England celebratign their victory to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s Euro 2025. They reached this exciting final after an intense penalty shoot-out win over Sweden in the quarter-final, QF3. On July 17, England came from behind twice to draw the match 2-2 with Sweden in regulation time. They then secured their victory 3-2 in the shoot-out.
The game opened up with a bang – literally! Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani netted within two minutes to put her country ahead early on. England faced a tough start, but quickly found their nerves and were able to recover and pull ahead. One crucial moment was Leah Williamson saving a potential second goal for Sweden with a heroic goal-line clearance to keep England in the game.
Sarina Wiegman, England’s manager, described the encounter as “one of the hardest games I’ve ever watched,” highlighting the emotional rollercoaster experienced by both players and fans alike. Down 2-0 at half-time, the team refused to give up hope.
England’s Comeback
In the second half…wow, England is tough! Lucy Bronze was the first to score an equalizing goal. Only 103 seconds had ticked away when Michelle Agyemang scored the second goal, with Chloe Kelly providing both assists. This lightning strike response re-energized England’s chances and swung the momentum of the game.
Leah Williamson remarked on their determination during half-time, stating, “We said at half-time, ‘we don’t want to go home, so it’s down to us to turn the game around.’” That initial belief would be key as it would enable England to reset and stick to their game plan, which they did to perfection.
Save after save denied Sweden as they came at England continuously in extra time, but The Three Lionesses defenders and goalkeeper Mary Earps were ruthless in the backline. Through four sets, these two teams showed an inspiring tenacity, but you could tell that England had changed the match’s momentum.
The Tense Penalty Shoot-Out
When that injury-time match ended level, it too took the form of a dramatic penalty shoot-out. The tension mounted with each team’s turn. In the end, it was England who went through, winning 3-2 on penalties. Lucy Bronze scored England’s seventh penalty to put her team in front.
The win was confirmed when Hannah Hampton denied Smilla Holmberg from the spot to send England into wild celebrations. This win is a huge victory for the team and such a great accomplishment. It’s a landmark moment for Wiegman herself, who has led England during a challenging tournament.
“It shows proper England is back. We’re going in the right direction. I think you know that everyone would be putting their bodies on the line. Literally you could see that out there.” – Hannah Hampton
Looking Ahead
With this win, England looks to a semi-final match up against Italy on July 22 in Geneva. The team’s road to this moment has been paved by grit and talent, setting up what should be a thrilling contest against Italy. Wiegman’s leadership and tactical skills will be put to the true test. England have no plans to stop there and can dream of even more success in the tournament.
Peter Gerhardsson, Sweden’s manager, knew that feeling all too well. This quarter-final elimination is the first time in his career he has not progressed past this stage in a tournament. His players fought to the very end but could not overcome a re-energized England team.
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