England into Euro 2025 semi-finals after nail-biting shootout win over Sweden
An early mistake allowed Kosovare Asllani to fire Sweden into a second-minute lead, assisted by Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius, who doubled the advantage in the 25th minute.
'Beautiful chaos!' 🙌
Those SCENES! 🌟pic.twitter.com/k4uBfrwboT
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 17, 2025
Bronze, at 33 the oldest player in Sarina Wiegman's squad, gave England a fighting chance when she nodded home in the 79th minute before 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang, the youngest of the group winning just her third cap, scored to force extra-time.
Bronze finally decided the contest with England's seventh spot-kick of an error-strewn shootout, her emphatic effort proving decisive as Holmberg fired over for Sweden.
England boss Wiegman kept with the same starting line-up from their final group-stage victory over Wales, but her side got off to a terrible start when a poor pass from Jess Carter caught the foot of the closing Asllani.
The trajectory proved challenging for Keira Walsh, whose own attempt to clear hit Filippa Angeldal, the ball bouncing out favourably for Blackstenius, who teed up her captain for a top-corner finish.
Blackstenius – who scored the winner in Arsenal's Champions League final victory over Barcelona in May – nearly doubled Sweden's lead after England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was caught out of position, only to be denied by a vital intervention by her Gunners team-mate Leah Williamson.
Lauren Hemp then came inches away from equalising, hitting the bar with England's first real chance before Blackstenius did double Sweden's advantage.
Sweden's forced a turnover, allowing Julia Zigiotti Olme to slip a pass down the right to Blackstenius, who, one-on-one with Carter, outpaced the England defender and slotted her third goal of the tournament into the bottom left corner.
England were not at the races and made it too easy for Fridolina Rolfo to test Hampton, who made a big stoppage-time save at the end of the first half.
Another alert save by the Chelsea keeper denied Blackstenius a second after the restart.
An unchanged England looked a bit brighter, but every ball the Lionesses delivered into the area was blocked by a yellow shirt.
Lauren Hemp was beaten to a cross by Sweden keeper Jennifer Falk when she tried to halve the deficit with a header and Ella Toone looked to have a chance but elected to pass the ball, which was then intercepted and cleared.
Wiegman made her first changes with 20 minutes remaining, introducing Beth Mead, Esme Morgan and Agyemang for Toone, Carter and Georgia Stanway, then Chloe Kelly for Hemp soon after.
And it was Kelly who made an instant impact, her deep cross picking out Bronze, who cushioned a header past Falk to give England hope.
Those goal celebrations had scarcely subsided when Agyemang pounced on a loose ball from another Kelly cross, which had come off initial target Mead, and poked home.
It proved enough to force extra-time after Hampton mitigated another England mistake when she palmed away Madelen Janogy's effort.
She then leapt to her right to keep out Angeldahl's effort from distance, when neither side able to find a winner in the additional 30 minutes.
Alessia Russo coolly converted past a diving Falk with the first penalty of the shootout and all looked to be going well for England when Hampton then denied Angeldal.
But Falk saved from Lauren James and Olme blasted into the top corner before Mead saw her effort saved.
Hannah Hampton. HERO. 🧤 pic.twitter.com/2HeUHtKi2k
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 17, 2025
The drama then dialled up when Magdalena Eriksson's effort clipped a post and Falk made another save to deny Alex Greenwood.
England's hopes were hanging by a thread when Nathalie Bjorn sent her Chelsea team-mate Hampton the wrong way, but Kelly's ice-cold conversion kept them alive before Falk, with the chance to win it, blazed over.
The Sweden keeper atoned to deny Grace Clinton, but Sofia Jakobsson missed and Bronze planted her penalty into the roof of the net before Holmberg's miss sparked wild celebrations on the England bench.
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Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
From Princess Beatrice at the Lionesses' parade to Queen Elizabeth's big VE Day night out, all the times royals have gone incognito and tried to blend in with the crowd
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The parents were also joined by their older daughter, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, three, who appeared unfazed by the large gathering as she waved England's flag while enjoying a sweet treat during her most public appearance yet. In one sweet moment, Beatrice was seen leaning over to talk to Wolfie, Edoardo's eight-year-old son with his former fiancee, architect Dara Huang, who the King's niece often refers to as her 'bonus child'. Beatrice appeared to be following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who also once escaped the royal cocoon to party among her future subjects for VE Day in 1945. Read on to discover more times when royals have gone incognito and tried to blend in with the crowd... PRINCESS BEATRICE AT LIONESSES' EURO VICTORY PARADE Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi shared a rare glimpse of their blended family as the royal couple joined Lionesses fans at their Euros victory parade in London yesterday. 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Beatrice pulled her hair back into a messy bun and dressed for cooler weather in London as she paired a cream sweater with a blue, floral print skirt from Farm Rio In one sweet moment, Beatrice was seen leaning over to talk to Wolfie, Edoardo's eight-year-old son with his former fiancee, architect Dara Huang. Beatrice often refers to Wolfie as her 'bonus child' who is frequently seen at royal events and family gatherings, including Christmas celebrations at Sandringham and the Princess of Wales's 2024 carol concert. The family was casually dressed as Princess Beatrice went makeup-free for the victory parade after Sarina Wiegman's side thumped Spain 3-1 on penalties in the nail-biting final on Sunday, July 27. Beatrice pulled her hair back into a messy bun and dressed for cooler weather in London as she paired a cream sweater with a blue, floral print maxi skirt from Farm Rio and a pair of red Mary Jane flats from the brand Lollipop Red. 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North Wales Chronicle
9 minutes ago
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Sunderland sign former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen
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BBC News
9 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Big loss but understandable' - fans on Trafford exit
We asked for your views on James Trafford leaving for Manchester City this summer and who might be brought in as a are some of your comments:Lee: He was superb for us last season and arguably got us into the automatic spots. But he is unproven in the Premier League and he alone would not keep us up. Great business for us and wish him all the best. Need to reinvest the money wisely to give us the best chance of We will miss you so much - wish you and your family all the best in the future and thanks so much for everything. You have been Big loss but understandable. I want Aaron Ramsdale but he is now being linked with Newcastle so that is maybe unlikely. He is unworthy of his unlucky brand and a fantastic Probably go all out for Nick Trafford has the capabilities to be England's number one - just not right now. Last season flattered him, playing behind a very defensive framework that kept threats away. While his shotstopping is world class, crosses into the box for huge, athletic players are his undoing and Premier League teams all know this. In terms of a replacement, I'm fine with Sam Johnstone or Nick Pope as they are quality and proven operators. We don't need world-class ball It was inevitable but Trafford and Josh Brownhill leaving just as we make it back to the Premier League? Doesn't bode Johnstone or Stefan I know he's getting older but the suggestion that Johnstone might be coming seems the best option at the moment. I've always thought he's a great goalkeeper.
