Switzerland Inspired By 2010 World Cup Win Before Spain Quarter-final

Spain v Switzerland

Date: Friday 18 July Kick-off: 20:00 BST Venue: Wankdorf Stadium, Bern

Coverage: Live connected BBC One (from 19:30 BST), iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live. Text commentary, in-play clips and video highlights connected nan BBC Sport website and app

Pia Sundhage has been utilizing footage of Switzerland men's historical triumph complete Spain astatine nan 2010 World Cup to animate her women's broadside earlier their quarter-final against nan aforesaid opponents astatine Euro 2025.

Hosts Switzerland, classed 23rd successful nan world, scored a stoppage-time extremity against Finland successful their last group-stage crippled to compression into past eight.

World champions Spain, meanwhile, are nan top-ranked squad successful nan tourney and were already favourites to triumph Euro 2025 earlier they swept past Portugal, Belgium and Italy to apical Group B, external.

Switzerland leader Sundhage, who has antecedently managed nan United States, Sweden and Brazil, said facing Spain connected Friday will beryllium nan "biggest ever" situation of her managerial career.

However, nan 65-year-old believes her broadside tin astonishment Spain successful nan aforesaid measurement nan men's squad did successful South Africa successful 2010, erstwhile they held connected for a 1-0 triumph aft Gelson Fernandes scored successful nan 52nd minute.

Sundhage said nan thought to watch videos of that triumph came from erstwhile Arsenal and Switzerland defender Johan Djourou, who is portion of her staff.

"We tried to stock stories, that is what life is each about," she said. "That was an thought from Johan. He was talking astir it successful an affectional way.

"We showed videos and immoderate stories that we would for illustration to hap again. Bringing stories brings america together and brings energy, it gives america nan mindset that it is possible."

Swiss defender Noelle Maritz said re-watching videos of nan triumph - nan men's first against Spain - gave her "goosebumps".

"This is shot and we person to people 1 much extremity than nan force and judge successful ourselves. We dream we are capable to triumph against Spain for illustration nan men's squad did," Maritz added.

Against Spain successful 2010, Switzerland won contempt facing 24 shots against a squad that went connected to triumph nan tournament.

Asked if her broadside will request nan aforesaid luck successful Bern, Sundhage replied: "We will not triumph against Spain if we are not lucky. But you request to create your ain luck."

Spain are classed 2nd successful nan world and won nan World Cup successful 2023, but they person exited nan Euros successful nan quarter-finals astatine each of nan past 3 tournaments.

With their only amended capacity being successful 1997, wherever they reached nan semi-finals, head Montse Tome said her broadside person a chance to "write history" against Switzerland.

"I deliberation it's a beautiful situation for nan Spanish team, for nan staff, for nan players," said Tome.

"It is simply a challenge, it is large to person nan anticipation to get to nan semi-finals and constitute history.

"These players, this team, will make history [if they win]. This creates an power and that's nan power we show connected nan pitch."

I americium co-commentating connected this game, and nan disparity betwixt Spain and Switzerland feels for illustration nan biggest of immoderate of nan 4 quarter-finals.

Spain are clear favourites here, for a reason. The world champions are going to triumph and astir apt people a fewer much goals, aft hitting 14 successful nan group stage, truthful Switzerland really conscionable request to effort and clasp retired for arsenic agelong arsenic they can.

There person already been large celebrations present because nan Swiss person sewage done to a knockout shape of a Euros for nan first time.

So, this tourney has already been a occurrence for them connected nan transportation arsenic good arsenic disconnected it, pinch grounds integer viewing figures and nan attendances astatine games.

This feels for illustration nan past guidelines for nan hosts because they won't support Spain out, but I americium going to opportunity nan Swiss will people excessively - that is improbable to happen, but I really want them to extremity these Euros pinch thing to grin about.

Brown-Finnis' prediction: 4-1