Sweden laid down a marker as Euro 2025 title contenders as they came from behind to beat Germany and finish above them in Group C.

Both teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals in Switzerland and went into the game with top spot at stake.

But it proved a difficult task for Germany who played two thirds of the chaotic encounter in Zurich with 10 players after Carlotta Wamser was sent off in the 31st minute.

The eight-time champions took a seventh-minute lead when full-back Wamser’s brilliant through-ball found Jule Brand to slot across Jennifer Falk and into the bottom corner.

But Sweden responded brilliantly to level just five minutes later as Christian Wuck’s side were dispossessed in their own half, allowing Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius to burst through and roll the ball past Ann-Katrin Berger.

Germany pushed for a second goal, but they fell apart at the back and conceded again in the 25th minute when Sarai Linder’s sliding tackle deflected back against Smilla Holmberg and into the roof of the net past Berger.

It got worse for Germany when Wamser conceded a penalty, and received a straight red card, for a goalline block with her hand to deny Blackstenius.

Fridolina Rolfo stepped up and sent Berger the wrong way from the penalty spot to score Sweden’s third goal on her 100th international appearance.

After a largely tame second half in comparison, substitute Lina Hurtig tapped home on 80 minutes for the fourth, converting Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s pull-back from close range.

It sealed Sweden’s first win in six meetings with Germany at a Euros, while handing their opponents their biggest defeat in the tournament.

Sweden and Germany will learn their quarter-final opponents on Sunday, after the conclusion of England’s tie with Wales and Netherlands against France (both 20:00 BST kick-offs).

9m ago 22.02 BST Sweden celebrate by bouncing around in front of their fans. A sea of yellow. Germany get into a huddle to lick their wounds. “It feels like every year I become convinced that Sweden will win a major tournament, and every year they don’t,” writes Kári Tulinius. “I told myself it wouldn’t happen this time ‘round. And yet, after a performance like this… I think they just might do it!” View image in fullscreen Sweden’s players celebrate their victory with the fans. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Share Updated at 22.07 BST

13m ago 21.58 BST Some history has been made in the other game in Group C, too. Poland have won their first-ever match at a Euros final with a 3-2 win over Denmark. Sarah Rendell has the details of that. It means Group C finishes like this … 1. Sweden P3 W3 D0 L0 F8 A1 GD7 Pts 9

2. Germany P3 W2 D0 L1 F5 A5 GD0 Pts 6

3. Poland P3 W1 D0 L2 F3 A7 GD-4 Pts 3

4. Denmark P3 W0 D0 L3 F3 A6 GD-3 Pts 0 … with Sweden playing the runners-up of Group D in Zurich on Thursday night, and Germany waiting for the winners of Group D in Basel two days later. Women’s Euro 2025: Poland 3-2 Denmark – live reaction Read more Share

17m ago 21.55 BST That’s a proper statement by Sweden. Germany may have played the best part of an hour with just ten women, but they were reeling before Carlotta Wamser’s dismissal anyway. The Germans started fast, leading through Jule Brand’s early goal, and they could have had a couple more in a whirlwind first ten minutes. But once Stina Blackstenius equalised, the run of play turned dramatically, and it was all Sweden from there on in. Blackstenius led the line impressively, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd caused all manner of mayhem down the right, and Kosovare Asllani held everything together in the middle of the park. Sweden go into the quarters with the wind in their sail; Germany progress too, but they’ve got a few things to think about. Share

21m ago 21.50 BST FULL TIME: Sweden 4-1 Germany Sweden finish top of Group C! They’re worthy winners in Zurich. It’s Germany’s biggest-ever loss at the Euros. Share

22m ago 21.49 BST 90 min +1: A free kick hooked into the Swedish box. Some pinball. Eventually Hendrich swivels and whips towards the bottom left. Falk tips it around the post magnificently. But the flag pops up for offside earlier in the move anyway. Share

24m ago 21.48 BST 90 min: There will be two additional minutes. Share

24m ago 21.47 BST 89 min: Hendrich’s weak header back nearly lets Wangerheim tear clear on goal. As it is, Hendrich gets back to block the ball out for a corner. Bennison hoicks the set piece straight out of play. Germany really want to hear the full-time whistle right now. Share

27m ago 21.44 BST 87 min: A free kick for Sweden out on the left. Andersson sends it into the mixer. Berger rises highest to claim well. It’s been quite the mixed bag for the Germany keeper tonight. Share

