Goalkeeper Kinga Szemik helped Poland pick up their first-ever victory at a major tournament as they defeated Denmark 3-2 in their final UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 group-stage fixture on Saturday.
Bowing out of the competition in style at Swissporarena, Poland stormed to a two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes. First, Natalia Padilla pounced on a parry from Denmark goalkeeper Maja Bay Østergaard to net Poland’s first tournament goal, before a well-placed header from captain Ewa Pajor doubled their advantage.
Despite Janni Thomsen halving Denmark's deficit on the hour, Martyna Wiankowska’s emphatic top-corner finish notched Poland’s third. A late strike from Signe Bruun threatened to make proceedings interesting, but Szemik, who made six saves in the contest, and her side held on to clinch a historic victory in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The result meant Poland ended their Group C campaign in third place, three points off qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Amber Tysiak’s Belgium also chalked up their first win of the tournament in their last Group B game as they secured a 2-1 success over Portugal at Stade Tourbillon on Friday night.
Tessa Wullaert’s intelligent, stretching finish got the Red Flames up and running after only three minutes played in Sion. But, with three minutes of normal time remaining, Portugal found an equaliser via Telma Encarnação’s near-post finish.
Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, it looked like the West Ham United women’s team’s No5 had won all three points for Belgium as she bundled the ball home from close range. But, after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was ruled out for offside.
While that denied Tysiak a first goal at a major tournament, it wasn’t to deny Belgium as in the sixth minute of time added on, Janice Cayman volleyed home a rebound to secure Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir’s side the victory and help them finish third in the standings.
Meanwhile, Camila Sáez’s Chile got their Copa América Femenina campaign off to a flying start as they secured a 3-0 Group A win over Peru at Complejo Independiente del Valle.
All the goals in Quito, Ecuador, came in the second half. After a long-range strike came crashing back off the crossbar, Pamela Cabezas was on hand to prod home the rebound before Sonya Keefe’s volley on the turn made it two. With the game done and dusted in second-half stoppage time, Mary Valencia rounded off the scoring with a high finish into the roof of the net.
Defender Sáez, competing at her fourth Copa América Femenina, came on as a substitute in the 86th minute to steady Chile’s backline in the closing stages.
With an early three points on the board, Chile will look ahead to their next clash against Argentina on Saturday 19 July (kick-off 1am BST) at Complejo Independiente del Valle.
Elsewhere, Inès Belloumou was suspended for Algeria’s final group game in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which saw her side secure a goalless draw with record-holders Nigeria at Stade Larbi Zaouli.
Finishing second in Group B, Algeria will now wait to learn the opponents of their quarter-final tie, which will take place on Saturday 19 July (5pm BST) at Stade Municipal de Berkane, Berkane, Morocco.
