Sweden dream big after topping group at women's Euros
There's growing belief this could be the year Sweden shake off their 'bridesmaid' reputation.
Sweden won the first Women's Euros in 1984 and have finished as runner-up three times since then. In coach Peter Gerhardsson's eight-year tenure, Sweden were twice a World Cup semi-finalist, took the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and reached the Euro 2022 semi-finals.
"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 champions Germany were dominated in Saturday's match in Zurich, although 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.
By that point Sweden were up 2-1 after goals from Stina Blackstenius and teenager Smilla Holmberg cancelled 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 late on to cap a miserable night for Germany, who conceded four goals for the first time in any Euro match, including qualifiers.
It was the first time Sweden beat Germany at the Euros and ensured they topped Group C with maximum points and avoided the possibility of facing World Cup champions and Euro 2025 favourites Spain in the semi-finals.
Sweden will face the runner-up of Group D in the quarter-finals, with Germany facing the team that tops that group. That will be France, England or the Netherlands.
France have six points and plays the Netherlands, who have three points along with defending champions England. England plays Wales, also on Sunday.
Germany and Sweden had already qualified for the knockout stages but the match was decisive for top spot in the group, with a draw being enough for Sweden thanks to a better goal difference.
In the day's other game, Natalia Padilla scored one goal and set up the others for Poland's first-ever Women's European Championship win, 3-2 over Denmark.
Neither team had any hope of emerging from Group C after losing their opening games.
Poland are appearing in the tournament for the first time and the Spanish-born Padilla got the country's first ever goal when she opened the scoring in the 13th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Ewa Pajor's initial effort was blocked.
Padilla followed up by crossing for Pajor to head in the second in the 20th.
Denmark pulled one back through Janni Thomsen before the hour-mark when Kinga Szemik let her long-range effort slip through her fingers.
Martyna Wiankowska scored Poland's third against the run of play in the 76th when Padilla's attempted shot from Pajor's cross turned into a layoff for the substitute to fire in.
Sweden have put down a statement 4-1 win over Germany at the Women's European Championship and secured a potentially easier route to the final.
There's growing belief this could be the year Sweden shake off their 'bridesmaid' reputation.
Sweden won the first Women's Euros in 1984 and have finished as runner-up three times since then. In coach Peter Gerhardsson's eight-year tenure, Sweden were twice a World Cup semi-finalist, took the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and reached the Euro 2022 semi-finals.
"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 champions Germany were dominated in Saturday's match in Zurich, although 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.
By that point Sweden were up 2-1 after goals from Stina Blackstenius and teenager Smilla Holmberg cancelled 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 late on to cap a miserable night for Germany, who conceded four goals for the first time in any Euro match, including qualifiers.
It was the first time Sweden beat Germany at the Euros and ensured they topped Group C with maximum points and avoided the possibility of facing World Cup champions and Euro 2025 favourites Spain in the semi-finals.
Sweden will face the runner-up of Group D in the quarter-finals, with Germany facing the team that tops that group. That will be France, England or the Netherlands.
France have six points and plays the Netherlands, who have three points along with defending champions England. England plays Wales, also on Sunday.
Germany and Sweden had already qualified for the knockout stages but the match was decisive for top spot in the group, with a draw being enough for Sweden thanks to a better goal difference.
In the day's other game, Natalia Padilla scored one goal and set up the others for Poland's first-ever Women's European Championship win, 3-2 over Denmark.
Neither team had any hope of emerging from Group C after losing their opening games.
Poland are appearing in the tournament for the first time and the Spanish-born Padilla got the country's first ever goal when she opened the scoring in the 13th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Ewa Pajor's initial effort was blocked.
Padilla followed up by crossing for Pajor to head in the second in the 20th.
Denmark pulled one back through Janni Thomsen before the hour-mark when Kinga Szemik let her long-range effort slip through her fingers.
Martyna Wiankowska scored Poland's third against the run of play in the 76th when Padilla's attempted shot from Pajor's cross turned into a layoff for the substitute to fire in.
Sweden have put down a statement 4-1 win over Germany at the Women's European Championship and secured a potentially easier route to the final.
There's growing belief this could be the year Sweden shake off their 'bridesmaid' reputation.
Sweden won the first Women's Euros in 1984 and have finished as runner-up three times since then. In coach Peter Gerhardsson's eight-year tenure, Sweden were twice a World Cup semi-finalist, took the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and reached the Euro 2022 semi-finals.
"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 champions Germany were dominated in Saturday's match in Zurich, although 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.
By that point Sweden were up 2-1 after goals from Stina Blackstenius and teenager Smilla Holmberg cancelled 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 late on to cap a miserable night for Germany, who conceded four goals for the first time in any Euro match, including qualifiers.
It was the first time Sweden beat Germany at the Euros and ensured they topped Group C with maximum points and avoided the possibility of facing World Cup champions and Euro 2025 favourites Spain in the semi-finals.
Sweden will face the runner-up of Group D in the quarter-finals, with Germany facing the team that tops that group. That will be France, England or the Netherlands.
France have six points and plays the Netherlands, who have three points along with defending champions England. England plays Wales, also on Sunday.
Germany and Sweden had already qualified for the knockout stages but the match was decisive for top spot in the group, with a draw being enough for Sweden thanks to a better goal difference.
In the day's other game, Natalia Padilla scored one goal and set up the others for Poland's first-ever Women's European Championship win, 3-2 over Denmark.
Neither team had any hope of emerging from Group C after losing their opening games.
Poland are appearing in the tournament for the first time and the Spanish-born Padilla got the country's first ever goal when she opened the scoring in the 13th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Ewa Pajor's initial effort was blocked.
Padilla followed up by crossing for Pajor to head in the second in the 20th.
Denmark pulled one back through Janni Thomsen before the hour-mark when Kinga Szemik let her long-range effort slip through her fingers.
Martyna Wiankowska scored Poland's third against the run of play in the 76th when Padilla's attempted shot from Pajor's cross turned into a layoff for the substitute to fire in.
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