If given the choice, who out of Sweden or Germany would England prefer to play should the holders make it past Wales and into the Euro 2025 quarter-finals on Sunday night? After a frenetic opening 10 minutes in Zurich, where Germany were able to carve Sweden apart at will, the answer appeared obvious. A little over 20 minutes later, as Sweden counter-attacked their way to triggering a capitulation in the Germany defence, that answer had completely flipped again.
So it will be Sweden next, back at Zurich’s Stadion Letzigrund, if England make it through Group D as runners-up; Germany if England beat Wales and France lose to the Netherlands to leave Sarina Wiegman’s side as group winners. And if this all appears to be a little premature, with England evidently having plenty of work still to do against Wales in St Gallen, it is; but also, judging by the pivotal, chaotic first 30 minutes of Sweden’s 4-1 win over Germany here, both of these teams will be doing plenty of work themselves in order to sharpen up for the knockout stages.
