Germany, Sweden progress to Euro quarters

HOLDERS Germany beat Russia 2-0 to set up a women’s Euro quarterfinal clash with Denmark, while Sweden also advanced to the knockout phase despite losing 3-2 to Italy on Tuesday.

In Utrecht, Babett Peter scored from the spot on 10 minutes and captain Dzsenifer Marozsan converted another penalty in the 56th minute to hand a dominant Germany victory.

Peter converted her second penalty in two games after Daria Makarenko brought down Mandy Islacker in the box, while Marozsan pun- ished Margarita Chernomyrdina’s foul on Sara Dabritz.

In Doetinchem, Daniela Sabatino put Italy ahead on four minutes after Sweden defender Linda Sembrant knocked down a cross for her inside the box.

Lotta Schelin equalised from a penalty following a foul on Stina Blackstenius by Federica Di Criscio, but Sabatino gave Italy the lead again before half-time when she volleyed home a cross from Linda Tucceri Cimini.

Blackstenius equalised for Sweden two minutes after the break, firing in a cross from half-time substitute Fridolina Rolfo, but Cristiana Girelli forced in a cross from Barbara Bonansea five minutes from the end.

Sweden still progressed as runners-up despite the defeat and will face host side the Netherlands for a place in the semifinals.

Peter said she was happy that Germany had made it to the quarterfinals.

“We are group winners with seven points and that was our goal from the start,” she said. “We had a lot of chances today. Against Denmark there might be less chances, but we will have to try to convert them then.”

Russian coach Elena Fomina said the game may have been more interesting without the penalties.

“Germany had most of the ball possession and that meant that we were not able to attack and create much danger in front of their goal,” she added.

Italy were dangerous on the counterattack, with Melania Gabbiadini playing her last international game.

After Girelli’s goal, Sweden were lucky to see Bonansea fail to add a fourth and then have a stoppage-time shot saved by Hedvig Lindahl.

“I’m disappointed the way it turned out,” said Sweden coach Pia Sundhage. “[But] we reached the quarterfinal and I’m happy about that,” she said, praising her team for the 25 minutes after the break when Rolfo and Dahlkvist breathed life into her team.

Italian coach Antonio Cabrini said Italy could build on the result which he hailed as “a very important victory”.

“I’m happy for the girls because they promised they would give everything on the pitch and they did.”