Iceland may be sitting at their highest-ever FIFA ranking, but the echoes of a shaky 2025 were clear to see in an underwhelming first-half display in their Euros curtain-raiser, in which Finland made all of the early running, with Katariina Kosola looking particularly dangerous.
On two occasions, she took aim at the top right corner after cutting in off the left wing, but both times she failed to hit the target, while another of her efforts was well tipped around the post by Iceland goalkeeper Cecilia Runarsdottir.
Thorsteinn Halldorsson’s side found chances hard to come by, but they arguably came closer to a deadlock breaker before the interval. First, Sveindis Jonsdottir’s long throw was flicked goalwards at the near post by Glodis Viggosdottir, forcing Anna Koivunen into a smart reaction save, before Emma Koivisto’s despairing slide proved crucial in blocking Sandra Jessen’s close-range strike at the back post.
Iceland suffered a blow ahead of the restart, as captain and key defender Viggosdottir was forced off injured, having received treatment twice in the first half.
Despite that setback, Jonsdottir’s long throw again came close to earning them a breakthrough, but Koivunen was on hand to deny Ingibjorg Sigurdardrttir, before Koivisto made a heroic block to thwart Alexandra Johannsdottir’s follow-up.
Any momentum Iceland were gathering was soon dispelled however, as Hildur Antonsdottir was sent off, picking up her second yellow card in the space of six minutes for a late challenge on Eveliina Summanen.
That numerical advantage would soon be used to full effect by the Boreal Owls, as Summanen fed Kosola to cut inside from the left and finally hit the target, picking out the top corner despite Runarsdottir getting a hand on the shot.
That would prove to be the fatal blow, as Iceland ultimately succumbed to a ninth defeat from 14 matches at the Euros finals, while it also extended their concerning recent run to one victory from their last 12 outings.
Finland, meanwhile, have made the perfect start as they look to improve on their last two appearances at this competition, which both ended in group stage exits.
Next up for Finland is a match with Norway in Sion on Sunday, before completing their group stage campaign against the hosts.