Women's EURO 2025 — Poland beats Denmark 3-2; Sweden wins 4-1 against Germany

The Hindu

4 days ago

Poland recorded its first victory at a major women's tournament with a 3-2 win over Denmark on Saturday that saw it depart Euro 2025 on a high note.
With both teams already eliminated, the result meant Poland came third in Group C in its debut at the Euros, and Denmark fourth.
Natalia Padilla-Bidas made history and had Polish fans on their feet with her 12th-minute goal, the team's first in a major tournament, when a loose ball fell at her feet and she fired home.
Ewa Pajor, Poland's all-time leading goalscorer, doubled the lead eight minutes later when she intercepted the ball in the midfield, laid it out to Padilla-Bidas, then charged to the back post to head it in.
Denmark's Janni Thomsen pulled one back in the 59th minute, but Poland restored their two-goal lead when substitute Martyna Wiankowska struck from the edge of the box, firing the ball in off the bar.
Denmark, runner-up at Euro 2017, replied in the 83rd minute when Signe Bruun headed in Katrine Veje's pinpoint cross.
After the final whistle, the joyous Poland players tossed player of the match Padilla-Bidas in the air and celebrated with their supporters.
'It was a fantastic match,' Poland coach Nina Patalon said.
'We waited a long time for it. We wanted to score that one goal, and we scored three. Today I am so proud of my girls and just so, so happy.'
Sweden finished top of Group C with their 4-1 win over Germany, who came second.
Blackstenius strikes in 4-1 win for Sweden
Sweden made the most of Germany defender Carlotta Wamser's expulsion to sweep to a 4-1 win and secure top spot in its Group C clash on Saturday, with its opponent also going through to the quarterfinals as the runner-up.
The Swedes finished top of the group with a perfect nine points from their three games and will take on the runner-up in Group D – it features France, England, Netherlands and Wales – with the Germans taking on the winner 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.
Germany's Sjoeke Nusken tries in vain to stop Sweden forward Stina Blackstenius, who scored the first equaliser in a 3-2 victory. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
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 full-back 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.