Last eight confirmed as Denmark bow out

The UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ quarter-final lineup has been confirmed with England and Norway coming through ahead of Denmark as the two best third-placed teams.

Third-place race
In Monday's encounters, Sweden secured first place in Group C with a 1-1 draw against England, one point ahead of Italy following their 2-0 win over Russia. With four points England, like Norway from Group B, finished one ahead of Group A side Denmark in the comparison between the countries in third.

Hosts meet England
Hosts and Group A winners Finland will kick off the knockout phase on Thursday at 15.00CET (16.00 local time) against England at Turku Stadium, aiming to avenge a 3-2 defeat from 2005 in Manchester. Four hours later at Tampere Stadium, Group A runners-up the Netherlands, the sole finals debutants to survive the opening stage, take on their Group B counterparts France, who are aiming to reach the last four for the first time. The winners of these two matches will meet in the first semi-final on Sunday in Tampere.

Germany encounter
On Friday, Germany – having won Group B with nine points and ten goals scored – will continue their bid for a fifth straight title at 15.00CET against Italy, whom they beat in the 1997 final. Then, at 19.00CET at Helsinki Football Stadium, Sweden face neighbours and old rivals Norway, who defeated them 1-0 in the 1987 decider and knocked them out in the last four in 2005. The capital venue will also stage the Monday semi-final between the winners of Friday's ties, with the final across the way at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday.