Brand inspires Germany to Euro 2025 win over Poland

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport at St Gallen Arena

Jule Brand and Lea Schuller scored second-half goals as Germany kicked off their Euro 2025 campaign with a dominant 2-0 win over tournament debutants Poland in St Gallen.

Christian Wuck's side had almost 75% possession in the first half, but for all their dominance it was goalless at the break through missed opportunities.

They posed the bigger threat in front of goal with Brand and Giulia Gwinn both coming close, but Poland defended resolutely and their West Ham goalkeeper Kinga Szemik was impressive.

There was a blow for Germany late in the first half when captain Gwinn left the field in tears after hurting herself making a crucial challenge to deny Ewa Pajor. She initially tried to continue, but was helped off by medics and replaced.

Wuck confirmed Gwinn will have a scan on Saturday morning in Zurich to assess the extent of the injury.

"I think the worst we can do is speculate," he said.

"I didn't see the foul, I just know she prevented an almost-sure goal and that would be really bad for us if it is something serious, but I will not speculate. I wait for what the doctors are going to say."

Germany put the loss of Gwinn aside and their persistence paid off seven minutes into the second period when Brand cut inside on the edge of the box before unleashing a stunning left-footed strike beyond Szemik and into the top corner.

The Lyon forward then turned provider for the Euro 2022 finalists as she picked out Schuller to head in Germany's second in the 66th minute.

Captain Pajor was Poland's brightest spark and had two big chances in the second half, but denied both times by keeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

Nina Patalon's team put in a performance to be proud of in their first experience of major tournament football and despite being outnumbered, the Polish supporters never stopped singing.

Brand scores 'absolutely brilliant' goal to give Germany lead

What was the main talking point?

Germany came into Euro 2025 with an air of intrigue, a new head coach and new-look squad.

With an exciting and youthful squad, Germany were tipped as one of the pre-tournament dark horses for the title after impressive recent performances.

Wuck's side comfortably handled the pressure and looked to be enjoying themselves against a Poland team ranked 24 places below them.

While they may not have laid down a marker to their title challengers, Germany showed they can grind out a result while still playing attacking, entertaining football.

Which players stood out?

All eyes were on Poland's Pajor, who was the leading scorer in Europe's big five leagues with 25 goals and 10 assists for Barcelona in 2024.

The stadium erupted whenever she was on the ball and Pajor looked lively in both halves with four shots on goal, two of which were on target.

But Germany's former Chelsea keeper Berger was equal to her efforts and Pajor could not find the goal she desperately craved to get her country off the mark.

For Germany, Chelsea's Sjoeke Nusken bossed the midfield and was solid in both attack and defence.

The standout stats

Jule Brand celebratesGetty Images

Germany have never lost their opening match at a European Championship

Germany's Schuller is now the only player to have scored in each of the last four editions of the European Championship and World Cup (2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025).

Brand's opener was also the first goal her side have scored from outside the box at the Euros since 2017, ending a run of 14 consecutive netted from inside the area in the competition.

Poland became the 20th different nation to compete at a Euros and are the seventh of the last eight tournament debutants to lose their first game, with only Austria bucking that trend in 2017.

What next for these sides?

Germany play their second Group C match against Denmark in Basel on Tuesday, 8 July (17:00 BST), before Poland face Sweden in Lucerne later on the same day (20:00 BST).

Earlier on Friday, Sweden beat Denmark in their Group C opener as Filippa Angeldahl struck the only goal.

Player of the match

J. Brand
7.94
22 J. Brand
7.94
11 L. Schüller
7.27
19 K. Bühl
7.21
7 G. Gwinn
7.18
9 S. Nüsken
6.88
6 J. Minge
6.88
1 A. Berger
6.80
16 L. Dallmann
6.64
20 E. Senß
6.40
4 R. Knaak
6.36
5 C. Wamser
6.29
2 S. Linder
6.07
15 S. Cerci
5.55
10 L. Freigang
5.50
18 G. Hoffmann
5.25
8 S. Lohmann
5.25
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