Media caption,

Poland exit despite historical win

Poland bowed out of Euro 2025 after getting their first goals and points at a major tournament as they defeated winless Denmark 3-2 in Lucerne.

Although Poland's elimination from the tournament had already been confirmed after 2-0 and 3-0 defeats by Germany and Sweden respectively, the competition debutants started strongly with two goals inside the opening 20 minutes.

Nina Patalon's side adopted a much more attacking approach than in their first two group fixtures, pressing Denmark and winning the ball high before switching the ball quickly to the opposite flank.

That tactic paid off after 13 minutes - Emilia Szymczak drove down the right flank following a turnover and looked for captain Ewa Pajor with a low cross to near post, but the ball fell to Natalia Padilla-Bidas to slot home her side's first goal at a major tournament.

Poland continued to force Denmark into mistakes, with Pajor the beneficiary seven minutes later when she headed Padilla's cross unmarked past Danish goalkeeper Maja Ostergaard.

The first-half struggles of the Euro 2017 runners-up were summed up by the withdrawal of striker and captain Pernille Harder through injury.

Denmark hardly threatened until first-half stoppage time, when striker Signe Bruun - starting up front in place of Amalie Vangsgaard - first hit the crossbar with a header before forcing Poland goalkeeper Kinga Szemik into a smart save.

The West Ham star made several more stops before gifting Denmark a goal when Janni Thomsen's long-range effort squirmed through her hands.

Poland looked lethargic as the game wore on, and were handed a lifeline when the automated offside system denied Denmark substitute Nadia Nadim a would-be equaliser.

The Poles took full advantage of that good fortune when Martyna Wiankowska slammed home from close range, although Denmark's Bruun set up a nervy finish with a well-timed header past Szemik.

Denmark - playing under manager Andree Jeglertz for the final time before his move to Manchester City - are just the fifth nation in Women's Euros history to lose each of their first three games in a tournament.

What were the main talking points?

Media caption,

Poland 'take back' their two goal lead

After two comprehensive defeats dumped Poland out of the competition with a game to spare, head coach Patalon promised: "It's not the end, it's just the beginning."

Her side certainly backed up her rallying cry on the pitch as they played with a freedom and attacking intent painfully absent earlier in the tournament.

Denmark could not live with their opponents in the first half, begging the question how Poland would have fared against an underperforming German defence had they played less conservatively.

Poland's weaknesses at defending aerial balls almost cost them late on - five of the seven goals they have conceded in Switzerland have been headers - with Szemik called upon to scramble away Nadim's headed effort.

It was always a huge ask for Poland to escape this group, but on Saturday they provided enough evidence to suggest that their first major tournament appearance will not be their last.

Which players stood out?

Pajor led Poland magnificently from the front, pressing Denmark's defenders relentlessly before doubling her side's lead with a fine header.

Coming into the tournament after equalling Barcelona's single-season goals record (42), the striker showed her creative side by crossing to set up Wiankowska's winner.

Padilla was a constant livewire and caused Denmark plenty of problems - although her wasteful finishing almost cost her side - while Emilia Szymczak held her defence together for an hour.

It was another disappointing performance for Denmark, but Bruun and Nadim did threaten in the final stages.

Player of the match

Number: 2 M. Wiankowska
Average rating 9.60
Number: 2 M. Wiankowska
Average Rating: 9.60
Number: 6 S. Matysik
Average Rating: 9.50
Number: 23 A. Achcińska
Average Rating: 9.50
Number: 3 W. Zieniewicz
Average Rating: 9.40
Number: 19 N. Padilla-Bidas
Average Rating: 9.29
Number: 13 E. Szymczak
Average Rating: 9.25
Number: 21 P. Tomasiak
Average Rating: 9.25
Number: 11 T. Pawollek
Average Rating: 9.20
Number: 8 E. Kamczyk
Average Rating: 9.20
Number: 9 E. Pajor
Average Rating: 9.00
Number: 5 O. WoÅ›
Average Rating: 8.00
Number: 1 K. Szemik
Average Rating: 7.86
Number: 16 K. Jedlińska
Average Rating: 7.75
Number: 15 M. Kokosz
Average Rating: 7.75
Number: 17 K. Słowińska
Average Rating: 7.75

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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