News (engl.)

Germany’s women’s national team won their opening game of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. Head coach Christian Wück’s side beat Poland 2-0 in their first group match. Jule Brand (52’) and Lea Schüller (66’) found the net in front of 15,972 spectators in St. Gallen.

Referee Stéphanie Frappart had barely got the game underway by the time Poland launched their first attack. Ewa Pajor’s ball-in after just 20 seconds was easy enough for Ann-Katrin Berger to intercept. At the other end, Poland goalkeeper Kinga Szemik punched away Klara Bühl’s cross into the box (1’). It was Bühl who had the first big chance of the game in the eighth minute, but her shot went wide of goal. Germany dominated possession in the early stages, though Poland were also able to get forward. Emilia Szymczak got on the end of a free kick to shoot from a tight angle, but the defender could not find the net (14’).

Stunning Brand strike opens the scoring

A few minutes later, the Poland defence struggled to deal with a long ball. Schüller pounced, but it was taken away from her before she could strike. However, possession was soon back with Germany once more. Dallmann beat several defenders in the box, but her shot was blocked and the danger was cleared (19’). Five minutes after that, Brand collected a pass before executing a sharp turn and advancing forward. She then let fly from around 16 yards out, but her effort was touched wide for a corner by Szemik. Poland then mounted a counterattack, which created an opportunity for Natalia Padilla-Bidas. This was snuffed out by Berger and Janina Minge, and the flag went up for offside regardless (25’).

Pajor was then played in, but couldn’t quite get through on goal and eventually fired wide from distance (31’). Five minutes later, Pajor was involved again after Germany failed to clear a corner. Giulia Gwinn used her whole body to block the striker’s effort. The captain picked up a knock and was initially able to return to the game, but then had to be substituted after several minutes of treatment. Carlotta Wamser replaced her (40’). Wamser immediately got her head to the resulting corner, and nodded just over the bar. Germany threatened again in the closing minutes of the first half. Bühl struck a free kick just over from around 20 yards out (45+2’), before Schüller couldn’t get the right contact on Linda Dallmann’s ball into the box (45+3’).

Germany came out for the second half full of attacking intent. Just 40 seconds in, Sjoeke Nüsken had a shot from close range, but it was blocked by a Polish player. Two minutes after that, Ballmann pounced onto a headed clearance to volley narrowly wide of the Poland goal. Brand, however, made no mistake in the 52nd minute. She cut inside from the right and curled a sumptuous finish into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area to give Germany the lead.

Schüller heads home

Around the midway point of the second hald, Germany were threatening Poland’s goal with almost every passing minute. Bühl’s cross found Nüsken in the area, but her header went wide (62’). One minute later, Bühl cut in from the right and tried a curling effort, but this was blocked. At the other end, Poland had their first opportunity of the second period when Pajor tested Berger again (64’). Bühl seemed really in the mood, and another cross from her was headed over by Schüller (64’). Germany were getting closer and closer to that second goal, and this eventually came through a Schüller header. Brand delivered the ball towards the far post from the right, and the striker was there to nod home (66’). Wück then made a triple change, bringing on Sydney Lohmann, Laura Freigang and Hoffmann for Elisa Senß, Dallmann and Schüller (70’).

Poland gave everything in the final 15 minutes. Pajor headed towards goal from close range and forced Berger into a save (81’). The Germany head coach then made a fifth substitution when he sent on Selina Cerci for Bühl (85’). A few seconds later, Nüsken’s shot from distance went wide of goal.

Sweden beat Denmark 1-0 in the day’s other Group C fixture. Germany currently sit top of the standings thanks to their superior goal difference. Next on the agenda for Germany is their second match against Denmark in Basel on 8th July (18:00 CEST).