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Yahoo
2 days ago
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Women's Euros 2025: Guide to Group C – historic heavyweights and Pajor's Lewandowski likeness
Group C pits two historic heavyweights against each other as Germany and Sweden — two teams England beat in their run to victory at Euro 2022 — meet. They are joined by 2017 finalists Denmark and European Championship debutants Poland. On the face of it, this might look like quite a straightforward group but Germany and Sweden have shown in recent months they both have a wobble in them. This might be the one to keep your eye on for surprises. The favourites are… Between 1995 and 2013, Germany won the European Championship on six consecutive occasions but an embarrassing group-stage exit from the 2023 World Cup showed how far they had fallen from their time at the very top of the women's game. That spelled the end of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's four-year reign as head coach, with Horst Hrubesch guiding them to a bronze medal at last summer's Olympics. Now Christian Wuck will lead them into Euro 2025, having been appointed with over a decade's worth of experience managing Germany's boys' teams. Advertisement Some of the familiar faces from their run to the final in 2022 have moved on, with Alexandra Popp announcing her international retirement last September and Svenja Huth also having decided to stop playing internationally. The result is a younger, more diverse Germany squad — we are a long way removed from the days when almost everyone in it would play for Wolfsburg or Bayern Munich. For nearly a year the issue was whether the influential Lena Oberdorf would be fit for these Euros. The imposing defensive midfielder tore her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments last July in a qualifier against Austria. A return to full fitness would have been a big boost for Germany but Wuck has decided to leave her out of the squad given her lack of preparation time. 'She's on the right track, but the European Championship is coming too soon for her,' he told Sky Germany. The standout match will be… Germany vs Sweden A rematch of the 2003 World Cup final (which was won by Germany), this will likely be the game that determines who tops the group. If Germany are fallen giants in the process of refreshing themselves, Sweden are perhaps a year or two behind them. This tournament will be the curtain call for Peter Gerhardsson, who has managed them since 2017, leading them to two third-placed finishes at World Cups. His replacement will be the man he beat in the third-place play-off in 2023, former Australia manager Tony Gustavsson. Advertisement Sweden's squad definitely still leans into its experience, with legendary players like Kosovare Asllani, Sofia Jakobsson and Linda Sembrant all still featuring despite being over 35. However, you cannot ignore their experience and Sweden have made at least the semi-finals of the past four international tournaments they have participated in. The group's galatico is… Pernille Harder (Denmark) A return to the Frauen-Bundesliga has pushed Harder back to her best. Now in her second season at Bayern Munich, she appears to have overcome the injury issues that limited her playing time at Chelsea and has scored more goals this season than she did in any of her seasons in England. Now 32, Denmark's record goalscorer and captain is still the lynchpin of her side. At Euro 2022, they ended up in a tough group with Germany and Spain, and while they will not be favourites to progress here, Harder will hope she can inspire an upset. The player who could make a name for themselves Ellen Wangerheim (Sweden) Despite Sweden's penchant for slightly older players, there is no shortage of young talent coming through. Forward Wangerheim, 20, has impressed over the past couple of seasons for Hammarby, with this season's Champions League performances against Manchester City demonstrating she can excel against high-level opposition. Able to play in any of the forward positions, Wangerheim has an eye for goal and while she is unlikely to start, she could make an impression off the bench. A story to look out for Poland are one of two countries making their debut at a European Championship, along with Wales in Group D. The Poles beat Austria 2-0 over two legs to make it to the competition, no mean feat given they lost 3-1 to them twice in their actual qualifying group. Their key threat is Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor, who has scored 43 goals this year in 46 matches, her best single-season tally ever. Inevitably, she draws comparisons with compatriot Robert Lewandowski, the superb striker on the men's side. You might not know this Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has twice battled thyroid cancer and returned to the very top of the game. The 34-year-old was first diagnosed in 2017 while playing for Birmingham City and then again in 2022 during her time at Chelsea. Berger took a circuitous route to the top of the women's game and did not make her Germany debut until 2020 but has been a staple of the side in recent years. Advertisement Now playing at Gotham FC in the NWSL, she is well known as a penalty specialist, most notably saving two and scoring the winning spot-kick in the quarter-final shootout at last summer's Olympics. She also saved Alexia Putellas' penalty in the final minute of extra time in the bronze-medal match to help Germany win. Fixtures in full 4 July: Denmark vs Sweden, 17:00 BST, 12:00 ET 4 July: Germany vs Poland, 20:00 BST, 15:00 ET 8 July: Germany vs Denmark, 17:00 BST, 12:00 ET 8 July: Poland vs Sweden, 20:00 BST, 15:00 ET 12 July: Sweden vs Germany, 20:00 BST, 15:00 ET 12 July: Poland vs Denmark, 20:00 BST, 15:00 ET This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Women's Euros 2025: Guide to Group C – historic heavyweights and Pajor's Lewandowski likeness
