Euro 2025: Sweden eases past Poland and advances to quarterfinals along with Germany

LUCERNE, Switzerland (AP) — Sweden advanced to the quarterfinals at the Women's European Championship by beating Poland 3-0 on Tuesday, a result that also sent Germany through to the knockout rounds from their group.

A hat trick of headed goals by three different players was fair reward for relentless attacking down Sweden's right flank that left the overmatched Poland defense exposed.

Sweden had already struck the crossbar with two headers before center forward Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring in the 28th. Captain Kosovare Asllani padded the lead in the 52nd and substitute Lina Hurtig got a key third in the 77th.

That goal sent Sweden top of the standings on goal difference ahead of Germany, ensuring it only needs a draw to win the group when the teams meet Saturday. Germany also got its second win earlier, beating Denmark 2-1 after trailing at halftime.

“A great performance,” Sweden coach said Peter Gerhardsson said in comments reported by UEFA. ”Our defense was really good. We scored some great goals, and we created a lot of chances."

Poland almost scored a consolation goal in stoppage time that would have dropped Sweden below Germany, but Milena Kokosz’s long-range shot struck the inside of the post and went to safety.

The winner of Group C will likely avoid Euro 2025 favorite Spain’s half of the knockout bracket. The group runner-up between Sweden and Germany would be on a path to meet Spain in the semifinals.

Sweden has now advanced from the group stage in all eight editions of the Women's Euros tournament format.

Poland now has two losses and no goals scored on its major tournament debut, after losing 2-0 to Germany. Captain and star forward Ewa Pajor was kept isolated by the Sweden defense, which cut off most passes seeking her out.

The only eastern European nation in the 16-nation lineup at Euro 2025, Poland had arrived on an 11-game unbeaten run, including 10 wins.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was a constant threat and involved in so many of her team’s 60 total attacks that led to 23 attempts on the Poland goal.

Sweden got another bonus when Fridolina Rolfö — a teammate of Pajor at Barcelona — came on as a late substitute for her first action on the left flank after being a pre-tournament doubt because of an injury.

Rolfö came on to replace Madelen Janogy who had struck the bar with a header in the 12th.

The coolest temperatures of the first week in Switzerland greeted the players at the 9 p.m. kickoff in Lucerne: 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius).

When Sweden beat Denmark 1-0 on Friday it had been 86 degrees (30 C) at the 6 p.m. start in Geneva.

Gerhardsson said then he hoped for more of a breeze to face Poland, and he got temperate Scandinavian-like conditions that his players thrived in.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Sweden's Stina Blackstenius, right, scores the opening goal past Poland goalkeeper Kinga Szemik during the Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Poland and Sweden at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Sweden's Fridolina Rolfo gets ready to enter the match during the Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Poland and Sweden at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Poland's Nadia Krezyman fights for the ball with Sweden's Madelen Janogy, foreground, during the Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Poland and Sweden at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Poland's Ewa Pajor reacts at the end of the Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Poland and Sweden at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Sweden's Kosovare Asllani celebrates after scoring her side's second goal during the Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Poland and Sweden at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Sweden's Stina Blackstenius, right, scores the opening goal past Poland goalkeeper Kinga Szemik during the Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Poland and Sweden at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Sweden's Emma Blackstenius, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Sweden and Poland in Lucerne, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Urs Flueeler/Keystone via AP)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)