Sweden has secured its place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Women's Euro after a decisive 3-0 victory over Poland on Tuesday. This result not only propelled Sweden into the knockout stages but also confirmed Germany's progression from Group C. With this win, both Poland and Denmark are eliminated from the competition with one game to spare.
The Swedes dominated the match against Poland, showcasing relentless attacking prowess, particularly down the right flank. Their aerial game proved too much for the Polish defense to handle, with all three goals coming from headers. Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring in the 28th minute, followed by captain Kosovare Asllani in the 52nd minute, and substitute Lina Hurtig sealed the victory in the 77th minute.
Despite the scoreline, Poland nearly managed a consolation goal in stoppage time, which could have altered the group standings. Milena Kokosz's long-range shot hit the inside of the post, but luck was not on Poland's side, and the ball bounced to safety.
Sweden's triumph places them at the top of Group C, ahead of Germany on goal difference. This ensures that they need only a draw in their upcoming match against Germany on Saturday to win the group. The stakes are high, as the winner of Group C will likely avoid a semi-final encounter with Euro 2025 favorites, Spain. However, the runner-up will potentially face a challenging path, with a possible semi-final clash against Spain.
Poland's debut in a major tournament has been challenging, marked by two losses and no goals scored. Their star forward, Ewa Pajor, found herself isolated by the strong Swedish defense, which effectively cut off most passes intended for her. This is a stark contrast to Poland's impressive run of 11 unbeaten games leading up to the tournament.
Germany also secured their spot in the quarter-finals after a 2-1 victory over Denmark earlier on Tuesday. Germany had to come from behind after Amalie Vangsgaard's goal for Denmark in the 26th minute. However, Germany's Sjoeke Nüsken equalized from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute, and Lea Schüller scored the winning goal in the 66th minute.
The 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship is being held in Switzerland from July 2nd to July 27th. The quarter-finals will take place between July 16th and 19th. The semi-finals are scheduled for July 22nd and 23rd, with the final to be held in Basel on July 27th.
With Sweden and Germany নিশ্চিত in the quarter-finals, the upcoming match between them will determine the winner of Group C and their respective paths in the knockout stage.