Sweden vs Denmark: Slick Swedes Seal Euro 2025 Opener

Sweden vs Denmark served up a measured yet absorbing opening clash in the Euro 2025 qualification campaign, ending with a professional 1-0 victory for the Blågult in Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium. Real Madrid midfielder Filippa Angeldal supplied the decisive finish on 55 minutes, capping a display of intelligent midfield dominance that set the tone for her side’s perfect start.

Key Moments From Sweden vs Denmark

The match began at a ferocious tempo, but an early collision between Stina Blackstenius and Sofie Svava prompted a lengthy VAR review for a potential red card. The pause drained some rhythm, yet it also illustrated the high stakes of Sweden vs Denmark in this new qualification format where only group winners claim automatic passage.

Once play resumed, Denmark’s Pernille Harder threatened from range, forcing Hedvig Lindahl into a fingertip save. Blackstenius answered at the other end, but keeper Lene Christensen stood tall. The decisive passage arrived ten minutes after the break: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd glided past Maja Oestergaard down the right, cut the ball back to Angeldal, and the 26-year-old swept a first-time shot inside the far post. Pandemonium erupted in the away end as Sweden vs Denmark tilted decisively yellow and blue.

The Filippa Angeldal Influence

Angeldal’s contribution went beyond the scoreboard. Stationed as the deepest playmaker in Peter Gerhardsson’s 4-2-3-1, she completed 92 percent of her passes and regained possession nine times. Her positional discipline allowed Rytting Kaneryd and Lina Hurtig to attack the half-spaces relentlessly, stretching a Danish back line that struggled to adjust after each turnover.

Tactical Lessons From Sweden vs Denmark

Sweden’s Controlled Press

Gerhardsson asked his forwards to press selectively, funneling play toward Denmark’s left flank where Caroline Sevecke was less comfortable on the ball. The trap worked: turnovers in that channel generated three shots, including the goal. Sweden vs Denmark therefore showcased a modern, data-driven pressing scheme rather than the chaotic high press of previous qualifying cycles.

Denmark’s Midfield Conundrum

Andrée Jeglertz, only weeks into his post as Denmark’s head coach, deployed a double pivot of Sanne Troelsgaard and Kathrine Kuhl hoping to counter Sweden’s technical edge. Yet the pair were bypassed repeatedly, leaving Harder dropping deep to receive. While that improved ball progression, it robbed Denmark of a presence in the penalty area. Sweden vs Denmark ultimately became a study in midfield balance: Sweden found it, Denmark did not.

VAR Adds Drama, Not Clarity

The four-minute stoppage for Blackstenius’ challenge frustrated players and fans alike. Referee Maria Soto chose a yellow card after multiple replays, a decision met with whistles. Although correct by letter of the law, the delay sapped energy from an otherwise frenetic first half. It was yet another reminder that Sweden vs Denmark rarely passes without controversy, even in the video age.

Player Ratings

• Hedvig Lindahl – 7/10: One vital save from Harder kept Sweden ahead.
• Amanda Ilestedt – 8/10: Commanding in the air, 10 clearances.
• Filippa Angeldal – 9/10: Match-winner and midfield architect.
• Pernille Harder – 7/10: Denmark’s brightest spark but often isolated.
• Sofie Svava – 5/10: Booked early, struggled to cope with Kaneryd’s pace.

What the Result Means

With this victory, Sweden claim an invaluable three points away from home in a group that also features Germany and Poland. Denmark, meanwhile, must regroup before facing Germany—another heavyweight fixture following the narrative thread of Sweden vs Denmark as Northern Europe’s defining rivalry. An early stumble need not be fatal, but Jeglertz now faces an uphill climb.

Manager Reactions

Peter Gerhardsson (Sweden): “We prepared meticulously for Sweden vs Denmark because derbies decide qualifications. Angeldal was exceptional, but this was a collective triumph.”

Andrée Jeglertz (Denmark): “We lacked composure after the goal. The tempo of Sweden vs Denmark is unforgiving; small errors become decisive.”

Stat Corner

Possession: 54%–46% Sweden
Shots: 12–9 Sweden
Expected Goals (xG): 1.4–0.8 Sweden
Pass Accuracy: 86% Sweden, 81% Denmark
Fouls: 16–14

Historical Context of Sweden vs Denmark

This fixture, first contested in 1974, has now produced 40 official meetings. Sweden boast 22 wins to Denmark’s 9, with nine draws. Euro 2025 adds a fresh chapter, yet the recurring theme remains Swedish midfield dominance—exemplified by Caroline Seger in past decades and now by Filippa Angeldal. Each generation finds a new hero, and Copenhagen witnessed the latest coronation.

Looking Ahead

Denmark travel to Munich next, while Sweden host Poland in Gothenburg. For Gerhardsson, rotation may be necessary with three games in eight days, but the spine built around Angeldal, Ilestedt, and Blackstenius appears immovable. Jeglertz, conversely, must find a way to free Harder higher up the pitch or risk falling further behind. Sweden vs Denmark may be over, but its tactical lessons will reverberate throughout the remaining fixtures.

Opinion: Angeldal’s Time to Shine

It feels as though the European stage has been waiting for Filippa Angeldal to grab a tournament by the scruff of the neck. On the evidence of Sweden vs Denmark, that moment has arrived. Her blend of elegance and bite provides Sweden with a conductor capable of dictating any tempo. If she sustains this form, the Swedes have every right to dream of replicating—or even improving upon—their silver-medal run at Euro 2022.