Sweden claim 4-1 statement win over Germany to top Euros group
Ruthless Sweden beat 10-woman Germany for the first time at a Euros in their seventh meeting on Saturday, with the 4-1 score a major statement of intent at the tournament in Switzerland.
Stina Blackstenius in the 12th, Smilla Holmberg in the 25th, Fridolina Rolfö's 34th-minute penalty and Lina Hurtig in the 80th reversed Germany's early lead from Jule Brandt as the record champions suffered their biggest defeat in tournament history.
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Carlotta Wamser, who had done well in replacing captain Giulia Gwinn who suffered a tournament-ending knee injury in the first match, was sent off for handling the ball which led to the penalty.
Both teams were assured of a place in the quarter-finals before the match.
But Sweden finished top of Group C with maximum points and may now have an easier path in the knock-outs where they reached the semi-finals at the last Euros and last two World Cups.
The 1984 champions will next face the Group D runner-up on Wednesday, possibly title holders England or the Netherlands, and they have avoided a potential semi-final against world champions Spain.
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Germany in second will play the Group D winner on Saturday, with impressive France top before their finale on Sunday. France beat England last week and Germany in the 2024 Nations League semi-finals, and the winner could then face Spain in the semis.
Poland finished third in Group C by beating Denmark 3-2 in Lucerne in a duel of eliminated teams. Natalia Padilla, Ewa Pajor and Martyna Wiankowska scored for Poland, Janni Thomsen and Signe Bruun for the Danes.
Sweden's Fridolina Rolfoe (L) scores her side's third goal during the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 group C soccer match between Sweden and Germany at Letzigrund Stadium. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Sweden players celebrate their side's first goal during the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 group C soccer match between Sweden and Germany at Letzigrund Stadium. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
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