Soccer-Germany move closer to Euro 2025 knockouts with 2-1 win over Denmark
BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) -Germany's Sjoeke Nuesken and Lea Schueller struck in the second half to fire the eight-time champions to the verge of the Euro 2025 quarter-finals on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Denmark that left the Danes teetering on the brink of an early exit.
Trailing 1-0 on a night that saw two key VAR decisions go against them, Germany finally got on the scoresheet when they were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute. Nuesken stepped up and calmly slotted her penalty into the bottom-left corner.
Schueller put the Germans ahead 10 minutes later after a failed clearance by Denmark landed at the Bayern Munich forward's feet and she swept it into the far corner.
Germany had celebrated what they thought was the opening goal by Klara Buehl but boos rang around the packed-to-the-rafters St Jakob-Park when it was ruled offside.
That seemed to steal Germany's momentum and Amalie Vangsgaard struck for Denmark in the 26th minute when she took a touch before unleashing a shot from a tight angle to beat Ann-Katrin Berger.
Germany thought they had won a penalty earlier when the referee whistled and pointed to the spot because of a Denmark handball but VAR determined it was outside the box, prompting more boos from the German fans.
(Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Toby Davis)
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