England 4-0 Sweden: Lionesses reach the final of European Championship 2022 with a great victory over Sweden
England reached their first major women’s tournament final since 2009 in stunning fashion when they put four past Olympic finalists Sweden at Euro 2022 in Sheffield.
The Lionesses, who extended their unbeaten run to 19 games under manager Sarina Wiegman, will face either Germany or France for the ultimate prize at Wembley on July 31.
It was a thrilling game from start to finish at Bramall Lane as Sweden pressed for the opening 25 minutes, only for England to dismantle them with ruthless finishing and a touch of class.
Substitute Alessia Russo again produced a moment of magic as her instinctive backheel made it 3-0 to England just 11 minutes after her introduction.
Golden Boot leader Beth Mead had given England the lead in the first half against the run of play, spinning and firing into the far corner, before defender Lucy Bronze headed in a second.
Chelsea’s Fran Kirby put the icing on the cake when she chipped past despairing goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl to complete the rout.
England goalkeeper Mary Earps was in fine form and made numerous saves to deny Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius – the best coming early in the second half when she reacted to tip a looping effort inches over the bar from close range.
Blackstenius had earlier hit the bar before Mead’s opener swung the momentum in England’s favor and from then on it was a display of their impressive attacking depth.
Victory for the Lionesses ends a 13-year wait to return to the finals of a major tournament and they are favorites to lift the trophy for the first time at Wembley on Sunday.
England one victory from glory
England have had some memorable moments with their fans already at this tournament, but the post-match celebrations at Bramall Lane went up a gear.
The chants of “Footballen kommer hem” grew louder with each passing minute in the second half and rarely have its lyrics felt more believable.
After coming from behind to see off pre-tournament favorites Spain in the quarter-finals, England went one step further with this demolition of a Swedish team ranked second in the world.
They looked cagey and vulnerable early on as Sweden piled on the pressure but England, as they have done so often under Wiegman, found an answer.
Mead’s opener seemed to let go of the shackles and as the crowd’s voice grew louder, England’s energy grew with it.
Bron’s header gave them a cushion in the second half and Russo, who scored his fourth goal in four substitute appearances, again made a huge impact.
Kirby’s cheeky chip added salt to Sweden’s wounds and from then on Bramall Lane was in a festive mood as England’s place at Wembley was confirmed.
They are now one victory away from winning the country’s first major football trophy in 56 years.
Mead extends Golden Boot leadership
Mead has tormented all opposition at this European Championship and it was only fitting that she opened the scoring and provided the catalyst for England’s impressive victory in Sheffield.
She spent most of the opening 25 minutes tracking back down the court to offer defensive support for Lucy Bronze but remained an outlet on the break.
But the Arsenal forward had England’s first big chance of the game when she flicked a header inches wide of the post inside four minutes and it took just over half an hour for her to make her mark.
It was Mead’s sixth goal of the tournament – overtaking Jodie Taylor’s fifth at Euro 2017 which earned her the Golden Boot.
Mead can still add to the impressive result at Wembley where she scored a second-half hat-trick against Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier last year.
Her nearest challenger is Germany’s Alexandra Popp on four goals – although she could add more in Wednesday’s semi-final against France – and the two could go head-to-head in the final.
Sensational Russo is producing again
Russo is quickly becoming a household name.
The Manchester United forward has developed into a fearsome weapon for England off the bench and when she came on the crowd were on their feet in anticipation of what was to come.
She took less than a minute to deliver – firing an inch-perfect cross to the back post for youngster Lauren Hemp, but she could only clip it onto the crossbar.
Russo’s moment would come 11 minutes later, when her first-time strike was well saved, only for the 23-year-old to audaciously back the ball under the keeper’s legs from close range as she ran off target.
It drew gasps from the crowd and as Russo ran with arms outstretched, mouth wide open in shock, England suddenly looked assured of a place in the Wembley final.
Wiegman has named the same starting eleven in all five of England’s Euro 2022 matches but Russo, who is joint second in the Golden Boot race, could not have auditioned better for a starring role.
Player of the match
RussoAlessia Russo
Sweden
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Team number9Player nameAsllani
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Team number11Player nameBlackstenius
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Team number18Player nameRolfö
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Team number10Player nameJakobsson
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Team number6Player nameEriksson
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Team number16Player nameAngeldahl
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Team number4Player nameGlass
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Team number2Player nameAndersson
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Team number14Player nameBear
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Team number3Player nameEqually steep
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Team number13Player nameIlestedt
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Team number19Player nameRiding Kaneryd
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Team number8Player nameQuick
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Team number17Player nameVictory
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Team number20Player nameBennison
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Team number1Player nameLindahl
Lineups
England
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Ears
- 2Bronze
- 6Light
- 8Williamson
- 3DalySubstituted forGreenwoodon 87′minutes
- 4Walsh
- 7MeadSubstituted forKellyon 86′minutes
- 10StanwayBooked in 85 minSubstituted forScotton 87′minutes
- 14KirbySubstituted forTo oneon 79′minutes
- 11Hemp
- 9WhiteSubstituted forRussoon 57′minutes
Substitute
- 5Greenwood
- 12Carter
- 13Hampton
- 15Stokes
- 16Scott
- 17Parris
- 18Kelly
- 19England
- 20To one
- 21Roebuck
- 22Wubben-Moy
- 23Russo
Sweden
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lindahl
- 13IlestedtSubstituted forAnderssonon 55′minutes
- 3Equally steepSubstituted forBennisonon 76′minutes
- 6Eriksson
- 4Glass
- 16AngeldahlSubstituted forVictoryon 51′minutes
- 14BearBooked in 73 min
- 10JakobssonSubstituted forRiding Kanerydon 52′minutes
- 9Asllani
- 18Rolfö
- 11BlacksteniusSubstituted forQuickon 76′minutes
Substitute
- 2Andersson
- 5Nildén
- 7Kullberg
- 8Quick
- 12Falcon
- 15Blomqvist
- 17Victory
- 19Riding Kaneryd
- 20Bennison
- 21Musovic
- Judge:
- Esther Staubli
- Presence:
- 28,624
Live text
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The match ends, England 4, Sweden 0.
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Second half ends, England 4, Sweden 0.
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Attempt saved. Chloe Kelly (England) right footed shot from long range to the left is saved in the top center of the goal. Assisted by Ella Toone.
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Keira Walsh (England) wins a free kick in their own half.
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Ugly by Kosovare Asllani (Sweden).
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Foul by Millie Bright (England).
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Lina Hurtig (Sweden) wins a free kick in their own half.
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Chloe Kelly (England) wins a free kick in their own half.
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Ugly by Kosovare Asllani (Sweden).
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Exchange, England. Alex Greenwood replaces Rachel Daly.
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Exchange, England. Jill Scott replaces Georgia Stanway.
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Exchange, England. Chloe Kelly replaces Beth Mead.
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Georgia Stanway (England) is shown the yellow card for a serious foul.
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Foul by Georgia Stanway (England).
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Hanna Bennison (Sweden) wins a free kick in their own half.
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Corner, England. Produced by Nathalie Björn.
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Exchange, England. Ella Toone replaces Fran Kirby.
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Beth Mead (England) wins a free kick in their own half.
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Ugly by Kosovare Asllani (Sweden).
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Goal! England 4, Sweden 0. Fran Kirby (England) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Beth Mead.