Germany 1 Sweden 4
July 12 – With a superb first-half performance, Sweden demolished ten-man Germany 4-1 to inflict the heaviest-ever Euro defeat on their opponents and claim top spot in Group C.
After an opening flourish with a seventh-minute strike from Jule Brand, Germany, one of the tournament favourites, collapsed and how in a match that would decide the group winners. Inside the first 35 minutes, Sweden were rampant; time and again exposing the inexperienced German backline. Fullbacks Sarai Linder and Carlotta Wamser were completely overrun.
The Scandinavians achieved a first win in seven attempts at a major tournament against Germany. Sweden had rotated their team, but it seemed to matter little. Brand and co had taken the lead following a sweeping team move, the first goal Sweden conceded in the tournament, but their response was devastating.
In the 12th minute, Stina Blackstenius equalised and Smilla Holmberg gave Sweden the lead in the 25th minute. Just after the half-hour mark, Germany were a woman down when Carlotta Wamser was send off and Fridolina Rolfo converted the ensuing penalty kick.
Blackstenius confirmed her great form after she had scored Arsenal’s winning goal in the Champions League final against FC Barcelona. The striker had all the time on the world and strode down the pitch before driving the ball the German goalkeeper. On a blistering run, Holmberg demonstrated great tenacity inside the box to bamboozle her opponents and, in a moment of fortune, her ball was deflected past Ann-Katrin Berger. The 18-year-old defender got the Swedish party truly going. Celebrating her 100th cap, Rolfo kept her cool from the penalty spot. Sweden’s third was the cherry on the cake of an outstanding performance that left Germany rattled.
The half-time scoreline equalled Germany’s biggest-ever defeat at the Euros, a 3-1 loss to Denmark in the third-place play-off in 1993. The ten Germans still had to negotiate the entire second half. They did so as best as they could in an exercise of damage control. At the same time, the Swedish showed more restraint, happy to consolidate their advantage and run down the clock.
Sweden wrapped up their gala night with a fourth goal with Lina Hurtig at the end of a great collective move. Substitute Madelen Janogy blazed down the left with quick feet her cross found Rytting Kaneryd, who, on the edge of the six-yard box, cushion-passed the ball back infield for Hurtig, who flicked it into the bottom right corner. The Swedish had carved open the German defence with such ease.
Even the referee took pity on the team of Christian Wuck and no injury time was added as Germany suffered their biggest-ever defeat at a European Championship. After unconvincing performances against Poland, laboring until the second half and Denmark, falling behind, the Germans will need to regroup after a defeat that exposed a team that oozed a lot of confidence off the pitch but failed to translate to supremacy in Group C.
Instead, Sweden, the second team in the tournament with a perfect group-stage record, cruise into the last eight after a statement win. Blackstenius led the attack, Kaneryd caused a lot of problems on the wing, and Kosovare Asllani held everything together in the midfield. They will return to Zurich’s Letzigrund for the quarterfinals and a potential meeting with reigning champions England. The Lionesses have been warned.
| Grp C | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Germany | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Poland | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Denmark | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
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