Media caption,

Sweden victory puts them above Germany in Group C

Sweden laid down a marker as Euro 2025 title contenders as they came from behind to beat Germany and finish above them in Group C.

Both teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals in Switzerland and went into the game with top spot at stake.

But it proved a difficult task for Germany who played two thirds of the chaotic encounter in Zurich with 10 players after Carlotta Wamser was sent off in the 31st minute.

The eight-time champions took a seventh-minute lead when full-back Wamser's brilliant through-ball found Jule Brand to slot across Jennifer Falk and into the bottom corner - the first goal Sweden conceded at the tournament.

But they responded brilliantly to level just five minutes later as Christian Wuck's side were dispossessed in their own half, allowing Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius to burst through and roll the ball past Ann-Katrin Berger.

Germany pushed for a second goal, but they fell apart at the back and conceded again in the 25th minute when Sarai Linder's sliding tackle deflected back against Smilla Holmberg and into the roof of the net past Berger.

It got worse for Germany when Wamser conceded a penalty, and received a straight red card, for a goalline block with her hand to deny Blackstenius.

Fridolina Rolfo stepped up and sent Berger the wrong way from the penalty spot to score Sweden's third goal on her 100th international appearance.

After a largely tame second half in comparison, substitute Lina Hurtig tapped home on 80 minutes for the fourth, converting Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's pull-back from close range.

It sealed Sweden's first win in seven meetings with Germany at a Euros, while handing their opponents their biggest defeat in the tournament.

Sweden and Germany will learn their quarter-final opponents on Sunday, after the conclusion of England's tie with Wales and Netherlands against France (both 20:00 BST kick-offs).

What was the main talking point?

Media caption,

'Trouble for Germany' as Rolfö scores for Sweden

Wamser was brought in to replace German captain Giulia Gwinn, who was ruled out of Euro 2025 after suffering medial ligament damage in her side's tournament opener against Poland.

And the 21-year-old started well against Sweden as a fine pass picked out Brand for Germany's opener - Wamser's second assist in Switzerland.

But her dismissal meant she went from hero to zero as Gwinn - a surprise name on Germany's substitutes bench to support her team-mates - consoled the young Bayer Leverkusen defender as she left the field in tears.

Though they were behind when Wamser was dismissed, Germany showed they had the attacking quality to trouble the Swedes, but they were left with a mountain to climb with 10 players.

They will now go into their quarter-final tie without both their first choice and back-up right-back, leaving boss Wuck with a major defensive headache.

Which players stood out?

Media caption,

'She only knows one thing!' - Blackstenius equalises for Sweden

Blackstenius, Arsenal's Champions League hero after her winner in the final against Barcelona, impressively led Sweden's frontline.

She was a constant thorn in the side of Germany and Manchester City defender Rebecca Knaak and started chants of 'the gold is coming home' from fans after her surging run and composed finish levelled the match.

While she attempted just three passes in the first half, Blackstenius attempted three shots on goal to show her prowess in the box. Replaced on 70 minutes, she left the field to huge applause at the Stadion Letzigrund.

Her German counterpart Lea Schuller had scored in the 66th minute against Poland and Denmark in earlier games, and then replaced in the 70th minute in both games.

The Bayern Munich forward was challenged by Wuck to score more first-half goals and did attempt four shots - more than any other player - but only one was on target in a disappointing showing that saw her taken off in the 64th minute.

What are the standout stats?

Sweden have now won all of their last eight group-stage matches at major tournaments and unbeaten in their last nine.

Blackstenius and Hurtig both scored their second goals of Euro 2025 - no Swedish players have scored more.

Brand scored after just six minutes and 43 seconds, the fastest goal for Germany at Euro 2025. She has contributed to four of her side's five goals in Switzerland, with two goals and two assists.

Fridolina Rolfo celebrates scoring against GermanyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Fridolina Rolfo scored on her 100th appearance for Sweden

What next?

Sweden return to Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund on Thursday, 17 July (20:00 BST) to play the Group D runner-up in the last eight, while Germany face the winner of Group D at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on Saturday, 19 July (20:00 BST).

Player of the match

Number: 11 S. Blackstenius
Average rating 8.00
Number: 11 S. Blackstenius
Average Rating: 8.00
Number: 19 J. Rytting Kaneryd
Average Rating: 7.83
Number: 18 F. Rolfö
Average Rating: 7.55
Number: 22 S. Holmberg
Average Rating: 7.52
Number: 16 F. Angeldahl
Average Rating: 7.25
Number: 12 J. Falk
Average Rating: 7.22
Number: 8 L. Hurtig
Average Rating: 7.21
Number: 6 M. Eriksson
Average Rating: 7.07
Number: 9 K. Asllani
Average Rating: 7.04
Number: 14 N. Björn
Average Rating: 7.04
Number: 20 H. Bennison
Average Rating: 7.00
Number: 2 J. Andersson
Average Rating: 6.97
Number: 3 L. Sembrant
Average Rating: 6.85
Number: 7 M. Janogy
Average Rating: 6.84
Number: 17 E. Wangerheim
Average Rating: 6.47
Number: 15 J. Zigiotti Olme
Average Rating: 6.12

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