Germany 42 Sweden 6 at Grotenburg Stadion, Krefeld

Finland, Italy and Germany all won at home to secure semifinal places at the 2024/25 IFAF European Championships and now wait to see if reigning champions Austria will join them.

Germany topped Group D with a second straight win, this time on their return to home soil following a ten-year absence from international competition, beating Sweden 42-6.

Germany’s defense scored two touchdowns and there was an unexpected trip to the end zone for offensive lineman Sven Breidenbach on a trick play as the hosts eased to victory.

Marius Kensey recovered a punt blocked by Paul Seifert in the end zone for touchdown midway through the first quarter for a 6-0 lead and Erik Schlomm, who was perfect on the day, tagged on the first of his six extra points.

Heiko Bals’ run up the middle doubled the advantage and with 36 seconds to play until halftime a 34-yard touchdown pass saw Lars Heidrich’s lofted pass drop into the waiting arms of Nico Strahmann as he arrived in the end zone.

Sweden worked their way downfield with 29 seconds on the clock in the first half, but a blocked field goal as time expired meant Germany’s 21 unanswered points were intact at halftime.

A five-yard touchdown pass from Heidrich to Strahmann extended the lead to 28-0 then on third and two at the Swedish 13-yard mark, new quarterback Moriz Maack tossed a short pass to Louis Geyer who lateralled to Breidenbach who rumbled in untouched to score.

Germany’s final touchdown came in the fourth quarter as Luis Bach returned a fumble recovery following a poor exchange between quarterback and running back 62 yards for the score

Sweden scored a consolation touchdown late in the game when Viktor Wessberg threw a nine-yard scoring pass, but the resulting kick was prevented by a muffed snap and hold.

Group D Germany 2-0 Sweden 1-1 Great Britain 0-2 October 13       Sweden 20 Great Britain 19 October 19       Great Britain 11 vs Germany 49 October 26       Germany 42 Sweden 6

Photo: Lea Wohlfahrt