Switzerland women's national team assesses 2025 European Championship group stage situation

Since Monday night, the Swiss national team has determined its three opponents in the 2025 European Cup group stage. The Swiss team will face Norway, Iceland and Finland in sequence.

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Norway, Iceland and Finland: these are the Swiss women's national team's home opponents at the 2025 European Championship. Kathrin Lehmann summed up what most observers thought after the draw: “You have a chance to take the lead” the group thought.

The former national goalkeeper, who will attend the European Championships as a pundit on German television channel 2, stressed in an interview with Watson that she considers all four teams to be equal. That makes this group exciting.

“The anticipation for the game is growing day by day.”

“It will be a battle and Switzerland will only survive if it plays with heart,” said Lehmann, who understands the Scandinavian mentality: she lived in Sweden for three and a half years. “The Northerners have an incredible team spirit that sets them apart.”

National team player Noel Maritz is also looking forward to who she will play against next summer during the draw held at Adidas Zurich. “It can be seen that the European Cup is getting closer and closer,” said the England veteran with the Conectis European Cup ball under his arm. “People's expectations for the game are getting higher and higher.” July 2, Switzerland opens the European Championship against Norway in Basel.

Noelle Maritz and the Konektis EM ball were presented to the public on Monday.Image: Watson

When the “big nations” ended up in separate groups, Maritz didn't hide his feelings during the draw. Afterwards, the 28-year-old Aston Villa defender said that from the Swiss point of view, there was really nothing to complain about. “We're happy with the draw, we could have faced stronger teams at the start. It's still not easy.”

Looking forward to domestic prosperity

Her teammate Leah Campbell from Basel believes Switzerland can achieve a lot in the group. “Luck was definitely on our side in the draw. The only problem was, we didn't get anything out of it.” “Now is the time to make the most of this,” the 18-year-old said.

Leah Campbell of FC Basel (right, next to record-setting national team player Ana-Maria Znogorcevic) hopes to feature in Basel's first game.Picture: www.imago-images.de

Campbell and Maritz rely on support from fans at home. “The excitement we’ve seen at the last two Natty games, the crowds coming out, it makes us really happy,” Maritz said. “We want the stadiums to be full and the whole country to be immersed in this joy.”

Kathrin Lehmann, who is also the emerging markets ambassador for the canton of Zurich, is already firing on all cylinders seven months before her first game. “Switzerland will be an incredible host,” she firmly believes. This competition is sure to be a huge success. “The public can start a fire and this team has proven they can take that fire and make it bigger. That's why I believe Switzerland will move forward.”

Kathrin Lehmann will provide ZDF with her expertise during the European Championships.Picture: www.imago-images.de

These are favorites

How far? “If Switzerland wins the group, they will definitely advance to the semi-finals. As the second in the group, she will play against Spain…” She did not finish her sentence. Spain won the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand, while Switzerland lost 5-1 in the last 16.

Spain is one of the teams you have to watch next July. The Netherlands, on the other hand, is getting older and France is also in the process of restructuring, Lehmann said. “This will be England's farewell in this so-called Group of Death,” the 44-year-old boldly declared. The expert named England and Germany as favorites.