Sweden dominate Poland to secure quarter final slot

Sweden 3 Poland 0

July 8 – Sweden secured their place in the quarter-finals with a dominant 3-0 win over Poland under the Tuesday night lights, as Lucerne’s stunning scenery provided a fitting backdrop to a commanding Group C performance.

The buzzing and bustling tram journey through Lucerne gave a clue as to what to expect inside the Swissporarena – two sets of fans in full tournament force. Pulses of yellow, red and white decorated the city centre throughout the afternoon: even the hotel receptionist, who had no interest in football, knew this was the place to be.

Poland entered the match with a new-look line-up, making a host of changes to the team beaten 2-0 by Germany last week.

Sweden, meanwhile, opted for a singular switch as defensive veteran Linda Sembrandt made way for Arsenal’s Amanda Ilestedt. Both players were fully fit ahead of kickoff – it was perhaps a tactical tweak handle the energy of Polish forward Ewa Pajor whose goalscoring record needs no introduction.

Sweden wasted no time announcing the threat they can bring. It took just two minutes to register their first real chance – a looping header from Kosovore Asllani which struck the bar. Their eyes were clearly fixed on that place in the Quarter Finals.

Sensing their team under threat, the Polish fans played their part from the stands, though were unable to provide the solution for Sweden’s relentless attacking play.

Peter Gerhardsson’s side looked fresh off their victory over Denmark last week, with no need to warm into the game. That confidence permeated into the stands, where Swedish supporters routinely chanted ABBA’s greatest hits – even killing off a Mexican wave in favour of celebrating their own way.

And who could blame them? Sweden were dominating everything but the scoreline.

To shatter the deadlock in the 29th minute, Stina Blacksteinus delivered a well-placed header from close range to top off a period of absolute dominance for her side, putting one foot in the quarter finals in the process. She came desperately close to doubling that lead five minutes later, as her driven shot shaved the left post.

She had another good opportunity to head in as the half drew to a close but aimed just a little high. The half time whistle blew, much to Poland’s relief, giving Nina Pantalon the opportunity to give her team a vital restructuring.
A double substitution followed, as Nadia Krezyman and Dominika Grabowksa made way for Natalia Padilla and Ewelina Kamczyk.

Poland, with a renewed sense of urgency, aimed to utilise Pajor through the middle, though were still suffering from the pace and unity of Sweden’s hard-pressing front four who were pinning them back.

That combination soon linked up to double the Swedish lead and take a real grip on the game. Chelsea winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd launched a cross on to the head of Kosovore Asllani in the 52nd minute.

That lead was then extended again but instantly ruled out for offside.

Substitute Lina Hurtig made it a hattrick of close range headers for Sweden with 15 minutes to play – a telling sign of her team’s aerial strength but also Poland’s set piece weakness.

Ahead of the match, Poland coach Nina Patalon commented on her side’s need to ‘be vigilant’ on set pieces to deal with Sweden’s ‘physical qualities’. Clearly, her team didn’t get the memo.

The victory has put Sweden on six points in Group C – enough to guarantee a place in the quarter finals ahead of would have been a nervous game versus Germany on Saturday. Now both teams can rest ahead of the knockout rounds next week, if they see fit.

Poland still have an opportunity to make their mark heading into Saturday’s meeting with Denmark: though both teams are out of the group, it could still see Poland’s first-ever Euro goal, or better yet ,their first victory.

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1752016007labto1752016007ofdlr1752016007owedi1752016007sni@g1752016007niwe.1752016007yrrah1752016007