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Gulf Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Sweden confident after Germany rout; Poland exit Euros with dignity
Sweden put down a statement 4-1 win over Germany at the Women's European Championship on Saturday and secured a potentially easier route to the final. This could be the year Sweden shakes off its 'bridesmaid' reputation. Sweden won the first Women's Euros in 1984 and has finished as runner-up three times since then. In coach Peter Gerhardsson's eight-year tenure, Sweden was twice a World Cup semifinalist, took the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and reached the Euro 2022 semifinals. 'We've always been doing good in the tournaments before but never gone all the way,' midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd said. 'I have a really good feeling and you can see that in the squad, its just something different this year.' Record eight-time champion Germany was dominated, and Sweden's task was made easier after German forward Carlotta Wamser was sent off - barely half an hour in - for swatting a ball away from the goal-line with her arm. Sweden's defender #02 Jonna Andersson and Germany's midfielder #18 Giovanna Hoffmann fight for the ball. AFP By that point Sweden was up 2-1 after goals from Stina Blackstenius and teenager Smilla Holmberg canceled Jule Brand's early opener for Germany. Fridolina Rolfö calmly slotted the penalty after Wamser's red card and substitute Lina Hurtig wrapped up the scoring to cap a miserable night for Germany, which conceded four goals for the first time in any Euro match, including qualifiers. It also was the first time Sweden beat Germany at the Euros and ensured it topped Group C with maximum points and avoided the possibility of facing World Cup champion and Euro 2025 favorite Spain in the semifinals. Sweden will face the runner-up of Group D in the quarterfinals, with Germany facing the team that tops that group. That will be France, England or the Netherlands. 'We wanted to finish first in the group, so now we have to analyse that with the players, but don't forget we were outnumbered for 60 minutes,' Germany coach Christian Wück said. 'We are down at the moment but we will shake that off and we are very happy to play the quarterfinals, no matter who the opponents are.' Poland's Natalia Padilla-Bidas, (19) and teammates react after the the Women's Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Poland and Denmark in Lucerne, Switzerland. AP Germany and Sweden had already qualified for the knockout stages but their match was decisive for top spot in the group, with a draw being enough for Sweden thanks to a better goal difference. There were four good chances in the opening five minutes and Germany took the lead in the seventh when Brand ran onto a smart throughball from Wamser and fired in. It was the first goal Sweden conceded in the tournament but it recovered from that setback just five minutes later. A rapid counterattack saw Blackstenius collect the ball near the halfway line and race into the area before slotting calmly past Ann-Katrin Berger. Sweden led in somewhat fortunate circumstances in the 25th. Holmberg sprinted into the area and was tackled by Germany defender Sarai Linder, who inadvertently kicked the ball off the Swedish teen's shin and it ricocheted into the net. It was a first international goal for the 18-year-old Holmberg, who recently graduated from high school. Poland's Ewa Pajor (centre) celebrates with Poland's Ewelina Kamczyk after scoring her side's second goal. AP It got worse for Germany when Wamser was shown a straight red card for blocking a shot by Rolfö with her arm. Wamser was in the team in place of Giulia Gwinn, and the injured Germany captain put her arm around the young defender when she left the pitch in tears. Rolfö dispatched the penalty into the bottom left corner. Sweden's attack was relentless in the first half but, with the result seemingly decided, it slacked off after the break, although Hurtig tapped in another in the 80th. Meanwhile, Poland signed off their maiden Women's Euros in style with a 3-2 victory over Denmark, showing that they had learned the lessons of defeats by Germany and Sweden to grab their historic first goals and first win at the tournament. With their exits already guaranteed, both Poland and Denmark were playing only for pride when the two sides met on Saturday in Lucerne, and it was the Poles who took the spoils with another spirited display. 'It's a great feeling,' team captain and goal-scorer Ewa Pajor said. 'We fought in every match, from the first minute to the last, and were finally rewarded for it. This win is another step forward in our development.' Agencies


Qatar Tribune
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Germany hold crisis meeting to regroup for Euros quarter-final
dpa Zurich Record champions Germany held a crisis meeting on Sunday as they need to regroup from their biggest defeat in Euros history and turn their attention to the quarter-finals. Germany were crushed 4-1 by Sweden and had Carlotta Wamser sent off in a defensive meltdown on Saturday. Improvement will be needed if the eight-time champions want to advance on Saturday where strong France could be their quarter-final opponents. 'We already sat down this morning as a team,' midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken said, adding that 'there will definitely be changes' in the line-up. Playmaker Laura Freigang vowed: 'We have seven days to prepare and we will make use of them. 'Of course it brings you back down to earth. It's the kind of day you'd prefer not to have during a European championship. But I'd rather have it today than any other day because now we have knock-out games,' she added. Coach Christian Wück gave the players the rest of Sunday and Monday off before having to act as crisis manager in his first big tournament with the team. But he said defiantly: 'We are down but we will get up again. We will shake it off and then go into this quarter-final with joy and courage. No matter against whom - whether it's France or England or the Netherlands. Wück's main task will be to regain defensive stability as the back line collapsed even before Wamser's red card because Sweden had already reversed an early German lead from Jule Brand through Stina Blackstenius and Smilla Holmberg. Wamser's handball for which she saw red resulted in Fridolina Rolfö`s penalty for 3-1 in the 34th, and Sweden got as fourth from Lisa Hurtig with 10 minutes left. Wück will have to make changes at the back but doesn't have a lot of options. The suspended right back Wamser was already playing in place of captain Giulia Gwinn, who suffered a tournament-ending knee injury in their opening 2-1 win over Poland. The coach rules out a major system change after the high pressing approach backfired badly against the Swedes. 'We must not make the mistake of blaming or pillorying parts of the team now. I think it would be wrong to say that we only want to react now and only want to destroy,' he said. Captain Janina Minge also warned against rigorous defensive tactics, insisting: 'I don't think we should change our entire system now.' Saturday's defeat means that Germany now face a much more difficult path in their bid to reach the July 27 final than if they had won on Saturday to finish top of their group. France, who have impressed in Switzerland and beat Germany in last year's Nations League semi-finals are the likely opponent. A potential semi-final could be against world champions Spain who have been the best team so far at the Euros. Sweden, by contrast, will probably face title holders England or the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, and if they advance the winner of Norway v Italy.


