Group C: Sweden on course for quarter-finals after first win

After a 2-1 (0-0) win against Switzerland, Sweden’s national team is looking forward to the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship. With four points under their belt, one point is enough in the final group game against Portugal. Switzerland must hope for a win against the Netherlands.

Despite the defeat, Swiss coach Nils Nielsen was not dissatisfied after the game: “I’m very proud of my team’s performance. We were so close. But the game gives me hope for the match against the Netherlands.” Surprisingly, the coach of the winners, Peter Gerhardsson, was less happy: “There are many things that we can and must do better. But first of all, I’m glad that we’ve got a good starting position.”

The Swedes started with the clear goal of setting an exclamation mark on the second day of the preliminary round, after the previously convincing teams from England, Germany and France had already achieved this. Switzerland, who had drawn 2-2 against Portugal in the opening game, should be clearly defeated. Especially since the Swiss women had been weakened by a mysterious gastrointestinal virus in the last few days.

Penalty withdrawn

The first excitement came early on Wednesday evening (13.07.22) in Sheffield in the Swedes’ penalty area. In the tenth minute, referee Marta Huerta de Aza from Spain pointed to the penalty spot. She had seen a foul by Swede Magdalena Eriksson on Noelle Maritz. There was certainly a light touch, but luckily the Spaniard watched the scene again on the video monitor. After that, she correctly revised her decision: no penalty.

The game then took the expected course: the Swedes gained a clear advantage and determined the game. Which also had to do with the fact that the Swiss fell back deep into their half and were careful to keep the space narrow for the opponents.

Sweden dictates the game

They succeeded – in any case, the Scandinavians, who acted a little too unimaginatively up front, didn’t create any real major scoring chances in the first half. They even had to be careful not to fall behind when they ran into a counterattack in the 30th minute. The Swiss strike leader Ramona Bachmann had a clear path, but frittered away this good opportunity.

Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson seemed to have found the right words in the dressing room – his players certainly came onto the pitch with more momentum in the second half. Stina Blackstenius should have taken the lead in the 52nd minute – but she failed after her solo effort at Swiss goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann.

Switzerland quickly equalizes Sweden’s lead

But 60 seconds later the time had come: after a quick combination by the Swedes, Fridolina Rolfö was suddenly free on the half-left eleven meters in front of the goal – she used the opportunity to make it 1-0, deliberately putting the ball into the short corner.

The spell was broken, the Swedes were finally on course – so they thought. But it turned out quite differently. The Scandinavians conceded the equalizer just two minutes after taking the lead. Keeper Hedvig Lindahl played a big part in that, directing a rather harmless Swiss cross right in front of Bachmann’s feet. The Swiss number ten said thank you and flicked the ball into the right angle from eleven meters – 1:1.

Bennison scores a dream goal

The Swiss keeper Thalmann made a similar faux pas in the 70th minute. She was also unable to clear the ball after a cross. Instead, she dropped it at Blackstenius’ feet, who shot defender Viola Calligaris, who was on the goal line, from four yards out.

Instead, substitute Hanna Bennison took the lead again for the yellow-blues. The Everton striker caught the ball after Rolfö’s filing with a full instep and shot the ball from 18 meters into the left corner to make it 2-1 (79′). Another substitute, Rebecka Blomqvist, added the finishing touch, but her goal in the 88th minute was rightly disallowed for offside.