Linda Sembrant’s late show takes Sweden on to the semi-finals against England | Women’s European Championship 2022
Distraught Belgium players sought out family and friends standing on the other side of the billboards and collapsed into their arms. The tears that flowed after the final whistle were understandable, the comforting hugs well deserved. They put everything into their country’s first appearance in a European Championship quarter-final but it wasn’t enough. Sweden left it late to secure a semi-final date with England at Bramall Lane on Tuesday.
The top-ranked team in the tournament needed a 92nd-minute winner to head home from a corner to overcome the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition. Linda Sembrant pounced after Belgium goalkeeper and star Nicky Evrard denied Sweden once again, saving Nathalie Björn’s close-range shot from a Kosovare Asllani corner, only for the defender to find the roof of her net with the rebound.
It was a cruel way to extinguish the Red Flames’ dreams but a well-deserved victory for Sweden after 34 attempts on goal. However, only eight were on target and England will be hugely encouraged by the problems Peter Gerhardsson’s side faced in front of goal all night. This was far from the declaration of intent that Sweden had envisioned.
“We lacked a bit of quality in our last pass and we didn’t create 100% clear scoring chances,” Sweden’s coach admitted. “We’ll have to look at it but England’s game will be completely different. We’ve played England twice and so we probably know more about them and how to play against them than we would have against Spain, but it will become challenging.”
Sweden were without both full-backs who started the 5-0 win over Portugal, Hanna Glas and Jonna Andersson having tested positive for Covid, leading to a European Championship debut for Amanda Nildén and a first start of the tournament for match-winner Sembrant. The disruption contributed to some uncertainty in the Swedish defense but they dominated a rainy night and created enough chances to have established a half-time lead. Their failure to take anyone drove Gerhardsson to distraction.
Stina Blackstenius looked certain to open the scoring after Evrard saved superbly from Amanda Ilestedt’s header at the back post. The ball fell slightly behind the Arsenal striker, who tripped meters in front of the open goal, allowing the Belgium goalkeeper to gather at her feet. Gerhardsson, with his arms outstretched, was open-mouthed at the miss. He would be again when a corner from captain Asllani fell to Blackstenius two meters out. The striker couldn’t force the ball beyond Evrard and Belgium escaped again.
Björn and fellow central midfielder Filippa Angeldal also missed decent openings, although Sweden’s frustration was not just due to their own sloppiness. Blackstenius finally appeared to have opened the scoring when he played through the influential Asllani’s defence-splitting pass and beat Evrard with an assured finish. However, a lengthy VAR review detected a fraction offside, and Sweden’s much-anticipated celebration was cut short.
Belgium was not completely besieged. In Laura De Neve, they boasted a confident centre-back who rallied the backline impressively and exuded composure under pressure. Ives Serneel’s side also posed a threat of their own with Tessa Wullaert and Tine De Caigny, whose winner against Italy booked Belgium’s place in the last eight, dangerous on the counter. The pair combined to tee up Justine Vanhaevermaet for Belgium’s best chance of the first half, the midfielder drilling a low shot just outside the box.
Sweden maintained control after the break but found it increasingly difficult to break down a well-organised, compact and disciplined Belgium team. A procession of shots from distance, many wide or straight at Evrard, showed that patience was being tested.
Belgium’s goalkeeper, one of many semi-professionals in the squad as opposed to full-time professionals throughout the Sweden camp, excelled again as Fridolina Rolfö curled a deep free-kick across goal for Blackstenius, who connected with a powerful, dipping header. from up close. It was not the first time the Arsenal forward looked on in despair as Evrard thwarted her effort with a fine reaction save.
Serneels introduced Elena Dhont to inject more pace and goal into Belgium’s attack and the switch should have paid dividends as the substitute broke down the right. Sembrant failed to intercept Dhont’s cross-field ball and De Caigny suddenly found himself in space approaching Sweden territory. De Caigny seemed caught in two minds about whether to shoot or cross and ultimately failed at either point. Dhont was closer when he sprinted clear and drove into the side-netting from a tight angle. But despite the late flourish and a resilient display, Belgium eventually fell.
“This is a difficult moment for us,” the Belgium coach said. But we should be proud to be here and play a wonderful match against Sweden. We have a group of eight professionals. The first thing we should try is to get to the next tournament with 23.”