🚨 Heavy defeat in Zurich, Sweden too strong for shaky Germany women
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At first, everything actually looked good. Germany started with pressure, created several chances right from the beginning, and took the lead as a result.
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But after the 1:0 by Jule Brand (7th minute), the game turned. The Blågult took control and went ahead through Stina Blackstenius (12th minute) and Smilla Holmberg (25th minute). Things got even worse for the Wück team after that.
Carlotta Wamser cleared the ball off the line with her hand in the 31st minute, caused a penalty, and had to leave the field with a red card. Fridolina Rolfö took responsibility and increased the score to 3:1 from the Swedish perspective. After that, the DFB team nervously made it to the locker room. Again and again, especially the newly formed defense together with goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made some hair-raising mistakes.
No turnaround in the second half
The second half also failed to bring a real turnaround. Although the German women stabilized, there was no real sign of a fightback. The Swedish team, meanwhile, managed their lead and repeatedly launched skillful attacks – as they did in the 80th minute.
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After a passing sequence around the German penalty area, Lina Hurtig only had to tap the ball in and scored to make it 4:1 for coach Peter Gerhardsson's team. That's how it would end.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors
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3 days ago
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How England saved themselves at Euro 2025: Blood, sweat, notes and… holding in a wee in the shootout
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England, Soccer, International Football, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
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Absolute euphoria! 😮 Lucy Bronze buries her penalty and Smilla Holmberg cannot hit the target – sending England through to the semi-finals! #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2025 When Smilla Holmberg fired over the bar, the England players bundled on Hampton, who had made two crucial saves. 'I'm better with one nostril!' the player of the match joked. Goalkeeping coach Darren Ward hugged and lifted the petite Wiegman off the ground, Williamson jumped into the arms of a tearful coaching staff member. Gala's Freed From Desire blasted out of the dressing room as the players danced. Relief, happiness and frustration poured out of Mead, who was one of nine players from both sides to miss a penalty. 'I think I cried like a baby,' she said. 'It's a lot of emotion. You've been in these positions before and we've fallen short. We worked so hard to get back into the game, to not have got it over the line was a scary thought.' Williamson was proud of her team. 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