Euro 2025 pits celebrated soccer couple Harder and Eriksson as opponents in Denmark-Sweden game
Sweden defender Magdalena Eriksson's job Friday is stopping the threat of Denmark captain Pernille Harder in their opening game at the Women's European Championship.
They have been a couple for 11 years whose influence and inspiration goes beyond sports, since a photograph went viral of their kiss after a game at the 2019 World Cup in France.
Ahead of their Euro 2025 game in Geneva, the previous clash for the pair — each with more than 100 national-team appearances — was a celebrated victory for Eriksson in February.
Showing no personal favors as Sweden captain that evening, Eriksson's tough challenges late in a Nations League game left their mark. Harder had treatment for an injured side then got Eriksson's elbow in her face when they wrestled at a corner near the end of Sweden's 2-1 win.
Harder smiled ruefully after that foul was judged and seemed content last month that Eriksson was suspended for the return game when finishing top of the group was at stake.
'As a football player, it's nice that Magda won't play. But also to avoid these duels between us,' the Denmark captain said ahead of her team losing 6-1.
A running joke this year has been that the loser must do the washing up at their home, and a Swedish fan's banner in Solna four weeks ago read: 'Pernille tar disken' (Pernille does the dishes).
Eriksson and Harder have embraced their status as LGBTQ+ icons in soccer since the 2019 kiss in Paris, on the sidelines of Sweden's victory over Canada in the round of 16.
'I didn't realize until that picture came out how big of an inspiration we actually are for a lot of people,' Harder told English daily Guardian after the tournament, when both signed with soccer's Common Goal social program.
Eriksson said the reaction to the photo 'made me understand that, 'OK, I am actually a role model to people'.'
They donate 1% of their salary to Common Goal and support its Play Proud project.
Eriksson explained more of her personal philosophy in a film the couple made in 2022 with Vogue magazine's Scandinavian edition.
'That's something my dad always taught me when I was younger was to have integrity, to stand up for what you believe in,' she said. 'It's very important to stay true to my values.'
Eriksson and Harder's relationship started in 2014 when teammates at Swedish club Linköping, and they were reunited at Chelsea and now with Bayern Munich.
They have faced each other twice, in 2018 on opposite sides of a Champions League semifinal — Harder scored as Wolfsburg eliminated Eriksson's Chelsea — and in a World Cup qualifying game that saw Sweden advance.
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
How to watch Palmeiras vs Chelsea: TV channel and live stream for Club World Cup quarter-final
Chelsea and Palmeiras will, tonight, do battle for a place in the Club World Cup semi-final. Chelsea, the last remaining Premier League team in the competition, booked their place in the last-eight by beating Benfica at the round of 16 stage. Advertisement A game that was delayed by one-hour and 53-minute due to lightning in the North Carolina region, finally finished four hours and 38 minutes after kick off with the Blues running away with the result in extra-time. Meanwhile, Palmeiras - one of two Brazilian teams still standing - also needed extra-time in the first knockout fixture as they edged out rivals Botafogo by a goal-to-nil. Both teams have been hit by suspensions going into the game as Palmeiras will be without Gustavo Gomez after he was sent-off for two bookable offences last time out. Moises Caicedo will be a big absentee for Chelsea after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament against Benfica. Advertisement Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian coming up against the team he will join straight after the Club World Cup is an extra layer of intrigue for this fixture where the winners will face Fluminense or Al-Hilal in next week's semi-final. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch this one unfold... How to watch Palmeiras vs Chelsea TV channel: In the UK, the game will not be televised live. Live stream: Viewers can watch the action live online via the DAZN website, which is free with a registration. Coverage starts at 1am BST ahead of a 2am kick-off on Saturday July 5, 2025. DAZN is the global broadcaster of the new-look Club World Cup. No subscription is required to watch the game, with the entire tournament available to their 'Freemium' members, which means you only need to sign up for a free DAZN account.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mead eyes Euros repeat for England after emotional rollercoaster