Group C pits two historic heavyweights against each other as Germany and Sweden — two teams England beat in their run to victory at Euro 2022 — meet. They are joined by 2017 finalists Denmark and European Championship debutants Poland. On the face of it, this might look like quite a straightforward group but Germany and Sweden have shown in recent months they both have a wobble in them. This might be the one to keep your eye on for surprises. Between 1995 and 2013, Germany won the European Championship on six consecutive occasions but an embarrassing group-stage exit from the 2023 World Cup showed how far they had fallen from their time at the very top of the women's game. That spelled the end of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's four-year reign as head coach, with Horst Hrubesch guiding them to a bronze medal at last summer's Olympics. Now Christian Wuck will lead them into Euro 2025, having been appointed with over a decade's worth of experience managing Germany's boys' teams. Advertisement Some of the familiar faces from their run to the final in 2022 have moved on, with Alexandra Popp announcing her international retirement last September and Svenja Huth also having decided to stop playing internationally. The result is a younger, more diverse Germany squad — we are a long way removed from the days when almost everyone in it would play for Wolfsburg or Bayern Munich. For nearly a year the issue was whether the influential Lena Oberdorf would be fit for these Euros. The imposing defensive midfielder tore her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments last July in a qualifier against Austria. A return to full fitness would have been a big boost for Germany but Wuck has decided to leave her out of the squad given her lack of preparation time. 'She's on the right track, but the European Championship is coming too soon for her,' he told Sky Germany. Germany vs Sweden A rematch of the 2003 World Cup final (which was won by Germany), this will likely be the game that determines who tops the group. If Germany are fallen giants in the process of refreshing themselves, Sweden are perhaps a year or two behind them. This tournament will be the curtain call for Peter Gerhardsson, who has managed them since 2017, leading them to two third-placed finishes at World Cups. His replacement will be the man he beat in the third-place play-off in 2023, former Australia manager Tony Gustavsson. Sweden's squad definitely still leans into its experience, with legendary players like Kosovare Asllani, Sofia Jakobsson and Linda Sembrant all still featuring despite being over 35. However, you cannot ignore their experience and Sweden have made at least the semi-finals of the past four international tournaments they have participated in. Pernille Harder (Denmark) A return to the Frauen-Bundesliga has pushed Harder back to her best. Now in her second season at Bayern Munich, she appears to have overcome the injury issues that limited her playing time at Chelsea and has scored more goals this season than she did in any of her seasons in England. Now 32, Denmark's record goalscorer and captain is still the lynchpin of her side. At Euro 2022, they ended up in a tough group with Germany and Spain, and while they will not be favourites to progress here, Harder will hope she can inspire an upset. Ellen Wangerheim (Sweden) Despite Sweden's penchant for slightly older players, there is no shortage of young talent coming through. Forward Wangerheim, 20, has impressed over the past couple of seasons for Hammarby, with this season's Champions League performances against Manchester City demonstrating she can excel against high-level opposition. Able to play in any of the forward positions, Wangerheim has an eye for goal and while she is unlikely to start, she could make an impression off the bench. Poland are one of two countries making their debut at a European Championship, along with Wales in Group D. The Poles beat Austria 2-0 over two legs to make it to the competition, no mean feat given they lost 3-1 to them twice in their actual qualifying group. Their key threat is Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor, who has scored 43 goals this year in 46 matches, her best single-season tally ever. Inevitably, she draws comparisons with compatriot Robert Lewandowski, the superb striker on the men's side. Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has twice battled thyroid cancer and returned to the very top of the game. The 34-year-old was first diagnosed in 2017 while playing for Birmingham City and then again in 2022 during her time at Chelsea. Berger took a circuitous route to the top of the women's game and did not make her Germany debut until 2020 but has been a staple of the side in recent years. Advertisement Now playing at Gotham FC in the NWSL, she is well known as a penalty specialist, most notably saving two and scoring the winning spot-kick in the quarter-final shootout at last summer's Olympics. She also saved Alexia Putellas' penalty in the final minute of extra time in the bronze-medal match to help Germany win. (Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: Poland team guide – first-timers and outsiders, but beware deadly striker Pajor
