Sweden handed Germany their biggest-ever defeat at a Women’s European Championship, with a 4-1 win to secure top spot in Group C.
Germany, who also go through to the quarterfinals as runners-up, were hampered by a first-half red card for Carlotta Wamser.
The Swedes finished top of the group with a perfect nine points from their three games and will take on the runners-up in Group D — which features France, England, Netherlands and Wales — with the Germans taking on the winners of that group.
Germany defender Wamser set up Jule Brand for her side’s opener in the seventh minute, but the Swedes hit back through Stina Blackstenius five minutes later and they took the lead through a fortuitous goal from fullback Smilla Holmberg in the 25th minute.
Wamser’s red card for a deliberate handball in the box in the 32nd minute allowed Fridolina Rolfö to confidently slot home the resulting penalty, and substitute Lina Hurtig rubbed salt in Germany’s wounds with an 80th-minute goal to seal an emphatic win.
Germany had previously only lost one match by multiple goals at a Women’s Euro, with a 3-1 defeat to Denmark in 1993’s third-place match.
Information from Reuters and ESPN Research was used in this report.
