Germany Powers Past Sweden to Reach 2nd Straight European Championship Final
Germany took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter although Sweden had thrown a scare into Germany opening the game with a drive getting two straight first downs, behind the running of Sebastian Gauthier. But once Germany gained possession of the ball on their own 22 yard line, on the arm of quarterback Marco Ehrenfried (13 of 29 for 229 yards) and running of Washington they began a methodical drive taking them to Sweden’s 39 before Washington slipped outside and took off for his first TD.
Sweden responded driving down to Germany’s 15 yard line as starting quarterback Phillip Juhlin (13 of 29 for 170 yards and three touchdowns) found his receivers. An Interception in the end zone by Leonard Green stopped the Swedes though. Then, starting from their own 20, Germany marched down to Sweden’s one yard line with Ehrenfried calling his own number taking the ball in for the second German score late in the first quarter.
This time Sweden’s offense came to life as Juhlin found his receivers taking Sweden from their own nine down to Germany’s 14 before finding Marcus Johnsson in the end zone for a touchdown. In a strange move, Sweden went for a two-point conversion and failed. This was only midway through the second quarter.
Germany took over and again Washington showed his speed, hitting a hole and taking off on a 55 yard touchdown run making the score 21-6 for Germany.
Sweden came back with its own drive as Juhlin mixed up his play calling and from the German 18 found tailback Jonathan Wikström on an 18 yard touchdown pass for the team’s second score. But Ola Kimrin missed the PAT making the score 21-12 in favor of the Germans.
