Sweden sealed their place in the quarter finals with a 3-0 win over Poland in the second matchday of group C.
Goals from Stina Blackstenius, Kosovare Asllani and Lina Hurtig saw past the debutants in a game that should have ended with even more goals on the scoresheet.
Poland made three changes to the starting XI from their 2-0 opening lose to Germany. Second half substitute from the first game Oliwia Wós starts for Pauline Dudek, who makes the bench despite injury scares. Dominika Grabowska and Nadia Krezyman also start after brief cameos against Germany. They replaced Natalia Padilla-Bidas and Ewelina Kamczyk. The game also marked a 90th appearance for Poland for Grabowska, at just 26 years old.
Sweden make two defensive changes from their opener against Denmark. Amanda Illestedt and Amanda Nildén replace Linda Sembrant and Jonna Andersson in the left of the defence. Neither of the pair appeared in the 1-0 win over Denmark. Magdalena Eriksson is still not fit enough to start but made the bench again.
The Lineups
POL: Szemik, Matysik, Szymcak, Wós, Wiankowska, Achcińska, Pawollek, Grabowska, Kreyzman, Pajor, Tomasiak
SWE: Falk; Nildén, Illestedt, Björn, Lundkvist, Zigotti Olme, Asllani, Angeldahl, Janogy, Blackstenius, Rytting Kanyerd.
The Action
Sweden came out the blocks fast. Captain Kosovare Asllani came close within two minutes. Her attempt hit the crossbar on her 201st appearance for her country before being seen out for a corner. Two minutes later Poland registered their first chance in the 5th minute. Martyna Wiankowska pulled in from her left back position, letting rip from range. It was well saved.
Sweden continued to build. With the ball being dribbled in by Johanna Rytting Kanyerd, Madelen Janogy attempted to header the ball over Kinga Szemik. The chance was seen over the crossbar. Poland had their own chances on the counter. Ewa Pajor broke through the defence, but the ball was met by Jennifer Falk out of her box.
Her striker opponent, Stina Blackstenius, also had a bright moment soon after but her attempt to pass the ball back central was easily met by the Polish defence. It was Blackstenius who finally finished one of Sweden’s chances. Just before the 30 minute mark, Asllani picked up a through ball down the right. The captain send it across to Blackstenius, who pulled off the two centre backs to send it into the back of the net.
After the goal, not much happened in the first half. In the 43rd minute, Blackstenius split the defence, before her shot was saved well by Szemik. The resulting corner was messily handled by both sides before the ball went out for a Poland goal kick. Another cross from the right saw Blackstenius header one far over the bar from close distance. The Arsenal Champions League winner should’ve had a hat trick before half time.
Second Half
Sweden started much the same in the second half. Rytting Kaneryd continued to cause mayhem. Running into the box, a number of her crosses in the opening minutes of the second half lacked purpose and were wasteful.
Poland had a good break in the 48th minute. Pajor broke well from the halfway line. Dribbling into the box, she took a shot but after taking a deflection, it was easily saved by Falk. Another chance for Poland threatened Sweden early on. Substitute Padilla-Bidas brought the spark in attack that Poland lacked in the first time, helping bridge the gap between the rest of the field and captain Pajor.
Sweden’s second came much the same as the first. Rytting Kanyerd used her speed to gain space and momentum down the right. Her cross was met by Asllani in the centre, who headed it home for 2-0. Julia Zigiotti Olme had a goal in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for her foul on Szemik.
In a change of pass, the third goal came from a right sided corner instead of right sided open play. Jonna Andersson sent the ball into the box, where Lina Hurtig rose the highest to see the ball in. Blackstenius had another shot on target soon after. After passing between her left and favoured right foot, the chance was well saved by Szemik.
In extra time, Milena Kokosz rattled the bar from range in the highlight in Poland’s game but it was too little, too late.
Sweden impactful down the right at Euro 2025
It was clear early on Sweden looked to mainly build down their right hand side. With the speed of Rytting Kaneryd, as well as the inform Fillipa Angeldahl, the Swedes looked to bypass Wiankowska and Paulina Tomasiak, with the aim of outnumbering the Poles down the right.
Wiankowska had some bright spells coming up against Rytting Kanyerd. To combat this, Sweden started to use Janogy and Nildén down the left to progress more as the first half went on. But this was short lived.
Whilst Poland were hip to Sweden’s tactics early on, this is the side of the pitch where the first two goals were made. As the game went on, Sweden grew in delight down the right, and used it as the preferred side of the pitch to build a good majority of their attacks.
Padi Power
The Halfway Line have already outlined Padilla-Bidas as a player to keep an eye on this tournament. Whilst it has been a rough two opening games for Poland, it is true that the Spanish-Polish youngster adds a different dynamic to the Poland’s attack. Whilst she may not have had a debut to write home about against Germany, the young winger still had many exciting moments.
Her presence was missed in the first half against Sweden, with Pajor quite isolated from the rest of the pack. Whilst attack was slightly few and far between in the second half for Poland, moments where they did have chances were seen through Padilla-Bidas. Whilst Pajor has buckets of quality on her own, when she is marked out of a game, there needs to be others to step up where needed. Padilla-Bidas showed tonight what can be as Poland look to grow from this experience.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match
Captain Asllani is The Halfway Line’s pick for player of the match. With a goal and assist on her 201st cap for her country, she was a nightmare for Poland, connecting well with Rytting Kanyerd and Blackstenius from the right. Her experience and expertise was too much for the more inexperienced Polish midfield to handle and her presence was somewhat missed when she was subbed off for Hanna Bennison in the second half.
