Germany Secures Quarter-Final Berth at Women’s Euro 2025 with Hard-Fought Victory Over Denmark
Germany booked their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 with a 2-1 victory over Denmark in Group C, despite a challenging first half. The win, secured before a crowd of up to 17,000 German supporters in Basel’s St. Jakob-Park, moves the eight-time European champions to six points after two games.
The match unfolded as a tale of two halves, with Denmark taking an unexpected lead before Germany rallied in the second period. The initial 45 minutes proved frustrating for the German side, as they struggled to break down a resilient Danish defense. In the 26th minute, Amalie Vangsgaard stunned the German faithful, surprising goalkeeper Ann-Kathrin Berger with a powerful shot into the near corner – marking Berger’s first goal conceded in German colors after nearly 350 minutes of play.
Earlier in the match, a potential breakthrough for Germany was thwarted by a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check, disallowing a goal from Klara Bühl due to an offside call in the 18th minute. Further controversy arose in the 37th minute when a penalty awarded to Germany for a handball was subsequently overturned after another prolonged review, revealing the infraction occurred just outside the penalty area.
The second half witnessed a dramatic shift in momentum. Sjoeke Nüsken leveled the score in the 56th minute, converting a penalty awarded after Katrine Veje fouled Linda Dallmann. The decision came only after a prolonged VAR review, highlighting the increasing reliance on technology in the tournament. “The penalty was a crucial turning point,” noted one observer.
Germany’s relentless pressure continued, and in the 66th minute, Lea Schüller put her team ahead. A quick counter-attack initiated by Jule Brand culminated in a precise pass to Schüller, who calmly slotted the ball past the Danish goalkeeper. Schüller nearly extended the lead to 3-1 in the 70th minute, but her attempt was narrowly off target.
Despite the victory, the performance wasn’t entirely convincing. As the starting victory against Poland (2-0), the success in St. Jakob-Park in front of 34,165 fans was not convincing. However, the result is what matters, securing six points from two games. Denmark, despite a spirited defensive effort, suffered their second defeat of the tournament.
Looking ahead, Germany will face a tough test against co-favorite Sweden in their final group game, while Denmark will aim to salvage pride in their match against Poland. The outcome of these matches will determine the final standings in Group C and the path to the knockout stages.
