Sjoeke Nusken helped Germany advance to the Women's Euro 2025 knockout stages with a goal in a 2-1 win over Denmark, while Johanna Rytting Kaneryd provided a crucial assist as Sweden also went through with a 3-0 victory over Poland.
Germany faced Denmark in the early evening kickoff, having already secured three points in their opening match against Poland. Janine Minge had been promoted to Germany captain after Giulia Gwinn's unfortunate injury sustained in their first match, meaning Sjoeke Nusken slotted into Minge's vice-captain role.
It was Denmark who took the lead after 26 minutes against the run of play when Amalie Vangsgaard let fly with a shot from distance.
During the first half, Klara Buhl had a goal disallowed after VAR had ruled that Sjoeke Nusken was standing in an offside position and blocking the goalkeeper's line of sight. Nusken had also been ready to take a penalty awarded for handball in the first half, only for VAR to reverse that decision and instead award a free-kick on the edge of the area. That meant Germany went in at half-time visibly frustrated.
Yet after half-time, Christian Wuck's side came out with renewed vigour. It wasn't long before Germany were awarded a second penalty, and this time the decision stood.
Up stepped Nusken again, and she buried her effort beyond Danish goalkeeper Maja Bay Ostergaard. That only served to increase Germany's belief, and they turned the game around just ten minutes later when striker Lea Schuller found some space inside the box and fired into the bottom corner.
Denmark knew they needed a result and battled to the end, but Germany saw out the win, knowing that they were on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages when the final whistle blew. A win or a draw for Sweden in the later kick-off would guarantee their passage.
That game began with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Nathalie Bjorn both in the starting lineup for the second game running in the tournament.
Sweden dominated the first half with a string of chances, many of them created thanks to crosses from Rytting Kaneryd from the right-hand side.
The opening goal came courtesy of a superb header from Stina Blackstenius after 28 minutes, and as the referee blew for half-time Sweden could, and probably should, have scored more.
Early in the second half, Rytting Kaneryd once again outsmarted her marker, playing a clever one-two before delivering an inch-perfect cross for Kosovare Asllani to power home and double the lead.
With just under 15 minutes left to play, Lina Hurtig put the game beyond doubt with a well-executed header from a corner, and soon afterwards, Rytting Kaneryd almost capped off her superb performance with a goal of her own, but her curling effort went just over the bar.
Germany and Sweden will face each other in the final game of the group stage on Saturday to decide who will finish top of Group C. You can find out when our players are next in action by checking our guide to when Chelsea players are involved at Euro 2025.