Then everything had started so well.
Sundhage's Switzerland took control directly and flew forward in the first half in the heat – it was 31 degrees at kickoff in front of 34,063 victory-hungry spectators at St Jakob-Park in Basel.
Géraldine Reuteler hit the crossbar in the 24th minute, but four minutes later Switzerland had greater luck with the rebounds.
Nadine Riesen scored 1–0 via the post behind Norwegian goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand.
From victory to goal
Norway lost 0–2 at home to Sweden in the European Championship rehearsal and looked sluggish in the first half. Forward star and team captain Ada Hegerberg looked like she lacked timing when she, although in an offside position, was easily caught by the home defense.
But in the second half, everything changed.
Hegerberg headed in the equalizer on a corner after a mistake by goalkeeper Livia Peng.
Just four minutes later, in the 58th minute, a pressured Julia Stierli steered in the 1–2 ball into her own goal after Barcelona star Caroline Graham Hansen's pass.
Missed penalty
In the 70th minute, Hegerberg got a huge chance to give Norway a two-goal lead on a penalty – but the Lyon forward shot wide.
Unbelievably bad. But the victory was important, it means an enormous amount to us, says Hegerberg to Norwegian TV2.
In the attack after, Switzerland was awarded a penalty – but it was taken away for offside after VAR review.
The home team then created several good chances, but could not get an equalizer. Sundhage was also critical of Norway's time-wasting at the end.
I feel frustration. I'm an old-fashioned person who likes fair play, so it can be better, says she.
Pia Sundhage has received criticism in the run-up to the European Championship when the newspaper Blick last week reported that there was dissatisfaction in the team because the Swede had pushed players with injury concerns too hard in training.
She was then questioned for the national team playing a practice match against a U15 boys' team – and losing 1–7.
The 65-year-old Swede can expect continued criticism after the opening loss.
