Germany, which is among the favourites to win a record-extending ninth European crown in Switzerland, entered matchday three knowing a victory would secure top spot in Group C.

While Jule Brand gave Germany an early lead, Stina Blackstenius and Smila Holmberg struck to turn the game on its head before Carlotta Wamser was sent off for a handball on the goalline.

Fridolina Rolfo converted the resulting penalty, then Lina Hurtig tapped into an unguarded net to cap a comprehensive victory for Peter Gerhardsson's side.

The result means Sweden enters the quarter-finals as the group winner, while Germany finished second and will face the top team from Group D – likely France or England – in the last eight, ahead of a potential semi-final clash with world champion Spain.

The defeat was Germany's heaviest at an international tournament since the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, when it was beaten 4-0, again by Sweden. Germany has now lost 15 major tournament matches, with Sweden inflicting four of those.

Bayern Munich forward Buhl called for Germany to put the result behind it quickly, with a quarter-final to come next weekend.

"We started the game very well. We were fully in it and the better team," she said.

"We then give the game away in 10 minutes. We're incredibly bitter about that. We have to put that behind us as quickly as possible."

While Germany's heavy defeat could stifle its momentum after victories over Poland (2-0) and Denmark (2-1), coach Christian Wuck remained upbeat.

"We're down now, but we'll get up again," Wuck said. "We'll pick ourselves up again. This will take a few hours. But after that, we'll go into the quarter-finals full of joy."

Elsewhere in Group C, Poland beat Denmark 3-2 to finish third, with Natalia Padilla, Ewa Pajor and Martyna Wiankowska on target.

Janni Thomsen and Signe Bruun netted for Denmark, but both teams were already certain to exit the tournament.