Sweden confident after Germany rout; Poland exit Euros with dignity

Sweden put down a statement 4-1 win over Germany at the Women's European Championship on Saturday and secured a potentially easier route to the final.

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This could be the year Sweden shakes off its 'bridesmaid' reputation.

Sweden won the first Women's Euros in 1984 and has finished as runner-up three times since then. In coach Peter Gerhardsson’s eight-year tenure, Sweden was twice a World Cup semifinalist, took the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and reached the Euro 2022 semifinals.

"We've always been doing good in the tournaments before but never gone all the way," midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd said. "I have a really good feeling and you can see that in the squad, its just something different this year."

Record eight-time champion Germany was dominated, and Sweden's task was made easier after German forward Carlotta Wamser was sent off - barely half an hour in - for swatting a ball away from the goal-line with her arm.

By that point Sweden was up 2-1 after goals from Stina Blackstenius and teenager Smilla Holmberg canceled Jule Brand’s early opener for Germany.

Fridolina Rolfö calmly slotted the penalty after Wamser’s red card and substitute Lina Hurtig wrapped up the scoring to cap a miserable night for Germany, which conceded four goals for the first time in any Euro match, including qualifiers.