Sweden solidified its position as a formidable contender in the European Championships by defeating Poland 3-0, securing a place in the knockout stages. In winning this match, Sweden leapfrogs Spain into first place in the group due to goal differential. The team’s record is still perfect and they have yet to allow a goal in the World Cup. A draw against Germany on July 12 will be enough for Sweden to win Group C.
The game showcased Sweden’s attacking depth, headlined by Stina Blackstenius. She netted the equalizer barely a minute into the second half. Then not long after, she scored her second, lifting her international total to 49 goals. It marked a huge milestone for Sweden’s Blackstenius, who made her 20th consecutive Euro appearance. That’s reminding everybody by her performance just how important she is to the success of this team.
Kosovare Asllani had much to do with that, scoring what would be Sweden’s second goal of the match. It was the floodgates opening, and Lina Hurtig capped the scoring with an amazing third goal. This time, she used her head to give the Swedish side the lead again. This decisive win granted Sweden the momentum to control the pace of the match, with the Swedes showing their offensive potential right from the start. In fact, even within the first 12 minutes, they hit the woodwork on two occasions from both Asllani and Madelen Janogy.
Head Coach Peter Gerhardsson said he was proud of how his team played, with their solid defensive work showcased during the championships. “Our focus has been on both sides of the ball,” he stated. “To not concede any goals so far speaks volumes about our discipline and strategy.”
Sweden was the better team, controlling the game from the opening whistle to the final kick. Poland never rolled over, but couldn’t withstand the tidal wave of the Swedish offense. That win not only ensured Sweden would move on, it knocked Poland and Denmark out of this year’s tournament.
Sweden will need to take on Germany in an important round of 16 match on July 12.…or the other startling fact Both teams have yet to concede a goal. This heavyweight matchup in Group C is sure to be an epic fight to the finish! A draw would be enough for Sweden to finish at the top of the group, but they want to build on their winning streak.
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