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The teams are out! Sweden in yellow and blue, Germany in second-choice red. A fine atmosphere at the Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich as everyone emerges from the tunnel. A real old roar. Flags a-fluttering. We’ll be off in a wee while.
Germany have the upper hand over Sweden in the head-to-head. They beat the Swedes in both the 1995 and 2001 Euro finals. Throw in two semi-final victories (in 19917 and 2013) plus triumph in the 2003 World Cup final, and we have ourselves a lop-sided rivalry. It was goalless the last time the teams met, though, in a 2023 friendly, and a result like that will do for the Swedes here.
Sweden will finish top of Group C if they win or draw tonight. Germany have to win if they’re to finish in first place. The winners will play the runners-up of Group D in the quarter-finals. That’s England as things stand, but it could also end up being France or the Netherlands. Or even Wales, though things would have to get seriously trippy tomorrow night if that ends up happening. Whatever: Euro 2025 is going to get very real, very soon. Big fun awaits.
1. Sweden P2 W2 D0 L0 F4 A0 GD4 Pts 6
2. Germany P2 W2 D0 L0 F4 A1 GD3 Pts 6
3. Denmark P2 W0 D0 L2 F1 A3 GD-2 Pts 0
4. Poland P2 W0 D0 L2 F0 A5 GD-5 Pts 0
Sweden make five changes to their starting XI after the 3-0 win over Poland. Jonna Andersson, Magdalena Eriksson, Fridolina Rolfö, Hanna Bennison and Smilla Holmberg come in for Hanna Lundkvist, Amanda Nildén, Madelen Janogy, Amanda Ilestedt and Julia Zigiotti Olme.
Germany make just the one change following their 2-1 victory over Denmark. Laura Freigang replaces Linda Dallmann in attack. Their stricken captain Giulia Gwinn, who suffered a medial ligament injury in Germany’s opening game with Poland, is named as a sub, for the purposes of support and vibes.
The teams
Sweden: Falk, Holmberg, Bjorn, Eriksson, Andersson, Angeldal, Asllani, Bennison, Kaneryd, Blackstenius, Rolfo.
Subs: Holmgren, Sembrant, Lundkvist, Nilden, Janogy, Hurtig, Jakobsson, Ilestedt, Zigiotti Olme, Wangerheim, Blomqvist, Enblom.
Germany: Berger, Linder, Knaak, Minge, Wamser, Nusken, Senss, Buehl, Freigang, Brand, Schuller.
Subs: Johannes, Hendrich, Gwinn, Lohmann, Dabritz, Zicai, Cerci, Dallmann, Kett, Hoffmann, Kleinherne, Mahmutovic.
Referee: Silvia Gasperotti (Italy).
Preamble
Both teams have already qualified for the knockouts, so in that respect there’s nothing riding on this match. But! The winner of Group C will, most likely, face reigning champions England in the quarters, while the runner-up will find themselves in the same half of the draw as world champions Spain. Neither prospect sounds particularly palatable, so … define winning. Define running-up. Kick-off is at 8pm UK time. It’s on!
