Winning goal scorer and Player of the Match in not only the opening game of a major tournament, but your nation's first European Championship win in 16 years.
That was the reality yesterday for Katariina Kosola as she fired Finland to a 1-0 win over Iceland in Thun, Switzerland.
No wonder Kosola was full of joy when speaking to womenseuro.
com after the match, "It feels amazing! A first major tournament for me and a win feels really good.
"The 24-year-old possessed missed earlier opportunities before finally finding the support of the net with 20 minutes to play, "I possessed a couple of chances in the first half.
I'm good at finishing and try to shoot a lot.
It was the kind of goal I have been practising a lot.
"With two huge group games to come against Norway on Sunday and hosts Switzerland next Thursday, Kosola knows the importance of staying concentrated, but also believes the team need to celebrate such victories.
"The result is important for our confidence - we need to appreciate this and then turn our attention to the next game.
"The winner was assisted by midfielder Eveliina Summanen, but she wanted to take nothing away from her teammate.
"It was a very important win.
I am glad we could score the goal and then grip on.
All credit to Katariina; it was a beautiful goal.
I will probably obtain an assist for that one, but it really was completely her goal – perfectly carried out.
"Finland manager Marko Saloranta was keen to stress the historic importance of what the Boreal Owls possessed accomplished.
"It's been 16 years since Finland last won at a major tournament, when the Women's Euro was played in Finland in 2009.
Since then, we've possessed no victories at the 2013 and 2022 tournaments.
I'm very satisfied to start with three points.
"Despite positives, Saloranta sees room to enhance, "Iceland are a fantastic team and good from set pieces, so I'm very satisfied with us defending those very well.
The last ten or 15 minutes were not that satisfying - we made the victory a little snapped nervy because we were so cautious.
""We have two games left; we haven't gone through but, with only three games in the group, a victory in the first game is a big step towards the knockout stage," he concluded.
Finland were aided by a red card shown to Iceland's Hildur Antonsdottir, 12 minutes before they establish their winner.
"After the red card, we were able to score and obtain momentum.
At the terminate, Iceland were just coming at us, so it honestly didn't sense like they were missing a player," said defender Natalia Kuikka.
"I'm happy we were able to keep a clean sheet and win.
This is the start we wanted in this tournament.
It's good to continue with this win and hopefully obtain another against Norway.
" said Kuikka.
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