Euro 2025 features 14 of the 16 teams that were at Euro 2022, which itself had 14 of the 16 that contested Euro 2017. The geographical pattern is stark: besides Poland, every other side are from western or northern Europe. The Poles' qualification, as one of two new debutants alongside Wales, represents the Women's European Championship extending its reach eastwards. Advertisement Handed a tough draw, Poland will struggle to get out of Group C, despite being able to count on arguably the competition's best striker in Barcelona's Ewa Pajor. But their participation in the tournament alone is a great success: they did not win any of their eight matches in the Euro 2005 qualifiers. Who is the manager? Nina Patalon has the classic story of injury forcing early retirement, allowing the former player to get stuck into coaching. A Poland Under-19 international two decades ago, Patalon played only until she was 25. Then, after a short spell in club coaching, she joined the Polish federation in 2011, initially working with the women's under-15 side, before moving up through the age groups and becoming the national team coach in 2021, the first female to take the top job. Advertisement In many ways, her journey feels similar to that of Christian Wuck, the German manager she will encounter in both sides' first group game. How do they play? Against weaker opposition, Poland have the technical quality to dominate — the attacking patterns of play they showed in their recent Nations League campaign were fluid and effective. But considering they start with matches against Germany and Sweden, two genuine contenders in this tournament, it seems likely they will use a cautious, counter-attacking 4-5-1 system. Their winner in the first leg of their qualifying play-off against Austria is the template. It featured Ewelina Kamczyk bursting forward on the break from midfield, then Pajor and Natalia Padilla running in behind to combine. Who are their three most influential players? A handy underdog combination of a reliable striker, a counter-attacking winger and a solid goalkeeper. Advertisement Pajor, who is also their captain, has won the top goalscorer award in the German and Spanish top flights in the past two seasons — more on her later. Her main goalscoring support comes primarily from speedy, two-footed winger Padilla, who was also eligible to represent Spain, Morocco and the United States through various family members' heritage, and comes into the tournament after a good season on loan at Sevilla from Bayern Munich. At the other end of the pitch, the Polish men's team are renowned for producing a disproportionate number of top-class goalkeepers, and their women have a reliable one, too. Kinga Szemik had a productive four years playing in France before moving to West Ham United, and performed well in her debut WSL campaign during 2024-25. She is likely to be one of the busiest goalkeepers in the group stage. What is their biggest strength? Put simply, it's Pajor, who has scored 50 more international goals than anyone else in this squad, and got 43 in 46 games for Barcelona last season. She is capable of making good runs in behind a defence — which will be a major factor in this tournament when Poland play on the break — and thrives off crosses, generally after a sudden burst to nip ahead of an opponent and a first-time finish. Advertisement The obvious question is how often Pajor manages to actually touch the ball inside the other team's box at Euro 2025. But, up against a weak-looking German back line, do not rule out her tournament starting with a goal. What weakness might other teams be able to exploit? Poland played Bosnia & Herzegovina twice in April in the Nations League and conceded a near-identical goal in both games, being opened up by a through ball played inside left-back Martyna Wiankowska. They have also conceded several set-piece goals over the past year. Any notable absentees? Poland appear to have avoided any major injury problems, and given the excitement about their first qualification for a major tournament, there was never much chance of any unexpected international retirements. What is their strongest starting XI? How have they performed over the past 12 months? Poland finished bottom of their qualifying group, behind Germany, Iceland and Austria, losing all six matches with a -13 goal difference. But then, in the play-offs late last year, they comfortably defeated Romania, before facing the Austrians again. Clearly, Austria were favourites, having recorded two 3-1 wins against them in the group, but Poland produced brilliant tactical displays to win both matches 1-0. Advertisement Their six games in 2025 have been against weaker opposition from the Nations League's second tier, but they are unbeaten in them, meaning Poland have won nine and drawn one of their past 10 matches going back to last July. The challenge awaiting them in Switzerland will be much tougher, but they are in good form. What are they expected to achieve at these Euros? Losing four of their six group-stage qualifiers to sides who are also at this tournament does not bode well. Had Poland been drawn in Group A, you would give them an outside chance of progressing to the knockout phase, but in Group C, a single win — probably from their third and final game against Denmark — would be considered an excellent return. Advertisement Really, for Poland, this tournament is about building for the future and promoting women's football back in their homeland. Did you know? Poland had hoped to stage this tournament, but their bid came third behind Switzerland and a combined effort from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. They are trying again for 2029, with the host nation set to be announced in December. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Poland, UK Women's Football, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: Germany team guide – a side rebuilt and revived after World Cup humiliation