The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Sweden Beat Germany 4-1 to Top Group C at Euro 2025
SWEDEN made the most of Germany defender Carlotta Wamser's expulsion to sweep to a 4-1 win and secure top spot in their Group C clash on Saturday, with their opponents also going through to the quarter-finals as runners-up. The Swedes finished top of the group with a perfect nine points from three games and will take on the runners-up in Group D, which features France, England, Netherlands and Wales. The Germans will face the winners of Group D. 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 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. Red card Germany's challenge fell apart in the 32nd minute when Wamser was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball to block a goal, and Fridolina Rolfo scored from the spot to make it 3-1 in her 100th international. 'The red card was decisive,' Germany coach Christian Wueck said. 'We couldn't fight back into the game with one less player on the pitch.' 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. 'It's very important to build on a good feeling and gain confidence, now we can look forward,' goalscorer Blackstenius said. The Germans were disappointed with how the game turned out after such a good start. 'We started the game very well. We were fully in it and the better team,' Klara Buhl said. 'We then give the game away in 10 minutes, that's incredibly bitter. We have to put that behind us as quickly as possible.' The Swedes play their quarter-final in Zurich next Thursday, while the Germans will have two extra days of rest before playing their game in Basel on Saturday - REUTERS


The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Sweden storm to group victory with 4-1 win over Germany
SWEDEN made the most of Germany defender Carlotta Wamser's expulsion to sweep to a 4-1 win and secure top spot in their Group C clash on Saturday, with their opponents also going through to the quarter-finals as runners-up. The Swedes finished top of the group with a perfect nine points from three games and will take on the runners-up in Group D, which features France, England, Netherlands and Wales. The Germans will face the winners of Group D. 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 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. Red card Germany's challenge fell apart in the 32nd minute when Wamser was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball to block a goal, and Fridolina Rolfo scored from the spot to make it 3-1 in her 100th international. 'The red card was decisive,' Germany coach Christian Wueck said. 'We couldn't fight back into the game with one less player on the pitch.' 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. 'It's very important to build on a good feeling and gain confidence, now we can look forward,' goalscorer Blackstenius said. The Germans were disappointed with how the game turned out after such a good start. 'We started the game very well. We were fully in it and the better team,' Klara Buhl said. 'We then give the game away in 10 minutes, that's incredibly bitter. We have to put that behind us as quickly as possible.' The Swedes play their quarter-final in Zurich next Thursday, while the Germans will have two extra days of rest before playing their game in Basel on Saturday - REUTERS


Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Sweden sweep aside 10-woman Germany to top Euros Group C
Sweden laid down a marker for Women's Euro 2025 by confidently beating 10-woman Germany 4-1 on Saturday and topping Group C with a perfect nine points. HT Image Peter Gerhardsson's team will face the runners-up from Group D, potentially reigning European champions England, in the quarter-finals after sweeping aside Germany with a powerful display of football in Zurich. Sweden fans sung ABBA songs in the stands of the Letzigrund Stadium as goals from Stina Blackstenius, Smilla Holmberg, Fridolina Rolfo and Lina Hurtig saw off the Germans who were among the favourites for overall victory ahead of the tournament. But after taking an early lead through Jule Brand, Christian Wueck's team did little else to justify their billing and were done for once Carlotta Wamser was sent off for handballing a goal-bound shot in the 31st minute. Germany finished on six points and will face the winner of Group D in the next round, with France currently leading the way ahead of Sunday's final round of matches before the knockout stage. Both teams were already through to the quarters before kick-off, with Poland winning their dead rubber with fellow eliminated team Denmark 3-2 in Lucerne. And Germany, who are now on the same side of the draw as world champions Spain, looked in fine form when Wamser put through Brand to squeeze the opening goal past Jennifer Falk in the seventh minute. But Blackstenius levelled five minutes later, just as the Germans looked to be on top, when she was given a baffling amount of space to stride through onto Kosovare Asllani's pass and drill the equaliser into the bottom corner. From that point onwards Sweden were in complete control of the game and Holmberg gave them a deserved lead in the 25th minute when she weaved her way past Klara Buehl and Sarai Linder. Trying to recover, Linder slid in to stop Holmberg from shooting but instead booted the ball off her opponent and into the net. And the game was up for Germany just after the half-hour following Wamser's acrobatic handball of Rolfo's shot in a desperate attempt to cover for wayward goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Rolfo stroked home the resulting spot-kick and the match was as good as over with nearly an hour left to play. Sweden slowed down in the second half, safe in the knowledge that Germany would have to score three times to snatch first place, and Hurtig completed the rout with 10 minutes remaining by tapping home Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's low cross. td/nf