The last seven places at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 in Switzerland are being decided by play-off round 2.
Sweden, Finland, Norway, Poland and Portugal are through from the play-offs so far with two ties still in progress. All the teams in round 2 came through October’s round 1. Norway and Sweden are former champions while Poland have earned a major tournament debut.
The winners join hosts Switzerland and direct qualifiers Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands and Spain in the 16 December finals draw in Lausanne. The finals run from 2 to 27 July.
Qualified so far for Women’s EURO 2025
Denmark, England (holders), Finland*, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway*, Poland*, Portugal*, Spain, Sweden*, Switzerland (hosts)
*Play-off winners
Tuesday 3 December
Czechia 1-2 Portugal (agg: 2-3)
Portugal led in the 13th minute when Joana Marchão’s cross deflected in off Aneta Dědinová but just past the half-hour a handball gave Czechia a penalty, converted by Kateřina Svitková.
With 14 minutes left, Joana Marchão’s crossed free-kick was volleyed in by Diana Silva to take Portugal into the finals for the third tournament running and inflict Czechia’s fourth play-off reverse as their search for a debut goes on.
Norway 3-0 Northern Ireland (agg: 7-0)
Caroline Graham Hansen extended Norway’s aggregate lead on 13 minutes as she darted through visiting defence to score her 50th international goal, of which 12 have come against Northern Ireland including three in this tie.
Frida Maanum was on target within two minutes of the break as she pounced on a defensive pass and shot in at the near post. Substitute Synne Jensen’s deflected effort looped in for the third as the two-time champions ensured a finals return against a side who made their debut in 2022.
Finland 2-0 Scotland (agg: 2-0)
Finland took the game to Scotland from the off and Nea Lehtola had already hit the crossbar by the time Natalia Kuikka struck from distance in the eighth minute. Scotland found their feet but were two down before the half-hour when Lehtola sent in a deflected shot from just inside the box.
The visitors still had their moments, but just as in their group in 2022 qualifying, their hopes were ended by Finland, now into their fifth final tournament in six editions.
Austria 0-0 Poland (agg: 0-1)
Ewa Pajor began the game by giving her jacket to a cold mascot during the team line-ups and ended it by scoring an added-time goal to send Poland, who had never previously even reached the play-offs before, into their first major tournament after earning a draw in Vienna.
Austria, semi-finalists in 2017 and in the last eight in 2022, lost the opening leg 1-0 having been unable to find a way past Kinga Szemik in the Poland goal. When Dominika Grabowska cut the ball back to Pajor in the box, the Barcelona striker scored her 64th and perhaps most important international goal.
Sweden 6-0 Serbia (agg: 8-0)
The 1984 champions, who have not failed to qualify since the group stage was introduced in 1997, eased through again as Serbia suffered defeat in their debut play-off. Filippa Angeldahl converted an early penalty and soon after Kosovare Asllani added another.
Stina Blackstenius then got two before half-time and Hanna Bennison, who scored her second senior international goal in the first leg, claimed another in the 57th minute. Substitute Anna Anvegård completed the scoring just before the end.
Belgium vs Ukraine (20:15, first leg: 2-0)
Ukraine qualified in 2009, beating Slovenia in the play-offs, but subsequently lost play-offs to Iceland for 2013 and Northern Ireland for 2022 (and previously to England for 2001).Belgium qualified in 2017 and 2022, reaching the quarter-finals at the latter tournament. They lost in play-offs for the World Cups of 2019 (to Switzerland on away goals) and 2023 (to Portugal).These teams had only met once before the first leg, Belgium winning a 2013 home friendly.
Republic of Ireland vs Wales (20:30, first leg: 1-1)
Wales have never qualified for a major tournament and this is their first time in the Women’s EURO play-offs, though did make this stage for the 2023 World Cup, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina before losing to Switzerland in extra time.Ireland are aiming for a EURO debut (having lost a 2009 play-off to Iceland, but did qualify for the 2023 World Cup, winning their play-off 1-0 in Scotland.Wales won 2-0 in Dublin in a February friendly though Ireland have been victorious in five out of these sides’ seven competitive meetings, including Friday’s first leg.Friday 29 November
Ukraine 0-2 Belgium
Belgium took the lead after 21 minutes in Antalya when Ella Van Kerkhoven rose to head in Justine Vanhaevermaet’s cross. The Red Flames remained on top and deep in added time their all-time top scorer Tessa Wullaert raced clear and rounded Daria Keliushyk to slip in the second.
Poland 1-0 Austria
Austria had most of the play against a side they beat twice in the qualifying group stage but it was play-off debutants Poland who struck on 57 minutes when Pajor was sent clear and squared the ball in the box to be forced in, despite a challenge from Marina Georgieva, by Natalia Padilla, who scored in both legs of the round 2 defeat of Romania. Shortly afterwards Pajor hit the inside of the post but Poland have a lead to take to Austria.
Northern Ireland 0-4 Norway
Graham Hansen already had nine career goals against Northern Ireland before these play-offs and added two more inside 26 minutes in Larne as Norway built a formidable lead. The Barcelona winger turned in Emilie Woldvik’s low cross on seven minutes and after Tuva Hansen struck from distance to make it 2-0, Graham Hansen’s solo effort made it three. Guro Bergsvand scrambled in a fourth midway through the second half.
Norway celebrate Tuva Hansen putting them 2-0 upPA Images via Getty Images
Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland
There is all to play for in Dublin on Tuesday after a competitive draw in front of a Welsh women’s record crowd of 16,845 at Cardiff City Stadium. Lily Woodham, who scored when Wales won a February friendly 2-0 in Ireland, gave Wales a 21st-minute lead with a low volley. However, on 35 minutes Ruesha Littlejohn’s lob from distance hit the crossbar and deflected in off home goalkeeper Olivia Clark.
Scotland 0-0 Finland
There was little between the teams in Edinburgh but the visitors probably had the better of the chances. Ria Öling’s looping half-volley forced a first-half save by Eartha Cummings and Linda Sällström came closest after the break.
Portugal 1-1 Czechia
Portugal started well but Czechia led on 33 minutes when Kateřina Svitková rose to head in a cross from Slavia Praha club-mate Gabriela Šlajsová. Portugal levelled just after half-time when Kika Nazareth finished off a fine team move to delight the country’s record crowd for a female football match of 40,189 at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, also the highest attendance for any UEFA women’s qualifying play-off.
The record-breaking crowd in PortoGetty ImagesThursday 28 November
Serbia 0-2 Sweden
Sweden had the better of the game but could not find a breakthrough until the 54th minute when Bennison let fly from distance for only her second senior international goal after her winner against Switzerland at UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. Rosa Kafaji was brought on just past the hour and eight minutes later got her own second Sweden goal as she headed in from Jonna Andersson’s corner.
Sweden celebrate Hanna Bennison’s goalGetty Images
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Publish date : 2024-12-02 16:01:00
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Author : love-europe
Publish date : 2024-12-03 20:52:42
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