life is all about.
“There are some stories you would like to happen again, so sharing stories brings us together, but they also bring a lot of energy as well, and just the mindset that it is possible.”
The top scorers vs the hosts #WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/HIo5SqRbyv
— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 11, 2025
Spain, meanwhile, are chasing a first Euros title, having won the World Cup in 2023 before lifting the inaugural Nations League last year.
This is the fourth time that Spain have reached the quarter-finals of the Euros. However, they have been knocked out at this stage on every occasion previously: 2013 against Norway (1-3), 2017 against Austria (0-0 – 3-5 on penalties), and 2022 against England (1-2).
Spain are boosted by the news that Aitana Bonmati is back to full fitness after she was hospitalised with viral meningitis prior to the tournament.
She made her first start of the tournament in their final group match against Italy, and the two-time Ballon d’Or Feminin winner says she is back to her best ahead of the knockouts.
“I never thought I wouldn’t be here – I thought I may miss some games, but I never thought I couldn’t be here. I’m willing to be in this tournament. What happened was an unexpected thing,” she told reporters on Thursday.
“I felt super well physically, I was perfect … and all of a sudden, I was at the hospital. It was a new experience for me. Obviously, I was negative because it was five days before starting the tournament, and I was at the hospital.
“I was frustrated, I suffered, I must admit. All players want to enjoy tournaments, but luckily enough, I’m ready to play the quarter-finals.”
The winner of this match will face either France or Germany in the semi-final, and Bonmati is looking to help write Spain’s name into the history books.
“It’s a new challenge for us; we have the possibility to be in the semi-finals. My objective is to try to continue writing history,” she added.
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