Soccer-Swedish fans snap up tickets for Women's Euro knockout clash with England
The Swedish fans formed a noisy yellow wall behind one of the goals in each of their three Group C games, winning all three to set up the last-eight showdown with reigning champions England, who beat them in the semi-finals at the last tournament.
"This news gives the whole team so much energy in the build-up to the quarter-finals," forward Madelen Janogy said in a statement issued by the Swedish Football Association (SvFF).
"The support from everyone there has been incredible so far, and we are really looking forward to playing in front of a full house of yellow supporters again on Thursday. Together, we will do everything we can to win against England and advance."
The SvFF said that the 2000 tickets allocated to the Swedes went on sale at 0900 CET on Monday and that they sold out within 60 minutes, and advised fans who missed out to keep an eye on UEFA's public ticket portal.
(Reporting by Philip O'ConnorEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
12 minutes ago
- The Star
Golf-McIlroy ready to ride wave of Rory Mania at Portrush
FILE PHOTO: Mar 14, 2025; Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA; Rory Mcllroy hits off of the tenth tee during the second round of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-Imagn Images/File Photo PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -When Rory McIlroy arrived at Royal Portrush six years ago it was meant to be a glorious homecoming for Northern Ireland's most famous sportsman but his British Open hopes lasted only two rounds. "Rory Mania" will reach new heights as golf's oldest major returns to County Antrim's stunning Causeway Coast on Thursday, but this time he insists he is better prepared to ride the wave. Around 275,000 fans will attend the 153rd Open this week -- a figure only topped by St Andrews. A sizeable majority will be roaring for 36-year-old McIlroy as he tries to lift the Claret Jug for a second time, having first got his hands on it at Royal Liverpool in 2014. Former world number one McIlroy completed a long-overdue career slam when he edged out Ryder Cup team mate Justin Rose in a gripping Masters battle this year, ending an 11-year major drought. A post-Augusta dip was perhaps not surprising, but the prospect of a return to the Portrush links where he broke the course record as a 16-year-old, albeit a much re-modelled one, has re-ignited the fire. He was joint second at last week's Scottish Open and the five-times major winner arrives in confident mood. McIlroy went out early for 18 holes on Monday in relative peace, before fans began swarming through the gates. 2019 MEMORIES Asked for his recollections of 2019, McIlroy, who grew up in Hollywood, 60 miles south of Portrush, said the clamour had taken him by surprise. "I remember the ovation I got on the first tee on Thursday and not being prepared for it or not being ready for how I was going to feel," McIlroy told reporters. "Then the golf on Thursday felt like a bit of a blur. I try to forget that part of it." McIlroy hit a quadruple bogey eight at the first in 2019 on his way to a 79 and while he mounted a second-round charge, a 65 could not get him past the cut. "I'm so happy it's back so soon because I want to have another crack at it. I'm a better player, manage my game better. "The fact that I'm here at Portrush with the Green Jacket, having completed that lifelong dream, I want to do my best this week to enjoy the reaction of the fans. But at the same time, I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I'm very capable of doing that." McIlroy's friend Shane Lowry marked Portrush's long-awaited return to the Open rota in 2019 by sparking an Irish party with an emotional victory. He is also relishing a return. "I still don't know why it came together that week," he said. "There's no real answer. It just happened. I'm very lucky. But I would love to do it again." There has been no European winner of the Open since Lowry and three of the last four editions have been won by Americans, with Xander Schauffele arriving as defending champion. Schauffele proved at Royal Troon that he has the patience and accuracy to survive the pitfalls of a links course, whatever the weather Gods conjure up, as Brian Harman did in 2023 in monsoon-like rain at Royal Liverpool. World number one Scottie Scheffler cannot yet say the same with seventh place last year his best Open finish but after a stunningly consistent year, including his third major victory at the PGA Championship, he will surely be in the mix. As ever at a British Open, the fickle elements can rip up the best laid plans and after the heat that has gripped large parts of the country, rain and wind are expected to add teeth to a treacherous par-71 layout. Ireland's twice Open champion Padraig Harrington will hit the first ball on Thursday. (Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
The Star
42 minutes ago
- The Star
Zii Jia withdraws from China Open
PETALING JAYA: Men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has withdrawn from the China Open which is due to start next Tuesday (July 22) in Changzhou. Zii Jia, who also pulled out of the ongoing Japan Open in Tokyo, seems to still not have fully recovered from a troublesome ankle injury which he sustained in the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou last December. The Badminton World Federation's (BWF) website listed the 27-year-old as "withdrawn" from the China tourney. Team LZJ have not issued any statements yet regarding his decision to pull out and when he would likely compete again. Zii Jia has only competed in two tournaments this year - the back-to-back Orleans Masters and All-England in March. The independent player later said that he had rushed his return to competitions and had aggravated his injury.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Soft Hooligans bring inclusive cheers to Women's Euros in Switzerland
A Swedish supporters' group called the Soft Hooligans is making waves at the Women's Euros in Switzerland, bringing their unique blend of chants, drums, and a strong message of inclusion. The group, founded in 2017 by Kajsa Aronsson and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, aims to create a lively atmosphere while advocating for better conditions in women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came after the duo attended the 2017 Women's Euros in the Netherlands. 'It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy,' Kjellman recalled. What started as a joke about being 'soft hooligans' soon turned into a movement, with a Facebook group helping spread their message. Initially, the group faced challenges in building a cheering culture. 'We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own,' Kjellman said. Fast forward to 2025, and the atmosphere has transformed, with more organised supporter groups across teams. The Soft Hooligans stand out for their core values—inclusivity and LGBTQ-friendliness. 'Everyone should feel welcome,' Kjellman emphasised. Their presence in the stands, often filled with families and children, reflects this ethos. However, they still face criticism. 'We receive mocking comments about our name,' Kjellman admitted, though they choose to focus on their mission instead. Beyond cheering, the group highlights the political struggles in women's football. 'Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go,' Kjellman noted. They remain hopeful for the future, especially with younger generations embracing female football stars like Aitana Bonmati. Currently, Sweden is riding high in the tournament, securing a quarter-final spot after a dominant 4-1 win over Germany. Their massive banner in the stands reads '41 Years Since Last Time' and 'Bringing the Gold Home,' referencing Sweden's 1984 triumph. Coach Peter Gerhardsson praised the fans, saying, 'I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had.' Sweden will face reigning champions England in Zurich, with the Soft Hooligans ready to bring their signature energy. 'It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage,' Gerhardsson added. - AFP
