Euro 2025: Germany loses while outnumbered – Sweden wins group

Germany missed the hoped-for first place in Group C at the European Championships in Switzerland. Wück's team lost 4-1 to Sweden and had to settle for second place.

Germany got off to a perfect start. Jule Brand scored the opening goal for Germany after eight minutes. But Stina Blackstenius (12th minute), Smilla Holmberg (25th), and Fridolina Rolfö (34th, handball penalty) turned the game around in Sweden's favor before halftime. Before Rolfö's penalty made it 3-1, Carlotta Wamser was shown the red card for handball, meaning Germany had to play with a man down for a good 60 minutes.

Everything was still good: Jule Brand scored to make it 1-0.

Source: IMAGO/Gribaudi/ImagePhoto

In the second half, the German team struggled in vain. On the contrary, Sweden even increased their lead to 4-1 through Lina Hurtig.

This also makes it clear: Germany will face the winner of Group D next Saturday in Basel. As of now, that would be France. The national team also faces Spain in a potential semifinal.

National coach Christian Wück, whose team had previously beaten Poland (2-0) and Denmark (2-1), made one change to his starting lineup compared to the match against Denmark. Laura Freigang replaced Linda Dallmann in attacking midfield. Between the posts was Ann-Katrin Berger, who had come under scrutiny in recent days due to her risky style of play.

Didn't always make the most confident impression: Ann-Katrin (l.).

Source: IMAGO/MIS

"I have complete confidence in Anne," Wück said shortly before kickoff on ZDF. The team was supported from the reserve bench by captain Giulia Gwinn, who returned to the team quarters despite her knee injury and the resulting European Championship exit.

The approximately 6,000 German fans at Letzigrund, including Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, almost saw the German national team take the lead after just 16 seconds. Brand missed the first good chance. After 90 seconds, Lea Schüller threatened from distance. Less than a minute later, the Swedes appeared in front of the German goal, but captain Kosovare Asllani was unable to convert (3').

The game didn't settle down. Brand gave last year's Olympic bronze medalists the lead after a flawless counterattack involving Schüller and Gwinn's substitute Wamser. The Germans remained dominant, but conceded a counterattack of their own. When Blackstenius equalized, the entire team had advanced far too far, and former Swedish international Rebecca Knaak didn't cut a good figure as the last defender.

Klara Bühl (18th) could have put Germany back in the lead, but instead, things took a turn for the worse at the other end. Sarai Linder shot at Holmberg, and the ball bounced over Berger and into the net. The goal completely unsettled the German team, including Berger. The Swedes had several great chances after some serious errors by Wück's players.

"We started the game very well. We were fully involved and had chances. At this level, you have to score. We gave the game away in 15 minutes," winger Bühl analyzed after the match on ZDF.

Wamser initially prevented a Swedish goal with a handball and was sent off by referee Silvia Gasperotti (Italy). Rolfö converted the resulting penalty. Further Swedish goals were possible before the break, but Berger made several lapses.

At the start of the second period, Kathrin Hendrich and Sydney Lohmann came on for Knaak and Freigang, and Wück switched to a three-man defense. For much of the game, it was all about damage limitation. Hurtig ultimately delivered the historic dimension of the defeat.

With sid