
Swedes sweep past Germany as both make last eight
The Swedes finished top of the group with a perfect nine points from their three games and will take on the runners-up in Group D - which features France, England, Netherlands and Wales - with the Germans taking on the winners of that group.
Friday's encounter was the first time the Germans conceded four goals at a Women's Euros and the Swedes were good value for their win, punishing virtually every mistake the Germans made.
Germany got off to a flying start, slicing Sweden open through the middle as Wamser slid the ball into the path of Jule Brand, who managed to slip it past Jennifer Falk despite the Swedish keeper getting a touch.
The Swedes struck back within five minutes, striker Stina Blackstenius expertly timing her run in behind the defence and latching on to Kosovare Asllani's ball before flashing a shot past Ann-Katrin Berger to level.
Though the Germans looked dangerous every time they crossed the halfway line, it was the Swedes who took the lead through Smilla Holmberg in the 25th minute, the fullback marauding into the box before losing control and then steering an attempted clearance into the net from a tight angle.
Germany's challenge fell apart in the 32nd minute when Wamser was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball, and Fridolina Rolfo scored from the spot to make it 3-1 in her 100th international.
Though the Germans made the odd dangerous foray in the second half, the Swedes exploited their numerical advantage and substitute Lina Hurtig put the game beyond reach with a close-range finish in the 80th minute.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The 42
12 hours ago
- The 42
10-woman Germany defeat France on penalties to reach Euro 2025 semi-finals
TEN-WOMAN GERMANY reached the Women's Euro 2025 semi-finals on Saturday after prevailing 6-5 in a penalty shootout against France following a gruelling match which finished 1-1 after extra time. Alice Sombath missed the decisive penalty for France to hand a last-four clash with Spain to Germany, who will take on the world champions in Zurich on Wednesday. Germany maintained their record of having never lost to France in a major summer tournament after battling back from going a goal and a woman down in the first 15 minutes to win a bruising encounter in Basel. St Jacob's Park was dominated by fierce German support which flocked over the nearby border with Switzerland and roared their team on even after Kathrin Hendrich was sent off and gave away the penalty from which Grace Geyoro opened the scoring. Sjoeke Nuesken — who also missed a penalty in the second half — levelled the scores 10 minutes later and, after a long battle to hold off France, Sombath's mistake sent the majority of the crowd wild. Advertisement Germany came into the match already missing key defenders Giulia Gwinn and Carlotta Wamser, to injury and suspension respectively, while star striker Lea Schueller was also surprisingly left on the bench. And the Germans' task was made even harder in the 13th minute when Hendrich inexplicably pulled Griedge Mbock's hair while defending a free-kick. Germany's Jule Brand against France's Kadidiatou Diani and Selma Bacha. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo But out of nowhere Nuesken drew a huge roar from the fans when she rose, completely unmarked, to glance home Klara Buehl's inswinging corner. From there Germany were content to sit back and hold France off by fair means or foul, and they were saved from being behind at the break by Delphone Cascarino needlessly straying offside before flicking home Kadidiatou Diani's low cross. That was one of the few decent attacks France managed to conjure up with an extra woman, and they continued to struggle after the break. Even when Geyoro had the ball in the net for the second time, lashing home on the rebound after a fine save from Ann-Katrin Berger, the goal was ruled out as Maelle Lakrar impeded the Germany goalkeeper while in an offside position. And Pauline Peyraud-Magnin saved France's skin when she kept out Nuesken's awful penalty in the 69th minute, given for a soft foul on Jule Brand. A simply incredible save from Ann-Katrin Berger to keep France out in extra-time! 📺 Live on RTÉ2/RTÉ Player. — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 19, 2025 But it was Ann-Katrin Berger who made possibly the save of the tournament 12 minutes into extra time when she somehow clawed out Janina Minge's inadvertant header and stopped Germany going out with an own goal. Berger could only watch as Melvine Malard shook the crossbar with almost the last kick of the game before the shootout, in which Amel Majri and Sombath both had weak efforts saved and allowed Germany to win against all odds. – © AFP 2025


RTÉ News
14 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Euro 2025: Germany survive early red to edge France on penalties and reach semi-finals
Ann-Katrin Berger pulled off a superb final save as Germany beat France 6-5 in a penalty shootout to set up a Euro 2025 semi-final showdown with world champions Spain after a bruising encounter that ended 1-1 after extra time. The Germans pulled off a stunning comeback from a goal down and a straight red card for defender Kathrin Hendrich after 13 minutes, battling their way back into the game and eventually getting the better of their opponents in a thrilling shootout. Hendrich was sent off after a VAR review established that she had pulled the hair of Griege Mbock Bathy in the box, and Grace Geyoro's subsequent penalty had the power to get over the line despite Berger getting a strong hand to it. France 1-0 Germany A moment of madness! Germany's Kathrin Hendrich is sent off and France are awarded a penalty after VAR spots a hair pull in the box. Grace Geyoro converts, just. 📺 Live on RTÉ2/RTÉ Player — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 19, 2025 On the ropes and struggling, the Germans suddenly levelled, Sjoeke Nuesken catching the defence napping by darting towards Klara Buehl's near-post corner and flashing a header into the net in the 25th minute. With the well-organised Germans defending doggedly, France had two goals ruled out for offside, Nuesken had a second-half penalty saved, and neither side managed to score in extra time. The game went to penalties, and Berger got the shootout off to a great start for the Germans by saving from Amel Majri, but they were brought back to level pegging when Sara Daebrtiz struck her spot kick off the crossbar and over the goal. Berger then fired home from the spot herself before diving to her left to deny Alice Sombath, sending the Germans through to the last four. They will face Spain on Wednesday, a day after England face Italy in the other semi-final.


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Leeds part-owner Will Ferrell sends crowd wild during Man Utd friendly as fans spot what's on Hollywood star's T-shirt
HOLLYWOOD star Will Ferrell brought the only bit of entertainment to Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Leeds. Advertisement 3 Hollywood actor Will Ferrell was spotted at Man Utd's pre-season game against Leeds 3 Ferrell is a minority owner in Championship champions Leeds Credit: PA Last year, Ferrell bought a minority stake in Leeds ' ownership group 49ers Enterprises, in which golfers And it was the Elf and Anchorman actor that livened up United's first warm-up game against Leeds when the camera fetched him out in the crowd. Just before the drinks break in the 25th minute, the MUTV cameraman picked Ferrell out sitting high up in the stands at the Strawberry Arena. And the American movie star comic soon turned into the showman he is when he realised all eyes were on him, with the score 0-0 at the time. Advertisement READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS Ferrell began buffing his chest out and pointing to the three words spread across his T-shirt. His top had the words: "I ❤️ Gnesta" printed on it. And the moment of comedy was lapped in by the fans inside the stadium, with the actor receiving a huge reception. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Advertisement Most read in Football Breaking Ferrell has a connection to Gnesta, Sweden , through his wife, Viveca Paulin, who is Swedish. While they live in New York City and California , the couple also spend time in the Scandinavian country. Forest in Sensational Sancho Swoop The match lacked excitement and quality, with United nearly taking the lead through Casemiro smacking the ball off the crossbar on the stroke of half-time. The start of the game was delayed for 10 minutes due to heavy traffic around the stadium. Advertisement New signing Teenager United's woeful 2024-25 campaign saw them finish 15th in the Prem and without a trophy after Europa League final heartbreak against Tottenham. 3 Advertisement