England 4, Sweden 0 (UEFA Women’s Euros, Semi Final)
England beat Sweden for only the fourth time as they qualified for their first major final since 2009 with an Alessia Russo back heeled goal underlining their confidence and swagger.
Embed from Getty ImagesRusso’s back-heel was the pick of four goals with Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, and Fran Kirby each ensuring a party atmosphere by the end of a bouncing game at Bramall Lane where a record Euro Semi final crowd of 28,624 saw England thrash world number two side Sweden.
But it could have been a different result after the first 20 minutes as the injury and COVID-hit Swedes failed to take early chances and paid heavily for their wastefulness.
England were unchanged for the fifth game in a row but their defence had to suffer several early scares as Sweden started well and had two great chances to take the lead after sloppy play under pressure.
Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright’s flank was targeted again by the Swedes, just as the Spanish had done in the quarter final, and they presented a clear threat from set pieces.
Mary Earps had to save within the first minute from Sofia Jakobsson Stina Blackstenius hit the bar from a corner, and Fridolina Rolfo fired wide.
Mistakes could have been costly for England but they soon got themselves up to speed and were rewarded for their calmness under pressure.
Beth Mead becomes tournament top scorer before Alessia Russo’s stylish goal underlines another fine second half by England
Beth Mead took the lead for England after 34 minutes with England making full use of both flanks to break the deadlock and go clear at the top of the Golden Boot chart with six goals – level with Inka Grings in 2009.
Lauren Hemp’s left wing cross was missed by Ellen White but Lucy Bronze found space with a late run and pumped the ball back into the centre with a low cross to where the Arsenal winger had come inside.
Mead had time to control the ball, turn, and, powered her sixth goal of the tournament beyond the grasp of Hedvig Lindahl despite the Swedish keeper getting fingertips on the ball.
And Mead turned provider two minutes after half time as her corner was headed in by Bronze from 12 yards out.
There was a VAR check as Lauren Hemp looked offside but the goal was ratified and England had a two goal lead.
Ellen White was England’s first change after 57 minutes and was replaced by Alessia Russo.
And she could have laid on the goal to seal the win but for Hemp firing against the crossbar.
England scrambled away chances for Sweden to pull a goal back from set pieces with Earps tipping away a chip by Blackstenius.
Russo had a 68th minute shot parried by Lindahl after Fran Kirby had squared the ball to her but reacted quickly to recapture the ball which she cheekily backheel through the legs of the luckless Swedish keeper to put England 3-0 up.
England were cursing and with 14 minutes to go Fran Kirby raced onto a ball from Mead and her dipping shot squirmed out of the grasp of a demoralised Lindahl and fell into the back of her net.
Ella Toone replaced Kirby with 12 minutes to go and the goalscorer got a standing ovation from the England fans who had plenty of time to .
MATCH STATS – England 4, Sweden 0 (UEFA Women’s Euros, Semi Final)
England Women: Earps, Bronze, Bright Williamson, Daly (Greenwood 86), Walsh, Mead (Kelly 86), Stanway (Scott 86), Kirby (Toone 79), Hemp, White (Russo 57)
England Women Subs not used: Hampton, Roebuck, Carter, Stokes, Parris, England, Wubben-Moy
Booked: Stanway
Goals: Mead 34; Bronze 48; Russo 68; Kirby 76
Sweden Women: Lindahl, Restedt (Andersson 55), Sembrant (Bennison 76), Eriksson, Glas, Angeldahl (Seger 51), Bjorn, