The Women's European Championship clash between Sweden and Denmark took place on a hot Friday evening in Geneva, Switzerland. Despite the 6 p.m. kickoff, the temperature reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), testing the players' endurance. However, the heat did little to dampen the spirits of the fans who filled the Stade de Geneve.
Sweden secured a 1-0 victory over theirneighbor, marking their third win against Denmark this year. Filippa Angeldahl's goal in the 55th minute proved decisive, capping off a neat passing move. Angeldahl had earlier tested Denmark's goalkeeper, Maja Bay Ostergaard, with a long-range free kick in the first half. She eventually beat Ostergaard with a powerful, low shot after exchanging passes with captain Kosovare Asllani, who was making her 200th appearance for Sweden.
Denmark's star forward, Pernille Harder, came close to equalizing, but her shot from distance struck the Swedish crossbar in the 81st minute. Earlier in the game, Denmark thought they might have had a penalty for a foul on Harder. However, after a video review that lasted more than four minutes, the referee awarded a free kick to Sweden instead. The review showed that Sweden's winger, Madelen Janogy, had been tripped by a Danish player just before falling into Harder. The long delay frustrated fans, who jeered Brazilian referee Edina Alves.
The match saw frequent breaks for drinks to help players cope with the heat. Despite the stadium roof providing shade to much of the playing surface, some fans were exposed to direct sunshine throughout the game. The stoppages contributed to a total of 16 minutes of added time.
Notably absent from the Swedish lineup was veteran defender Magdalena Eriksson, who was sidelined with a muscle strain. Linda Sembrant, playing her 157th game for Sweden, ably filled her place. Eriksson and Harder have been a couple since 2014. They have faced each other twice, in 2018 on opposite sides of a Champions League semifinal and in a World Cup qualifying game that saw Sweden advance.
In February, Eriksson's tough challenges in a Nations League game left Harder with an injured side and an elbow to the face. Harder smiled after that foul and seemed content that Eriksson was suspended for the return game.
Despite the heat and the tension on the field, the fans' enthusiasm remained undimmed. The match marked the third time Sweden and Denmark have opened a Women's Euros against each other, with the previous two encounters in 2005 and 2013 ending in 1-1 draws. Sweden had also defeated Denmark twice in the Nations League group stage earlier in the year.