Sweden Impress and Germany Limp Through to Euro 2025 Knockout Stages

Germany's 4 - 1 mauling at the hands of Sweden on Saturday could turn out to be very damaging to their tournament hopes, but resilient performances in their opening two games mean that the eight-time champions join Sweden in the knockout stages of Euro 2025.

Sweden's brilliant counter-attacking football would have been the main story of any other group at the tournament, but so spectacular was Germany's collapse on Matchday 3 in Zurich that Christian Wuck's side stole the headlines.

It should also be highlighted just how special Poland's final day result against Denmark was. While the tournament debutants had appeared altogether uncompetitive up until the final round of group matches, their victory over an experienced tournament side sets up a legacy for Polish women's football to follow.

Imperious Sweden confident ahead of England test

It doesn't matter who you are or who you're preparing to play against, if you're playing as well as Sweden have at Euro 2025, you're going to be confident. Blagult have been a counter-attacking machine, scoring eight goals in their three games and conceding just one.

Their possession stats are fairly middling, having just over or under 50% in each of their three group matches. The Swedes are also not especially clinical, having a tournament shot accuracy of just over 30%. But what they do far more effectively than any other team is create chances out of nothing.

In all three matches, Peter Gudhardsson's side scored at least one of their goals, including the winner against Denmark and the equaliser against Germany, by playing a couple of quick passes which, almost out of nowhere, created a goal scoring opportunity.

The threat provided by Fridolina Rolfo and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd is enough to frighten even the most tried and tested of defences, including what was perceived to be a strong German backline.

That's not to say Sweden are without weaknesses. When they did concede the opening goal to Germany in Zurich, they were slow to react and easily could have found themselves further behind in the five minutes between the opener and the equaliser.

Their poor shot conversion rate comes down to Stina Blackstenius and Kosovare Asllani needing plenty of chances before making one count so far. While their finishes have been outstanding at times, the attackers should probably have double the three goals they have between them so far at the tournament.

For quarter-final opponents England, this sends one clear message; take your chances. Sweden will generate plenty of opportunities, so if the Lionesses were to take the lead, they will likely need to press home their advantage, as they did in their 4 - 0 win over the same opposition in the semi-finals of Euro 2022.

Germany falter with safety net of progression

Had Germany made wholesale changes and then lost 4 - 1 to Sweden, no one would bat an eye-lid. Plenty of managers don't care about qualifying in first or second, but Christian Wuck did; his players let him down.

Despite taking the lead in the 7th minute, Germany found themselves two goals and one player down less than half-an-hour later. Stina Blackstenius' well-taken equaliser unsettled Germany, prompting Die Nationalelf to concede a horrendous second before defender Carlotta Wamser's goalkeeping earned her marching orders and handed Sweden a third.

There were signs of these defensive frailties right from Matchday 1, with Poland causing real problems for Germany, especially after Giulia Gwinn's injury. For a team who want to be considered contenders, the Germans are woefully vulnerable to attacks from the wide areas, which will have quarter-final opponents France licking their lips.

But one thing going for the eight-time winners is exactly that; they are eight-time winners. It may be a new squad and a new manager, but this is a team that has won the majority of previous European Championships and reached the final of the last edition.

Mentality is arguably more important than quality in the later stages of these international tournaments and Germany have, historically, had elite mentality, and there were signs of this in the group stages.

At half-time against Denmark, Germany looked all at sea, but they came out with purpose and determination in the second half and in just over 20 minutes, they were in front, looking as comfortable as ever.

Poland also tested Germany, forcing them to adjust their game plan to finally break down a resilient backline. They made a meal of it, but the Germans delivered.

Are they favourites for the France tie? Not even close. But they're certainly in with a chance. This is, after all, one of sport's great international rivalries, whatever game the two countries are playing, and that always throws up the potential for fireworks. If Germany are to progress, they need fireworks, and big ones.

Poland claim memorable win to mark historic Summer

Euro 2025 lasted less than two weeks for Poland, but it was perhaps the greatest 10 days in the history of women's football in the Eastern European country. Their were tears in the eyes of several supporters as they celebrated an unfathomable 3 - 2 victory over Denmark, despite the fact that they knew they couldn't qualify.

The opening defeat to Germany had shown promise for Poland, holding the eight-time champions until the second half, but Poland fans could be forgiven for feeling a little down in the dumps after their hammering by Sweden.

Although the damage was just 3 - 0, it should've been so many more for Sweden in what was arguably the biggest gulf in quality between two sides in the tournament.

That didn't deter Nina Patalon and her players though. In fact it seemed to have inspired them. Like the great champions we've had the pleasure of watching over the past few decades at these tournaments, Poland used their suffering to empower themselves, and with it they produced one of the biggest shocks in Euros history.

Scoring a goal was a huge achievement in the first place, let alone three. So to pick up three points from their first ever group at a major tournament is a huge turning point for women's football in Poland.

Dejected Denmark crash out pointless

Denmark had a history of upsetting Germany coming into this group, ending their 22-year reign over European football at Euro 2017 and beating them 2 - 0 in the Nations League in 2023. But this tournament was an enormous disappointment for Denmark.

In their opening defeat to Sweden, the Danes showed real promise, lacking a cutting edge but rising to Sweden's level and competing with one of the most talented squads at the tournament.

Denmark did the same for the first 45 minutes of their clash with Germany as well, taking a well-deserved 1 - 0 lead into half-time. But when the Germans came out stronger in the second half, the Tin Women had no answer.

There's absolutely no shame in going 2 - 1 down to a team as good as Germany, but what Andree Jeglertz will be frustrated with is the fact that his side didn't really offer much of a reply to going behind.

It seemed that this disappointment carried into the Poland game, where Denmark were heavy favourites, albeit in an empty game with both sides already eliminated from the tournament.

Poland started the faster and again Denmark were stunned, struggling to offer a response after falling 2 - 0 down to a side who were playing in their first major tournament; Denmark were playing in their 15th.

Perhaps the knowledge that Jeglertz will be departing for Manchester City after the tournament shook the confidence of a group who have been working with the Swede for two years.

Either way, Danish football will need a bit of a shake-up to restore confidence and ensure the team qualifies for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, starting by winning their League A/B Nations League play-off.

Knockout Picture

Germany have certainly paid the price with their defeat to Sweden, landing them on by far the tougher side of the draw. France have arguably played the best football at Euro 2025 so far and are especially dangerous in the wide areas, which is where Germany's problems seem to be coming from.

Sweden face a mouth-watering rematch with England, who thrashed them 4 - 0 in the semi-finals of Euro 2022. The two sides have drawn both meetings since that night in Sheffield and both came into the game full of confidence and scoring freely.