29m ago 21.43 BST 85 min: A route-one launch by Berger down the inside-left channel. Falk races out of her box in the hope of clearing, but Cerci gets there first. Cerci loops over the out-of-position keeper, but wide left of the goal. No consolation. Share

30m ago 21.42 BST 84 min: Senss is replaced by Däbritz. Share

31m ago 21.41 BST 83 min: A free kick for Germany out on the left. Bühl, looking extremely frustrated, swings it to the far stick. Cerci takes a fresh-air swipe. No consolation. Share

32m ago 21.40 BST 82 min: Zigiotti Olme comes on for Angeldahl. Share

32m ago 21.40 BST 81 min: This is now Germany’s biggest defeat at the Euros. They’ve never before shipped four goals in a finals match. Share

33m ago 21.39 BST GOAL! Sweden 4-1 Germany (Hurtig 80) This is a great team goal. Janogy blazes down the left. She crosses long for Rytting Kaneryd, on the right-hand edge of the six-yard box. Rytting Kaneryd cushion-passes back infield for Hurtig, who flicks with almost contemptuous ease into the bottom right. Simple as that! Such a smooth move. View image in fullscreen Lina Hurtig celebrates with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Ellen Wangerheim. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters Share Updated at 21.46 BST

36m ago 21.35 BST 78 min: Nüsken is replaced by Cerci. Share

37m ago 21.34 BST 76 min: Wangerheim spins infield from the left and switches play to Rytting Kaneryd, racing into the German box from the other flank. Rytting Kaneryd catches her first-time shot well, but it’s straight at Berger, who handles well. Share

39m ago 21.33 BST 75 min: A sense that if both teams could declare here and now, they would. Share

40m ago 21.32 BST 73 min: Angeldahl plays a careless backpass straight to Hoffmann, on the edge of the Swedish D. Hoffmann spins and aims a curler towards the top-left corner. Always wide and high, but it was a well-improvised effort nonetheless. Share

41m ago 21.30 BST 72 min: Janogy wins a corner down the left. Bennison curls it long. Hendrich heads it wide at the far stick. The whistle goes anyway, for an imaginary foul on Berger. Share

43m ago 21.28 BST 71 min: Sweden are surely topping this group, so there’s no point their running Blackstenius into the ground. Wangerheim comes on in her place. Share

44m ago 21.27 BST 70 min: Blackstenius scampers after a long pass down the right. Germany are woefully light at the back, but Minge does extremely well to race back and get ahead of the striker, intercepting and clearing. Share

46m ago 21.26 BST 68 min: Janogy jinks her way down the left and fizzes a dangerous ball through the German box. Just behind Blackstenius. Share

48m ago 21.24 BST 66 min: Rytting Kaneryd back-heels Holmberg into space down the right. A cross comes in. Blackstenius tries to flick a header goalwards at the near post but it’s deflected wide. A corner instead. Andersson takes. Berger flaps. Angeldahl leans back and scoops the ball over the bar. It’s not been a banner night for Berger. Share

51m ago 21.21 BST 64 min: Schüller makes way for Hoffmann. Share

52m ago 21.20 BST 62 min: Germany don’t look like getting back into this match. Sweden are happy enough to let them play it around the back, because they’re making no progress in advancing it up the park. Share

53m ago 21.18 BST 60 min: Lohmann hobbles about a bit, so play stops for a minute. She’s up again soon enough. Share

55m ago 21.17 BST 58 min: Bühl makes good progress down the left again. Both Bennison and Holmberg are afraid to get too close, else they get skinned. But Bühl has nobody up in support, and eventually runs out of road. The move fizzles out. Bühl is such an entertaining player, though. She nearly always makes something happen. View image in fullscreen Germany’s Klara Buhl. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters Share Updated at 21.25 BST

1h ago 21.14 BST 56 min: Asllani springs back up with the intention to continue … but she’s hooked by her coach. She’s not particularly happy, but makes way for Hurtig. Share

1h ago 21.13 BST 55 min: Hendrich is fine to continue. When the game restarts, Linder barges Asllani in the back as the pair hare after a long ball down the Swedish right. Into the book she goes. Share

1h ago 21.12 BST 54 min: Hendrich is down in some pain, having been accidentally hoofed in the ribs by her own player Linder. On comes the physio. Time for everyone else to take on some liquid. View image in fullscreen Germany’s Kathrin Hendrich, left, and Sarai Linder vie for the ball with Sweden’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP Share Updated at 21.23 BST

