The atmosphere at the Stade Tourbillon, situated approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the recent landslide devastation in Blatten, was somber yet expectant. A minute's silence was observed before kickoff, a poignant tribute to the victims of last week's tragic natural disaster.
The encounter on Tuesday served as a significant precursor to the Euro 2025 curtain-raiser, where Switzerland is set to host Norway in a prime-time fixture on July 2 in Basel. The memory of the only goal scored in the fourth minute of Tuesday's game is unlikely to fade quickly for the Swiss. A sequence of play that began with a deflated ball being intentionally put out of play by a Swiss defender took an unexpected turn. Norway, swiftly taking the throw-in with a fresh ball, launched an immediate attack that culminated in Vilde Boe Risa finding the back of the net.
The contentious nature of the goal drew sharp criticism from the Swiss side. "It’s not even a goal, because they haven’t played with ‘fair play,’" a visibly frustrated Switzerland midfielder Smilla Vallotto told broadcaster RTS after the game. "That motivates me for the next match. It’s really not possible that they did that." Her comments underscore the heightened stakes and competitive intensity that even pre-tournament friendlies can generate, particularly when a sense of injustice is perceived.
Under the tutelage of head coach Pia Sundhage, who famously guided the United States to Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, the relatively young Swiss squad now faces the challenge of regrouping. This defeat also confirmed their relegation from the top tier of the Nations League, in a group dominated by France, who secured a 2-0 victory over Iceland on the same day.
Looking ahead, Switzerland's Euro 2025 preparations will continue with further group stage matches after their opening encounter against Norway. They are scheduled to play Iceland in Bern and Finland in Geneva, providing crucial opportunities for Sundhage to fine-tune her team ahead of their home tournament. The experience gained from competitive fixtures, even those with bitter pills to swallow, will be invaluable as the host nation aims to make a strong impression on home soil.