TILBURG, Netherlands: Second-half headers by Nadia Nadim and Theresa Nielsen stunned holders Germany who bow out of the women’s Euro after a 2-1 loss to Denmark in Rotterdam on Sunday.
Germany, who have won the Euro six times in a row and eight times overall, dominated the eventful game postponed from Saturday because of heavy rain, but Denmark’s counter-attacking was eventually too much for them.
Germany were out of the blocks fast with Isabel Kerschowski drawing first blood on three minutes with massive help from Danish keeper Stina Petersen who palmed her shot from just outside the box into the goal.
But Nadim put Denmark level three minutes after the break with a bullet header from a cross by Stine Larsen and Nielsen then headed home a cross from substitute Frederikke Thoegersen with seven minutes left.
Denmark winger Katrine Veje hit the woodwork after a Nadim pass flicked on by Harder with half an hour to go, while Petersen regained self-confidence with several brilliant saves.
In the semifinal on August 3, Denmark will take on either Austria or Spain, who are playing later on Sunday.
On the same day, the Netherlands, who beat Sweden 2-0 on Saturday, will face either England or France, also playing later on Sunday.
On Saturday, Lieke Martens and Vivianne Miedema handed the hosts Netherlands, Euro semifinalists from 2009, a 2-0 win over Sweden and a spot in the semifinals.
Martens, playing for Barcelona after spending last season with Sweden’s Rosengard, opened the scoring on 33 minutes with a low free-kick after Miedema had tripped Jessica Samuelsson just outside the box.
Miedema added a second in the 64th minute after Shanice van de Sanden had found her in front of goal with a cross following a superb run down the right flank. “It was really a great match, it’s a great achievement,” said Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman.
Midfielder Jackie Groenen said the match was “really tough”.
“We had to run a lot but we worked really hard, we worked as a team and we’re really, really happy we made it to the semifinals,” she said.
Looking at the semifinal opponents, Wiegman said she could not choose.
“They’re both very strong again. For me it doesn’t matter who we play, we have to play the best game we can to beat them.” — AFP
Women’s Euro quarterfinal results
At Rotterdam (postponed due to heavy rain)
Germany 1 (Kerschowski 3) Denmark 2 (Nadim 49, Nielsen 83)
On Saturday
At Doetinchem
Netherlands 2 (Martens 33, Miedema 64)
Sweden 0
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