Germany’s national team experienced a significant setback at Euro 2025, suffering their most substantial tournament loss in 34 years against Sweden.
Despite being favourites for a ninth European title, Germany’s hopes were dashed when they faced Sweden in Group C. Jule Brand initially put Germany ahead, but Sweden’s Stina Blackstenius and Smila Holmberg turned the game around. Carlotta Wamser’s handball led to a penalty converted by Fridolina Rolfo, and Lina Hurtig sealed the win with another goal.Sweden emerged as group winners and advanced to the quarter-finals with an unblemished record. This victory marked Sweden’s eighth consecutive group-stage win at major tournaments, boasting a combined score of 24-3. Meanwhile, Germany finished second in the group and will face the top team from Group D, likely France or England, in the quarter-finals. A potential semi-final clash with world champions Spain looms on the horizon.Germany’s defeat was their heaviest at a World Cup or European Championship since losing 4-0 to Sweden in the 1991 World Cup. Out of Germany’s 15 major tournament losses, four have been inflicted by Sweden, accounting for 26.7% of those defeats. Bayern Munich forward Klara Buhl expressed her disappointment over the result but urged her team to move forward quickly with an upcoming quarter-final match.Despite this setback, Germany remains optimistic about their chances in the tournament. Coach Christian Wuck acknowledged the disappointment but emphasised resilience and determination to bounce back. “We’re down now, but we’ll get up again,” Wuck stated confidently. He assured that after processing this loss, the team would approach the quarter-finals with renewed enthusiasm.Elsewhere in Group C action, Poland secured a third-place finish by defeating Denmark 3-2. Natalia Padilla, Ewa Pajor, and Martyna Wiankowska scored for Poland, while Janni Thomsen and Signe Bruun found the net for Denmark. Both teams were already eliminated from advancing further in the tournament.
Klara Buhl reflected on Germany’s performance: “We started the game very well. We were fully in it and the better team,” she told ZDF. “We then give the game away in 10 minutes. We’re incredibly bitter about that.” She stressed the importance of moving past this defeat swiftly to focus on future challenges.As Germany prepares for their next match against either France or England, they aim to regain momentum after earlier victories over Poland (2-0) and Denmark (2-1). The team’s resilience will be crucial as they navigate through these challenging stages of Euro 2025.