Greg . 14 hours ago

'We're hurting': Finland trying to manage with pain of dramatic EURO exit

For the first time in the history of the UEFA Women's European Championship, a goal scored in added time in the final round of group matches has decided a qualification to the knockout stages.

Unfortunately for Finland, it was they who conceded it, as host nation Switzerland establish a 92nd-minute Riola Xhemaili equaliser in a 1-1 sketch to spare themselves of an early exit and send the Finns home.

It was a sketch which would have sensed more painful than any beat for the Boreal Owls players, who were on the brink of the quarter-finals thanks to Natalia Kuikka's penalty in the 79th minute.

Despite the pain, Finland coach Marko Saloranta possessed nothing but praise for his side when speaking in the post-match press conference, "I possessed to breathe for a while at full-time.

I'm proud of how committed my players have been, how crazy they've been.

Nobody trusted in us outside the camp but we knew we could compete.

""We terminated a 16-year wait for a finals win against Iceland," he continued, "Played well against Norway and then came so close to getting the result here to progress.

We're hurting.

"For Saloranta, yesterday's match was where his side came up short, rather than in beat to Norway, "I wouldn't change a thing in the first two matches.

We were good enough and trusted in ourselves.

We struggled more here.

""We were maybe a snapped too passive tonight; we didn't put enough pressure on the ball.

You saw our reaction when we conceded the equaliser.

"Penalty scorer Kuikka shared the view that Finland were not at their best when it mattered most.

"Switzerland were much better than us.

They came to the game like they wanted to win and it kind of showed.

We lost a lot of individual battles and I sensed like the ball was just bouncing around.

We weren't taking control of it.

""We were unable to play the game we usually play.

Switzerland definitely made it difficult for us and, at the terminate, they were able to equalise.

It's bittersweet and it hurts," she added.

For Saloranta, the ultimate feeling is one of pride, and he remains optimistic over what the future holds for his side.

"We were so close.

No-one anticipated us to battle for a place in the quarter-finals, but all the players - all of us - were proud and confident that we would compete to move further.

Now we are travelling support home because Switzerland scored a late goal.

"When requested whether Finland can construct on their time at UEFA Women's EURO 2025, the lead coach was defiant, "Absolutely! I'm so proud of my players, because we showed everyone in Finland that we are competing and not just taking part in a tournament.

"Pursue the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 on Betopick.