On Thursday, 17th July 2025, Sarina Wiegman’s defending champions beat Sweden on penalties to book their spot in the last four of the European Championship. The winners of the 2021 Euros did it the hard way, coming from 2-0 down to force extra-time, before an almost farcical penalty shootout saw them eventually triumph.
Sweden had finished top of Group C, ahead of Germany, Poland and Denmark. They came into this clash having thrashed Germany 4-1 in the final group game and so were full of confidence. England were ranked fifth in the world, with Sweden sixth, so this game was never going to be a pushover. However, with the Lionesses seemingly having hit their stride, with big wins over Netherlands and Wales (4-0 and 6-1, respectively), the defending champions were well fancied to progress to the semis.
Fast Start for Swedes
And breathe…! 😅
Catch up on an incredible night with our match report from the #WEURO2025 win over Sweden ✍️
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 17, 2025
It soon became clear that Wiegman’s troops were going to be in for a really stiff test. Sweden were pressing high and doing so very efficiently. Jess Carter had a torrid time at the back and whilst Sweden scored after just two minutes, they had already caught England’s defence out a couple of times prior to that.
The intensity of the press seemed to totally surprise England and early on Swedish skipper Kosovare Asllani, striker Stina Blackstenius and the rest of the Scandinavians’ front line were rampant. Asllani opened the scoring after a mistake at the back and then after 25 minutes, the impressive Blackstenius outpaced Carter and finished well.
England had hit the bar through a speculative, instinctive effort from Lauren Hemp, but by and large they created little in the first half. They had just one shot on target, compared to four for Sweden, and England looked very shaky at the back.
The second half was little better initially as England failed to control the game. They were sloppy in possession and looked strangely hesitant out of it. Lauren James offered occasional moments of spark but Sweden still looked the more dangerous side. Hannah Hampton was superb in goal and kept her side in the gam with several really good saves.
The Chelsea stopper outperformed her xGOT by 1.33 and was probably England’s best player. That said, Chloe Kelly will rightly get many of the plaudits as it was she who really changed the game, coming off the bench after 78 minutes.
Subs Make Impact
Wiegman made a raft of subs in the second half, trying to change the flow of the game and utilise the strength in depth that the Lionesses possess. Beth Mead, Esme Morgan and Michelle Agyemang had already come on, but it was Kelly, operating wide on the left, who really made the difference.
Just after coming on, it was her cross to the far post that allowed Lucy Bronze, another excellent performer for the Lionesses, to head home. Just two minutes later, Agyemang capitalised on a bit of chaos in the Swedish box to tap home from close range. Excellent play from Kelly led to her whipping in a superb cross. Two players jumped for the ball but neither attacker nor defender got decisive contact and the ball dropped perfectly for Agyemang to slot home her first competitive England goal.
Extra Time
Our #WEURO25 quarter-final against Sweden is heading for a penalty shootout.
Let’s do this, together! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/e2jJuYQd4k
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 17, 2025
One might have assumed that England would press on from there and score a winner. However, whilst they had chances, so too did Sweden, with Hampton the busier keeper at the end of the game and into extra time.
As is often the case, extra time was relatively quiet, with few real chances. Penalties loomed and neither side was able to break the deadlock. England won the 2023 Finalissima on penalties against Brazil, and also got past Nigeria at the last World Cup in a shootout. Given they had seemed dead and buried at half time, they would have, perhaps, felt confident they could finish the comeback from 12 yards.
High Drama, Low Quality
England’s confidence would have been further boosted when they got to take the first penalty and also got to have the shootout at their end. They got the perfect start to, when Alessia Russo – who had not had a great game – put the opening penalty into the bottom corner, despite Swedish keeper Jennifer Falk diving the right way.
Hampton then put England in the driving seat by guessing right and saving a tame effort from Filippa Angeldahl. However, the Lionesses then seemed to lose their advantage when James saw her effort saved by Falk. Sweden scored and when Mead saw her penno saved, Falk yet again diving the right way, it was advantage Sweden.
Magdalena Eriksson failed to press home that advantage when she hit the post with her effort but Falk saved yet another England penalty, from Alex Greenwood to leave the score stuck at 1-1. Nathalie Bjorn then scored, meaning Kelly had to score to keep England in the tournament.
Up stepped Kelly, hero of the game but also the scorer of the winning kicks in England’s two previous shootout wins under Wiegman. With her usual, strange run-up, she powered the ball home and the shootout would, at least, make it to the 10th penalty. Surprising most viewers, it was Swedish stopper Falk who then stepped up. Having saved three penalties, she must have been feeling invincible but the adrenaline may have got the better of her and she blasted her effort over the bar.
A poor effort from Grace Clinton followed, giving the Swedes another chance at glory but once more, they failed. Hampton did really well to tip Sofia Jakobsson’s effort onto the post. Penalty 13 proved lucky for England and the warrior Bronze (middle name Tough!). The England legend blasted an unstoppable penno down the middle into the roof of the net and produced a celebration reminiscent of Stuart Pearce.
Teenager Smilla Holmberg was left with the task of keeping her nation in the Euros. The sub was unable to do so, producing an effort that was more Waddle than Pearce and hitting it well over the bar. England, at last, were through to the semis.
Italy Await
Another step. Another challenge. ✊#Lionesses | @NuffieldHealth pic.twitter.com/PQchh8WCsD
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 18, 2025
England will face Italy in the semis, that game set to take place in Geneva on the 22nd of July. The winners of that will face France, Germany, Spain or Switzerland … but probably Spain. Italy are 13th in the world and won just one group game, losing 3-1 to Spain. The Lionesses have once again demonstrated their resilience so will fancy their chances, but they will have to defend better if they are to hold onto their title.
