Poland beat Denmark for first win at major women’s tournament
BBC Online:
Poland bowed out of Euro 2025 after getting their first goals and points at a major tournament as they defeated winless Denmark 3-2 in Lucerne.
Although Poland’s elimination from the tournament had already been confirmed after 2-0 and 3-0 defeats by Germany and Sweden respectively, the competition debutants started strongly with two goals inside the opening 20 minutes.
Nina Patalon’s side adopted a much more attacking approach than in their first two group fixtures, pressing Denmark and winning the ball high before switching the ball quickly to the opposite flank.
That tactic paid off after 13 minutes – Emilia Szymczak drove down the right flank following a turnover and looked for captain Ewa Pajor with a low cross to near post, but the ball fell to Natalia Padilla-Bidas to slot home her side’s first goal at a major tournament.
Poland continued to force Denmark into mistakes, with Pajor the beneficiary seven minutes later when she headed Padilla’s cross unmarked past Danish goalkeeper Maja Ostergaard.
The first-half struggles of the Euro 2017 runners-up were summed up by the withdrawal of striker and captain Pernille Harder through injury.
Denmark hardly threatened until first-half stoppage time, when striker Signe Bruun – starting up front in place of Amalie Vangsgaard – first hit the crossbar with a header before forcing Poland goalkeeper Kinga Szemik into a smart save.
The West Ham star made several more stops before gifting Denmark a goal when Janni Thomsen’s long-range effort squirmed through her hands.
Poland looked lethargic as the game wore on, and were handed a lifeline when the automated offside system denied Denmark substitute Nadia Nadim a would-be equaliser.
The Poles took full advantage of that good fortune when Martyna Wiankowska slammed home from close range, although Denmark’s Bruun set up a nervy finish with a well-timed header past Szemik.
Denmark – playing under manager Andree Jeglertz for the final time before his move to Manchester City – are just the fifth nation in Women’s Euros history to lose each of their first three games in a tournament.
After two comprehensive defeats dumped Poland out of the competition with a game to spare, head coach Patalon promised: “It’s not the end, it’s just the beginning.”