Football can be cruel – and absolutely wonderful at the same time. In the history books, it will be written that Switzerland and Finland played 1–1 in Geneva, but this was an undecided drama where there was a big winner and an equally big loser.
After the final signal, the Finnish players were completely crushed.
One was up in heaven and then was taken down from there. It will hurt for a long time, as Linda Sällström expressed the matter in an interview with SVT.
”Maybe some dance steps”
Pia Sundhage gathered her national team in a large ring on the lawn. And there in the middle of the ring, the 65-year-old jogged around a whole lap and handed out high-fives to everyone. The Swiss players then lingered on the pitch for a long time, to receive the applause from the fanatical home crowd.
When Sundhage later appeared at the press conference, she promised more:
There may be some dance steps. At this point, it's about embracing the joy.
Earlier in her coaching career, she has won two Olympic Games gold and one World Championship silver with the USA, one Olympic Games silver with Sweden. This was not at the same level, but still a historic success for a Swiss national team that has never played a quarterfinal in a championship before.
It's hard to rank this compared to what I've done before. I'm a person who enjoys the moment, but I'm really, really proud of what we've done now. To have written history, says Sundhage.
Beside her sat Géraldine Reuteler, the player whose misdirected shot was behind Riola Xhemaili's 1–1 goal in the 92nd minute.
The goal kept Switzerland in the European Championship, and sent Finland home, which was otherwise on its way to the quarterfinals after Natalia Kuikka's penalty goal in the 79th minute.
I have no words. It's unbelievable – completely crazy – that we're in the quarterfinals, says 26-year-old Reuteler.
Spain next?
Pia Sundhage thanked the audience, the players and – not least – the staff she has around her for Switzerland playing on in the European Championship.
If I were to do this alone, I would be worthless, together with others I can be the best, she says.
The question is how far it will take when it's time for the quarterfinals. There, Spain is likely to be waiting, the reigning world champions who have so far gone forward like a steamroller in the European Championship.
But that's a later concern for Switzerland and Pia Sundhage.
