Swedish U21 Football Team Humiliated with 6-0 Defeat to Poland Amid EM Qualifying Crisis

The Swedish U21 national football team suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Poland in their 2025 European Championship qualifiers, marking consecutive heavy losses that have thrust them into a dire position in their qualifying group. This latest crushing defeat follows a 4-0 loss to Italy just days earlier, exposing profound struggles for the young squad on the continental stage.

The match, held at Stadsparksvallen in Jönköping, saw Poland dominate early as Tomasz Pienko scored in the sixth minute, soon doubling the tally via a penalty after a foul by Sweden’s Markus Karlsson. By halftime, Poland already led 3-0, with Swedish fans booing in frustration. Sweden’s coach Daniel Bäckström openly acknowledged the team’s poor performance, stating, "It is reasonable that there are boos. Everyone who cheers for Sweden wants a better performance." Despite the setbacks, Bäckström remains confident in the team, with his contract extended through summer 2027.

After four matches, Sweden languishes second to last in their qualifying group, having earned only three points and suffering a brutal 0-12 goal difference. The U21 team’s struggles parallel the senior national side’s difficulties, as the first team recently dismissed coach Jon Dahl Tomasson following a disappointing loss to Kosovo. The Swedish youth's persistent underperformance has fans and officials alike calling for reflection and change.

These results underscore a challenging period for Swedish football at multiple levels, emphasizing an urgent need for rebuilding and resilience if the U21 side is to revive their standing in European competition.