There have been 13 editions of the women's European Championship, and Germany have won eight. They came close to a ninth title three years ago, losing in the final to hosts England, but their disastrous showing at the World Cup two years ago — when they somehow exited at the group stage despite winning 6-0 in their opening game against Morocco — prompted a major rebuild. Several established stars are no longer around and there is a good chance Germany's starting XI will feature no outfielders over the age of 28. Nevertheless, this is a good squad with an impressive array of speedy attackers. Who is the manager? A promising attacking midfielder who represented Germany's under-21s in the early 1990s, Christian Wuck's career was affected by injuries and he retired before he turned 30. Advertisement After starting his managerial career in men's football at Rot Weiss Ahlen and then enduring a difficult period in charge of Holstein Kiel, he changed tack and spent over a decade working with Germany's youth sides, and took over the senior women's team after they had earned a bronze medal at last year's Olympic Games. Although this is his first coaching job in women's football, he spent the 2019 World Cup working as an analyst. How do they play? At their best, Germany produce fantastic football. They have serious quality in the final third: quick, inventive players who can dribble past opponents on the break and combine in tight spaces. They are also one of the few sides who field two prolific central attackers. They defeated England 4-3 at Wembley last year, constantly dragging the English defence to one side before switching play and breaking down the other flank. Expect Germany's games this summer to be exciting and full of goals. Who are their three most influential players? Captain Giulia Gwinn is one of the outstanding full-backs in Europe, bringing technical quality and attacking bursts down the right. Advertisement But Germany's real area of strength is the front two. Lea Schuller is a classic penalty-box striker who has scored 52 times for Germany, including 20 since the last World Cup. Behind her, Laura Freigang is a clever, elusive No 10 who thrives by breaking forward into the box to meet crosses, taking advantage of Schuller occupying defenders to pop up unannounced and finish smoothly. An incredibly consistent performer in German league football, this could be the tournament when she explodes into an international superstar. What is their biggest strength? Familiarity, for various reasons. In Germany's six-game Nations League campaign between February and June, Wuck selected a fairly consistent starting XI. His players are chiefly drawn from Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt. Many of the players have risen through Germany's youth ranks together. And, more than most other sides at this tournament — apart from, perhaps, Spain — there is an obvious identity to the side, based on efficiency at transitions and attacking with speed. What weakness might other teams be able to exploit? The defensive positions. Left-back Sarai Linder has spent the past couple of seasons playing that role for Wolfsburg, but she was previously used as a right-back or a midfielder, and is very much right-footed. The desperation to find a left-footed option means Bayern 20-year-old Franziska Kett has often been deployed there, but she emerged as an attacker, and using her in defence against top-quality opposition would be a risk. Advertisement Meanwhile, centre-back Janina Minge played in midfield for Wolfsburg for much of last season — and indeed at the Olympics last summer. Her most likely partner, Rebecca Knaak, has played the majority of her football either in midfield or as part of a three-person defence. None are bad players, but given Gwinn's attacking nature on the right, you wonder whether Germany have the rugged, old-school defensive qualities that a tournament-winning side usually offers. Any notable absentees? Tough-tackling defensive midfielder Lena Oberdorf was named as the young player of the tournament at the Euros three years ago, but after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury last July, she has missed an entire year of football and will not feature this summer. Given Germany's issues at the back, her absence is a big blow. Advertisement In all, it feels a very different side from the one that experienced such disappointment in Australia two years ago — legendary striker Alexandra Popp, fellow attacker Svenja Huth, midfielders Lina Magull and Melanie Leupolz, defenders Marina Hegering and Sara Doorsoun, and goalkeeper Merle Frohms have all retired from international duty. What is their strongest starting XI? How have they performed over the past 12 months? Pretty well. Germany topped a relatively weak qualifying group, although there was a surprise 3-0 loss away in Iceland, and it took until their sixth and final game to keep a clean sheet. In this year's Nations League, they drew 2-2 away in the Netherlands, then won five on the bounce. What are they expected to achieve at these Euros? With their history in this competition, Germany always believe they are a contender, and are likely to progress to the quarter-finals. They would, however, then meet a side from Group D (France, England, the Netherlands and Wales), clearly the toughest in the competition. At that point, their defensive weaknesses might be exposed. Did you know? Germany have good recent memories of playing in Switzerland — they thrashed the Euro 2025 hosts 6-0 in a November friendly at the Letzigrund in Zurich. They will return to that stadium for the final group game, against Sweden, after playing matches in Basel and St. Gallen, both located very close to their own country. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Germany, UK Women's Football, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Euro 2025: Poland team guide – first-timers and outsiders, but beware deadly striker Pajor
