Sweden's crushing win over Germany at Women's Euros sets up easier path to final

ZURICH (AP) — 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.

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.

It also was the first time Sweden beat Germany at the Euros and ensured it topped Group C with maximum points and avoided the possibility of facing World Cup champion and Euro 2025 favorite Spain in the semifinals.

Sweden will face the runner-up of Group D in the quarterfinals, with Germany facing the team that tops that group. That will be France, England or the Netherlands.

“We wanted to finish first in the group, so now we have to analyse that with the players, but don’t forget we were outnumbered for 60 minutes,” Germany coach Christian Wück said.

“We are down at the moment but we will shake that off and we are very happy to play the quarterfinals, no matter who the opponents are.”

Germany and Sweden had already qualified for the knockout stages but their match was decisive for top spot in the group, with a draw being enough for Sweden thanks to a better goal difference.

There were four good chances in the opening five minutes and Germany took the lead in the seventh when Brand ran onto a smart throughball from Wamser and fired in.

It was the first goal Sweden conceded in the tournament but it recovered from that setback just five minutes later. A rapid counterattack saw Blackstenius collect the ball near the halfway line and race into the area before slotting calmly past Ann-Katrin Berger.

Sweden led in somewhat fortunate circumstances in the 25th. Holmberg sprinted into the area and was tackled by Germany defender Sarai Linder, who inadvertently kicked the ball off the Swedish teen’s shin and it ricocheted into the net.

It was a first international goal for the 18-year-old Holmberg, who recently graduated from high school.

It got worse for Germany when Wamser was shown a straight red card for blocking a shot by Rolfö with her arm. Wamser was in the team in place of Giulia Gwinn, and the injured Germany captain put her arm around the young defender when she left the pitch in tears.

Rolfö dispatched the penalty into the bottom left corner.

Sweden’s attack was relentless in the first half but, with the result seemingly decided, it slacked off after the break, although Hurtig tapped in another in the 80th.

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

Sweden's Smilla Holmberg, right, celebrates with Stina Blackstenius, Kosovare Asllani and Fridolina Rolfo, after scoring her side's second goal during the Women's Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Sweden and Germany at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Sweden's Smilla Holmberg drives the ball past Germany's Klara Buehl on her way to score during the Women's Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Sweden and Germany at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Germany's Carlotta Wamser reacts after seeing a red card for stopping a goal with her arm during the Women's Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Sweden and Germany at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Germany's Carlotta Wamser stops a goal with her arm seeing a red card and giving away a penalty during the Women's Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Sweden and Germany at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Sweden's Smilla Holmberg, right, celebrates after scoring her side's second goal during the Women's Euro 2025, group C, soccer match between Sweden and Germany at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist in his 700th career game, Mark Stone tied the Golden Knights' record with a goal in his seventh straight game, and Vegas defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Saturday night for its third straight win.

Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore, who had been out since Dec. 13 because of an upper-body injury, also scored goals for the Golden Knights. Akira Schmid stopped 17 shots.

Robert Thomas had a goal and assist for the Blues, and Jake Neighbours scored the other goal on a power play. Jordan Binnington finished with 21 saves as St. Louis lost its third straight.

Stone kept his scoring streak alive with an empty-net goal with 2:24 left to tie the club record set by Max Pacioretty in 2021.

Blues defenseman Philip Broberg, who earlier in the day signed to a six-year, $48 million contract extension, suffered an upper-body injury just 1:35 into the game and did not return. He was hurt after Stone's check near the boards.

All three Golden Knights victories during this current streak occurred after the opponent took the early lead. Winnipeg and Columbus each took 2-0 leads and St. Louis was up 1-0. The Golden Knights improved to 9-8-7 in when their opponent scores first.

After Thomas gave the Blues their early lead 53 seconds into the first period, Vegas tied it at 7:34 when Marner put in his own rebound. Goals by Eichel and Theodore in the second period put the Golden Knights ahead 3-1.

This is Marner's first season with the Golden Knights after he was acquired in a sign-and-trade with Toronto on July 1. Teammate Keegan Kolesar, who has been with the Golden Knights all seven of his seasons, appeared in his 400th game.

Blues: Host Carolina on Tuesday.

Golden Knights: At San Jose on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) skates with the puck against St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg is helped off the ice after being checked by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith jumps past St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)