Defending champions and hosts Germany will face Sweden in Saturday's final of the women's European Championships.

In the semi-finals, Germany beat Norway, while Sweden overcame Denmark courtesy of a Tina Nordlund goal.

Germany moved a step closer to retaining their European crown with a deserved victory over their Olympic champion opponents.

Sandra Smisek's 57th minute header was enough to send the hosts through to the final, although the scoreline does not do justice to Germany's dominance of the game.

A superb effort by Birgit Prinz was one of two to hit the woodwork, and Smisek also went close on a couple of occasions.

But the 13,524-strong crowd went home pleased and the German players were delighted to erase any lingering memories of their Olympic semi-final defeat by Norway.

Both teams started brightly and the tackles flew in thick and fast.

Prinz impressive

Norway's Dagny Mellgren had an early chance, but Silke Rottenberg was off her line quickly to make a fine saving tackle.

The game immediately switched to the other end as Smisek went racing through to the Norway area only to see her effort go just wide.

In keeping with Germany's performances in the tournament so far, they kept their best moves until after the interval.

Renate Lingor executed a beautiful diagonal ball to Prinz whose excellent first-time cross was met by Smisek.

Smisek aimed an unstoppable header into the top of the goal and put the hosts in complete control.

Norway simply had no reply in the energy-sapping conditions, although Stephanie Jones had to maintain her concentration at the back for Germany.

Claudia Mueller almost extended Germany's lead after she came on as a substitute.

But she saw one shot well saved and put another wide.