The victory of Sweden against Poland not only gives the quarter-final ticket to the Northern Europeans, Germany can also plan for the KO phase before the last group game. For tournament newcomers Poland, progress is no longer possible. For the Scandinavians, the last group game against the Wück-Elf is still about the group victory.
Before 14,176 spectators in the Allmend Stadium of Lucerne, the Swedes were the better team from the start and secured the 3-0 (1: 0) victory on the second match day of the group C. EM debutant Poland with goals from Stina Blackstenius (28th), Kosovare Asllani and Lina Hurtig (77.), on the other hand, is still waiting for the second final game. The duel of the oldest team (Sweden) against the second youngest (Poland) was one -sided, especially in terms of air sovereignty, Sweden was better.
Poland Bundesliga defense Pressure from the start
Sweden’s coach Peter Gerhardsson converted his left defensive side for the duel, including Linda Sembrant, who was under contract at FC Bayern Munich last season. At Poland there were four changes compared to the 0: 2 opening defeat against Germany. For example, Oliwia Woś, who will play at the 1st FC Nürnberg in the future, came to the central defense.
The focus was on the Polish defensive with three players from the Bundesliga, because after less than two minutes, Madelen Janogy had the first chance for Sweden. The foreign attacker from AC Florence prevailed well on the left, her cross was initially blocked so that she came to the end. But it shot over it from an acute angle. Sweden stayed on the trigger and Kosovare Asllani a few moments later after a cross from the right side to the crossbar.
Sweden’s Madelen Janogy (right) had two good chances in the initial phase.
The poles could hardly free themselves, mostly only played long balls. However, there was a first offensive sign of life after five minutes when Martyna Wiankowska tried it from a distance after a ball intercepted at the center line.
Blackstenius rewards the goal
Quite differently Sweden. The first European European champion in the story continued to press very high, put up Poland in his own half and was very variable in the attack game. After 13 minutes it was Janogy again who brought a header dangerously to the goal from almost six meters. But again it wasn’t exactly enough. Again the ball clapped to the aluminum.
Sweden subsequently concentrated a little more on the opponent’s left defense side, seemed to have identified the weak point there. At first, Stina Blackstenius moved in with a direct acceptance at the five -way corner (22nd), but a few minutes later the ball fidgeted on the net. Asllani was served on the right in the sixteen, moved to the baseline and chipped into the middle, where Blackstenius was able to head out of five meters from five meters (28th).
Sweden’s Stina Blackstenius (2nd VR) hits Poland by head.
Poland’s defensive performance remained poor, they made unnecessary mistakes in the building game and invited Sweden to further opportunities. Before the break, Blackstenius missed another goal on three good occasions (35./43./45.).
Sweden does it with the head
At the second half, Poland’s head coach Nina Patalon brought two fresh forces, while Hoffenheim’s Dominika Grabowska was taken out of the game, Bayern attacker Natalia Padilla-Bidas was now allowed to get involved and was involved in two attacks. A deflected shot from Ewa Pajor just missed her by hair width. A little later she tried it from a distance and thus got at least a corner kick.
But Sweden was not impressed and made it 2-0 with a copy of the lead goal. Again the ball was lifted from the right side. This time nobody felt responsible for Asllani, the most experienced player of the tournament with 20 European Championships now experienced, headed unexpectedly in front of the goal from six meters.
After 59 minutes, the ball was again in the box after Poland goalkeeper Kinga Szemik could not hold a corner kick. Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi from Italy had recognized a thrust and whistled back. For this, it was allowed to be cheered in the 77th minute. And of course it was a header again. After a corner, Lina Hurtig jumped at the highest and also headed into the goal from a few meters.
Poland almost ensures Sports history
In added time, an attempt by Poland Milena Kokosz banged the crossbar. Curious: If the ball had gone in, Germany and Sweden had the same goal difference of 4: 1 goals. Because the two teams meet in the direct duel on the last match day (Saturday, from 9 p.m.), a penalty shooter would have determined the group winner at a draw. That has never been possible.
But the ball didn’t go in. It was the end of a one -sided evening on the edge of Lake Lucerne. Thanks to the better goal difference on Saturday against Germany, a draw for the group victory is enough for the better goal difference.