Darling of England's coronation as European champions three years ago, Beth Mead is back among the goals ahead of Euro 2025 after the toughest moments of her career on and off the field. Mead became a household name after her six goals on home soil led the Lionesses to England's sole major tournament victory in the men's or women's game since 1966. Advertisement But even that moment of elation was tinged with the emotion of her mother's battle with cancer. June Mead's diagnosis with ovarian cancer a year before the Euros provided her daughter with a "motivation I never knew that I had", the Arsenal forward later revealed. "People on the outside just saw me breaking all these records, winning all these awards," Mead told the Players' Tribune. "Mum was on such a high watching me that season. I think for all of us, football was our anchor. It was the one thing that was distracting us, and giving us so much joy. "We rode that wave into the Euros — that whole July just absolutely flying, into the final, into lifting the trophy." Advertisement Mead was still coming to terms with her newfound fame when she was shaken by the news her mother's cancer had spread. A few months later Mead suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury -- an all too common occurence in the women's game -- that would cost her a place in England's run to a first ever World Cup final in 2023. What appeared her lowest moment, Mead now reflects on as a blessing. Her injury allowed the 30-year-old to move back home to the coastal town of Whitby in England's north-east to spend time with her mum in the final weeks before she died in January 2023. - Miedema match up - Advertisement It took another nine months for Mead to return to action on the field and much longer to find the form that guaranteed her a place back in the Arsenal and England side. But the seeds of a return to brighter days were sown in those difficult times. Mead recalls seeing up to 30 Arsenal players and staff at her mum's funeral having got up at 4.30am to make the five-hour drive from London. "They rallied around me and we found that strength together," she added. "We held onto each other. Held so many different emotions for each other. And that's what a family does." The spirit of Arsenal's band of sisters had its reward last month when they stunned the all-conquering Barcelona to win the Champions League in Lisbon. Advertisement Mead was central to that success. It was her moment of magic that split the Barca defence to tee up Stina Blackstenius for the only goal. Mead has also re-established herself as a key part of the England side aiming to retain their title at the Euros in Switzerland. Mead has scored three times in her last four caps. "When you win things, you're more hungry to do it again, she said. "I would wish more than anything for myself and for the team to be able to play like I did the last Euros. I'll do my very best to be able to get that level again." England's defence begins with a tough opener against France on Saturday before Mead will face off against her partner, Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema in their second match in Group D. Mead described that draw as "inevitable" but is focused on firing England to glory once again. "Obviously we want each other to do well but not against each other!" kca/pb
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Harry Wilson to captain Australia in rugby test against Fiji on Sunday
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Loose forward Harry Wilson will captain the Wallabies while Tate McDermott and Noah Lolesio will form the halfback pairing for Sunday's test match against Fiji in Newcastle north of Sydney. The starting roles by the trio could indicate they are favored by head coach Joe Schmidt for those positions for the first of three test matches against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane on July 19. Schmidt on Friday also named rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i to his first Wallabies start on home soil, combining with Len Ikitau in the centers to face Fiji. The 21-year-old Sua'ali'i will line up at outside center after spending the Super Rugby season at fullback with the New South Wales Waratahs, with Ikitau reverting to the No. 12 jersey. Schmidt opted for experience in the Australian front row, with former captain David Porecki called back into the team, 643 days since he last played for the Wallabies. The 32-year-old Porecki last played at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where Australia failed to get past the group stage. He didn't play in 2024 due to Achilles and calf injuries. 'The whole squad has worked hard on and off the field and reconnected well with a short runway from our assembly through to the test on Sunday," Schmidt said in a Rugby Australia statement. 'I think the players and the wider management are keen to get underway, especially in front of a big crowd here in Newcastle." The last time the teams met was in France at the Rugby World Cup, where Fiji beat the Wallabies 22-15. ___ Australia: Tom Wright, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgenson, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Langi Gleeson, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Allan Ala'alatoa, David Porecki, James Slipper. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu. ___
