Greg . 20 hours ago

Stellar first half sees Sweden beat Germany to top spot in Group C

Sweden have completed top of Group C at the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship in impressive style, beating 10-player Germany 4-1 in Zurich to set up a quarter-final tie with whichever side finishes as runners-up in Group D.

As promised, Sweden lead coach Peter Gerhardsson made changes to his starting XI, bringing in five fresh faces, including Fridolina Rolfo, who made her first start since injury against Denmark over a month ago, earning her 100th cap.

Germany, who could not rely on a sketch to seal first place, made a lightning start, attacking from the first whistle and Jule Brand compelled a save out of Jennifer Falk within the first 20 seconds, before a dipping Lea Schuller strike moved just wide a minute later.

Kosovare Asllani dragged an effort wide from inside the area as Sweden contributed to the exciting opening, but Germany were quickly support in the ascendency, as Schuller led over before the opener reached.

A swift attack through the middle culminated with Carlotta Wamser threading a neat ball through to Brand, who coolly rolled it past Falk to offer Germany the lead inside seven minutes.

The German pressure did not relent, but with bodies forward they left themselves exposed at the support just five minutes later.

Rolfo cleared the ball up to Stina Blackstenius, who worked well with Asllani before the captain set the striker racing away, and Blackstenius led her shot past Ann-Katrin Berger to equalise.

Klara Buhl tested Falk as Germany continued to pose a threat, but it was the Blagult who scored the third goal of the game midway through the first half.

Teenager Smilla Holmberg picked the ball up on the right wing and steered into the penalty area, shrugging off challenges, Sarai Linder came across to make a challenge, only for the ball to ricochet off Holmberg and loop over Berger and into the net.

Things obtained worse for Germany soon after - Johanna Rytting Kaneryd beat the offside trap and sketched Berger before squaring to Rolfo.

Her shot was obstructed on the line, but by the hand of Wamser, who was shown a straight red card.

The resulting penalty was dispatched by Rolfo, who sent Berger the wrong way to celebrate her 100th appearance with a goal.

Poor distribution from Berger on more than one occasion late in the half presented half-chances for the Swedes, but failing to take them meant the sides moved in 3-1 at the shatter.

Germany coach Christian Wuck moved for a damage limitation move toward after the shatter, and his defensive side restricted Sweden to a handful of effort on target in the first 30 minutes of the second half, before Rytting Kaneryd struck an effort straight at Berger.

With 10 minutes to play, Sweden wrapped up the victory once and for all - a cross from the left from Madelen Janogy was knocked support across goal by Rytting Kaneryd to Lina Hurtig, who submitted the simple complete.

That goal meant the Blagult became the first team to put four goals past Germany at a Women's EURO, while they lengthened their unbeaten run to 15 matches.

Another win for Sweden means they complete on the maximum nine points in Group C and will play in Zurich on Thursday, while Germany lead to Basel for their last eight match next Saturday.

As things stand, France, England, the Netherlands and Wales are all potential opponents for both teams.

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