Euro 2025 features 14 of the 16 teams that were at Euro 2022, which itself had 14 of the 16 that contested Euro 2017. The geographical pattern is stark: besides Poland, every other side are from western or northern Europe. The Poles' qualification, as one of two new debutants alongside Wales, represents the Women's European Championship extending its reach eastwards. Advertisement Handed a tough draw, Poland will struggle to get out of Group C, despite being able to count on arguably the competition's best striker in Barcelona's Ewa Pajor. But their participation in the tournament alone is a great success: they did not win any of their eight matches in the Euro 2005 qualifiers. Nina Patalon has the classic story of injury forcing early retirement, allowing the former player to get stuck into coaching. A Poland Under-19 international two decades ago, Patalon played only until she was 25. Then, after a short spell in club coaching, she joined the Polish federation in 2011, initially working with the women's under-15 side, before moving up through the age groups and becoming the national team coach in 2021, the first female to take the top job. In many ways, her journey feels similar to that of Christian Wuck, the German manager she will encounter in both sides' first group game. Against weaker opposition, Poland have the technical quality to dominate — the attacking patterns of play they showed in their recent Nations League campaign were fluid and effective. But considering they start with matches against Germany and Sweden, two genuine contenders in this tournament, it seems likely they will use a cautious, counter-attacking 4-5-1 system. Their winner in the first leg of their qualifying play-off against Austria is the template. It featured Ewelina Kamczyk bursting forward on the break from midfield, then Pajor and Natalia Padilla running in behind to combine. A handy underdog combination of a reliable striker, a counter-attacking winger and a solid goalkeeper. Pajor, who is also their captain, has won the top goalscorer award in the German and Spanish top flights in the past two seasons — more on her later. Her main goalscoring support comes primarily from speedy, two-footed winger Padilla, who was also eligible to represent Spain, Morocco and the United States through various family members' heritage, and comes into the tournament after a good season on loan at Sevilla from Bayern Munich. Advertisement At the other end of the pitch, the Polish men's team are renowned for producing a disproportionate number of top-class goalkeepers, and their women have a reliable one, too. Kinga Szemik had a productive four years playing in France before moving to West Ham United, and performed well in her debut WSL campaign during 2024-25. She is likely to be one of the busiest goalkeepers in the group stage. Put simply, it's Pajor, who has scored 50 more international goals than anyone else in this squad, and got 43 in 46 games for Barcelona last season. She is capable of making good runs in behind a defence — which will be a major factor in this tournament when Poland play on the break — and thrives off crosses, generally after a sudden burst to nip ahead of an opponent and a first-time finish. The obvious question is how often Pajor manages to actually touch the ball inside the other team's box at Euro 2025. But, up against a weak-looking German back line, do not rule out her tournament starting with a goal. Poland played Bosnia & Herzegovina twice in April in the Nations League and conceded a near-identical goal in both games, being opened up by a through ball played inside left-back Martyna Wiankowska. They have also conceded several set-piece goals over the past year. Poland appear to have avoided any major injury problems, and given the excitement about their first qualification for a major tournament, there was never much chance of any unexpected international retirements. Poland finished bottom of their qualifying group, behind Germany, Iceland and Austria, losing all six matches with a -13 goal difference. But then, in the play-offs late last year, they comfortably defeated Romania, before facing the Austrians again. Clearly, Austria were favourites, having recorded two 3-1 wins against them in the group, but Poland produced brilliant tactical displays to win both matches 1-0. Advertisement Their six games in 2025 have been against weaker opposition from the Nations League's second tier, but they are unbeaten in them, meaning Poland have won nine and drawn one of their past 10 matches going back to last July. The challenge awaiting them in Switzerland will be much tougher, but they are in good form. Losing four of their six group-stage qualifiers to sides who are also at this tournament does not bode well. Had Poland been drawn in Group A, you would give them an outside chance of progressing to the knockout phase, but in Group C, a single win — probably from their third and final game against Denmark — would be considered an excellent return. Really, for Poland, this tournament is about building for the future and promoting women's football back in their homeland. Poland had hoped to stage this tournament, but their bid came third behind Switzerland and a combined effort from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. They are trying again for 2029, with the host nation set to be announced in December.
