England defeated Sweden 3-2 in an amazing penalty shootout with 14 attempts to reach the semi-finals of the ladies on Thursday after the reigning champion of 2-0 had fought back to force the match for extra time.
It was an exciting climax to a game in which England staggered on the edge of elimination, just to take the victory of the jaws of the defeat.
All in all, the Sweden -keeper Jennifer Falk saved four penalties, but she skipped the potentially winning place to kick the bar over the bar and threw a lifeline to England who happily grabbed it.
Lucy Bronze shot the holder in the lead before the Swedish Teen Smilla Holmberg shot her efforts high over the bar to end the game.
It all looked so different for the Swedes when they roared in an early lead, Stina Blackstenius stored Kosovare Asllani to score in the second minute after England gave the ball away cheaply, and Blackstenius then ran Jess Carter to score with a confident finish itself in the 25th minute.
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The Sweden looked more than comfortable the entire half when England collided.
After the interval, coach Sarina Wiegman called in the changes and Beth Mead, Michelle Agyemang and Esme Morgan added in the 70th minute and the introduction of Chloe Kelly a few minutes later added even more attacking verve.
Bronze withdrew a goal for England in the 79th minute, met Kelly’s Cross and went home from a tight corner to re -deny the whitewashed fans in the crowd, and Agyemang brought two minutes later with an excellent syruper to send the game to extra time.
Both parties had a good part of the chances in extra time, but the game went to punishments, and although the Swedes missed their first place, Falk’s excellent rescues quickly brought them in line.
She had the chance to win it, but she sent her shovel high over the bar, and although she saved from Grace Clinton, Bronze beat the place.
After the Miss of Sofia Jakobsson, the pressure turned out to be too much for the 18-year-old Holmberg, who shot himself.
«At the moment I don’t know, I don’t know,» said English keeper Hannah Hampton, who suffered a bloody nose in the game, said when he was asked how she felt after the dramatic victory.
«It’s just gone so quickly, like the last bit in the penalty shootout, but … we are very happy, of course you can see all the parties go around.»
The goalkeeper Jennifer Falk van Sweden, on the right, shoots a penalty against the goalkeeper Hannah Hampton of England during a penalty shootout of the quarterfinals of the ladies Euro 2025 between Sweden and England in Stadium LTFIGGEG in Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday 17 July 2025. Photoredit: AP
The goalkeeper Jennifer Falk van Sweden, on the right, shoots a penalty against the goalkeeper Hannah Hampton of England during a penalty shootout of the quarterfinals of the ladies Euro 2025 between Sweden and England in Stadium LTFIGGEG in Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday 17 July 2025. Photoredit: AP
Wiegman breathed a sigh of relief at the last whistle.
«It was difficult. One of the most difficult games I have ever watched. Very emotional. We could have been four or five times during the game. If you are 2-0 during the break, it is not good,» she said.
“We started badly, and then we got better at the end of the first half, and in the second half we got better, but we didn’t create anything, so we had to change shape. Then we scored two goals, so that was crazy.
«Then we go to extra time, some players injured, some players cramps, Hannah Hampton with blood everywhere, then we go to the penalty shootout and we miss a lot, but they miss more and we are through it,» she added.
England will be confronted in Geneva on Tuesday for a place in the final.
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