Germany and Poland kicked off their Women’s EURO 2025 campaigns with an action-packed battle. Poland held Germany at bay for 52 minutes before conceding two second-half goals. With this win, Germany tops the group on goal difference, level on points with Sweden. Read our full match report on Germany vs. Poland here.
Match Highlights
- Jule Brand opened the scoring in the 52nd minute.
- Lea Schüller doubled the lead.
- Determined and powerful display from Poland with plenty of positives.
Balanced Start to EURO 2025 Campaign
Germany and Poland begin their UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 campaign on even footing, with a well-balanced opening 45 minutes. Germany had the slight upper hand in the first 15 minutes, creating more attacking momentum and testing the goalkeeper with several efforts on target.
The key difference between the sides early on was composure: Germany looked calm and confident on the ball, while Poland often appeared rushed and sloppy in possession, frequently conceding the ball under pressure.
Germany came close to opening the scoring when Jule Brand charged towards goal and attempted to slot her shot between the goalkeeper and the near post. However, Szemik was quick to react and made a crucial save. Poland responded immediately with a threatening counterattack. Ewa Pajor kept the move alive high up the pitch and played in Padilla, who raced towards Berger. The German goalkeeper made the initial save, and Minge then cleared the ball off the line — Poland’s best chance of the half by far.
Long Ball Threat from Poland
Poland’s most effective weapon has been the long ball over the top. FC Barcelona forward Pajor sprinted through on goal with Knaak chasing her down, but Berger once again came to the rescue. Moments later, Padilla found Pajor in the box, but Giulia Gwinn’s timely intervention denied her a clear shot.
Gwinn received treatment after her tackle and seemed to return to pitch at first. However, minutes later she had to leave the pitch with an apparent injury and was replaced by Wamser. Her reaction, combined with the awkward movement of her knee, raised fears of a possible ACL injury — a troubling prospect given her past two ACL injuries and how important she is to the squad.
Germany came close to breaking the deadlock several times, but Poland’s grit and determination have kept them in the game. The teams head into the break level at 0–0.
Second Half: Germany find the back of the net
- Poland started the second half with one change: Dudek made way for Woś.
Germany finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute through Jule Brand. Picking up the ball just outside the box, she initially looked for a teammate but then opted to take it herself. She set it up on her left foot and calmly slotted it past Szemik to make it 1–0.
- Padilla went off and Adamek came on.
The goal injected Germany with the spark they had been missing. Poland were pinned back into their own half as Germany launched wave after wave of attack. Both Sjoeke Nüsken and Lea Schüller squandered golden opportunities with headers, despite perfect deliveries from Klara Bühl.
Schüller made no mistake the second time around. In the 66th minute, Jule Brand powered down the right wing and found Wamser at the edge of the box. Wamser’s pinpoint cross was met by Schüller, who nodded it past Szemik to double Germany’s lead.
After the goal, head coach Wück made a triple substitution: Freigang, Lohmann, and Hoffmann came on for Senß, Schüller, and Dallmann.
Final 10 Minutes
Poland made two final substitutions in the closing stages: Tomasiak and Pawollek were replaced by Krężyman and Grabowska. The fresh legs had an immediate impact. Within moments, Poland created another big chance — Pajor’s powerful header was brilliantly saved by Berger.
Just two minutes later, Krężyman broke free and surged toward the German box before laying the ball off to Pajor. It looked like a certain goal, but Sjoeke Nüsken came up with a crucial interception to deny her.
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