Women's EURO quarter-finals: Spain vs Switzerland facts

The third quarter-final brings together world champions Spain and hosts Switzerland for the first time at a UEFA Women's EURO final tournament in Bern.

Spain scored a joint-record 14 goals in winning Group B, defeating Portugal (5-0), Belgium (6-2) and Italy (3-1), while Switzerland progressed from their group for the first time in their history, securing their quarter-final place with a dramatic 1-1 draw against Finland on Matchday 3 that secured second place in Group A. They had previously lost 1-2 to Norway and beaten Iceland 2-0.

Spain topped their section for the first time at a Women's EURO, although they have progressed from their group for the fourth EURO in succession and a fifth overall. Switzerland are the fifth host nation in a row to reach the Women's EURO knockout rounds.

Previous meetings

Although this is the teams' first meeting in a Women's EURO final tournament, Spain and Switzerland have contested six qualifiers.

They traded away victories in qualifying for the 1987 competition, Switzerland winning 2-0 in Cuenca in May 1985 before Spain triumphed 3-0 in Solothurn 12 months later.

In the qualifiers for the 1991 edition the nations shared a goalless draw in Benicàssim before a 2-1 win for Switzerland in Binningen.

Home sides came out on top in the 2013 qualification campaign, Spain edging their Madrid meeting 3-2 in October 2011 before Switzerland won 4-3 in Aurau the following June.

A round of 16 contest at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is their only meeting at a major tournament. Aitana Bonmatí struck twice in a 5-1 win for Spain, Alba Redondo also on target for the eventual champions in Auckland.

Paired together in Group A4 of the 2023/24 UEFA Women's Nations League, Spain scored 12 goals in beating Switzerland 5-0 at home and 7-1 away. Bonmatí scored twice in the first game in Córdoba, when Lucía García, Inma Gabarro and Maite Oroz were also on the target for the home side.

Alexia Putellas got two goals in Spain's subsequent win in Zurich, as did Athenea, with Oihane Hernández, María Méndez and Oroz again on target. Alayah Pilgrim scored Switzerland's only goal – her first for her country.

Form guide

Spain

Spain followed their 5-0 victory against Portugal in Group B with a 6-2 defeat of Belgium. There were seven different scorers in the latter match, a competition record, while Spain equalled the single-team record of five scorers. Putellas had a hand in four goals – two goals and two assists – as captain Irene Paredes, Esther González, Mariona Caldentey and Clàudia Pina also found the net for the world champions in Thun.

Athenea, Patri Guijarro and González all scored on Matchday 3 in Bern as La Roja came from behind to beat Italy 3-1 and clinch first place in Group B.

González's goal against Italy made her the first Spain player to score in four successive Women's EURO final tournament appearances. Only Germany's Alexandra Popp has scored in five successive finals matches.

The 5-0 victory against Portugal on Matchday 1 is Spain's biggest EURO victory.

Spain are bidding to win their first Women's EURO quarter-final after bowing out at this stage in the past three tournaments, against Norway in 2013 (1-3), Austria in 2017 (0-0, 3-5 pens) and winners England in 2022 (1-2 aet).

This is their fifth appearance at Women's EURO, a run to the semi-finals on debut in 1997 their best showing to date.

Spain won five of their six qualifying games in Group A2 (L1), scoring 18 goals and conceding five in finishing ahead of Denmark, Belgium and Czechia.

Jenni Hermoso and Salma Paralluelo both scored three goals in qualifying as Spain averaged three per game.

Spain won their first-ever senior major international women's tournament thanks to Olga Carmona's first-half strike against England in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final in Sydney.

Less than a year later, goals from Bonmatí (32) and Caldentey (53) gave La Roja victory against France in the 2023/24 Women's Nations League final in Seville.

Current head coach Montse Tomé, who had served as an assistant to Jorge Vila at the 2023 World Cup, guided Spain to that Women's Nations League title and then fourth place at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Switzerland

After conceding twice in quick succession to slip to a 1-2 defeat against Norway on Matchday 1, Switzerland responded by defeating Iceland in Bern 2-0 four days later thanks to late goals from Géraldine Reuteler and substitute Pilgrim, the latter becoming Switzerland's youngest Women's EURO final tournament scorer aged 22, surpassing a record set by Reuteler in 2022.

Substitute Riola Xhemaili's added-time leveller against Finland on Matchday 3 sent the hosts through at their opponents' expense, Switzerland going through on goal difference.

Although their finals spot was guaranteed as hosts, Switzerland still took part in qualifying and won five of their six games in topping Group B1 ahead of Türkiye, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

They scored the most goals in their group (14) and conceded the fewest (3). Viola Calligaris struck three times, more than any other Swiss player.

Switzerland are aiming to become the third successive hosts to win the tournament after Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022.

This is Switzerland's third successive finals appearance. Both previous entries have ended in the group stage, their sole win before 2025 a 2-1 victory over Iceland on debut in 2017.

Switzerland finished third in Group C at the 2022 finals; they drew their opener with Portugal (2-2) but lost to both Sweden (1-2) and Netherlands (1-4).

Their 2023 Women's World Cup participation ended with a 1-5 defeat to eventual champions Spain in the round of 16.

Head coach Pia Sundhage was top scorer in the first-ever tournament in 1984. Then known as the European Competition for Women's Football, Sundhage converted Sweden's winning penalty in the final shoot-out against England.

Key facts

• Spain have won 11 of their last 12 international matches (L1).

• Esther González is Spain's top scorer in Women’s EURO final tournaments with five goals. Alexia Putellas is second with four.

• Switzerland have scored in their last eight Women's EURO matches.

• Noelle Maritz, Ana-Maria Crnogorčević and Lia Wälti could become the first players to make ten Women's EURO appearances for Switzerland having featured in all nine of their country's previous matches at the final tournament.