1h ago 21.11 BST 53 min: … and it’s blootered clear by Bennison. Share

1h ago 21.10 BST 52 min: Bühl had the measure of Holmberg during the early exchanges, so perhaps she’s Germany’s best bet of getting back into this. And here she is romping down the left to win a corner off her opponent. Bühl to take it herself. Share

1h ago 21.08 BST 50 min: Rolfö is in the dugout with an ice-pack taped to her right knee. Given that, she doesn’t look in too much discomfort, so hopefully that’s a precautionary measure rather than anything likely to keep her out of the quarters. Share

1h ago 21.07 BST 49 min: This second half has started without really starting. Sweden have no reason whatsoever to push it. Share

1h ago 21.05 BST 47 min: Sweden are immediately on the front foot, winning a corner down the left. Asllani swings it in. Eriksson heads over harmlessly from eight yards. Share

1h ago 21.03 BST Sweden get the second half underway. They’ve made two changes, replacing Rolfö and Björn with Sembrant and Janogy. Germany have swapped out two players as well, Hendrich and Lohmann coming on for Knaak and Freigang. Share

1h ago 20.59 BST In tonight’s other Group C fixture, Poland are leading Denmark 2-0 at the break. Sarah Rendell has details of that one. Put all together, that means the table currently looks like this … 1. Sweden P3 W3 D0 L0 F7 A1 GD6 Pts 9

2. Germany P3 W2 D0 L1 F5 A4 GD1 Pts 6

3. Poland P3 W1 D0 L2 F2 A5 GD-3 Pts 3

4. Denmark P2 W0 D0 L3 F1 A5 GD-4 Pts 0 … and that as things stand, Sweden will play the runners-up of Group D in Zurich on Thursday evening, while Germany travel to Basel to take on the winners of Group D on Saturday. Women’s Euro 2025: Poland v Denmark – live Read more Share

1h ago 20.50 BST HALF TIME: Sweden 3-1 Germany This scoreline equals Germany’s biggest-ever defeat at the Euros, a 3-1 loss to Denmark in the third-place play-off in 1993. And their ten players still have another 45 minutes to negotiate. Will Sweden rewrite the history books tonight? Share

1h ago 20.48 BST 45 min +1: Angeldahl chests down in midfield and sends Asllani clear down the right. She’s one on one with the keeper … but eventually the whistle goes. Turns out the ball had hit the top of Angeldahl’s arm. That’s a generous free kick for Germany, one that most likely saved them shipping a fourth goal. Share

1h ago 20.45 BST 45 min: There will be two additional first-half minutes. Share

1h ago 20.44 BST 44 min: Berger races from her box and smacks another clearance straight to an opponent. This time Bennison receives the ball in the centre circle, but decides against going for long-distance glory, saving the out-of-position keeper some more embarrassment. Share

1h ago 20.42 BST 42 min: Sweden are just swanning around imperiously now. Germany chasing shadows. They desperately need the half-time whistle so they can regroup and reorganise. Share

Germany face Sweden in a match that will decide the winner of Group C in the Women’s Euros. Christian Wück’s side will have to win the game to finish as a group winner since Sweden have a superior goal difference.

The eight-time champions beat Poland and Denmark with five second-half goals. Meanwhile, the inaugural winners narrowly beat their neighbours before scoring three past the tournament debutants.

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While both coaches might fancy making changes to their starting lineups, the prospect of finishing the group stage on a high note would give confidence to the knockout stage. Accordingly, we might not see a repeat of the U21 Euros where Antonio Di Salvo made eleven changes to the XI that secured Germany a quarter-final spot.

Germany won all the group stage games in the 2022 Euros, and no opponent player scored against them until the defeat in the final to hosts England. Like Germany, Sweden maintained their record of getting past this stage in all their Women’s Euros participations.

There are already two teams that have finished with a maximum of nine points. Spain tied England’s record of scoring 14 goals in a group stage, while Norway won all three games by a single goal margin.

Switzerland and Italy are also qualified for the quarter-finals, having finished with four points in their respective groups. Norway face Italy in the first quarter-final next Wednesday before Spain play against hosts Switzerland in Bern the next day.

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On Sunday, the last two qualified teams will be known from “the Group of Death”. Defending champions England can decide their fate by themselves after a big win against the Netherlands, who now need to beat France by a three-goal margin.

Germany v Sweden: Predicted lineups

Germany: Berger; Linder, Knaak, Minge, Wamser; Nüsken, Senß; Bühl, Dallmann, Brand; Schüller

Sweden: Falk; Lundkvist, Björn, Ilestedt, Nildén; Angeldahl, Asllani, Zigiotti Olme; Kaneryd, Blackstenius, Janogy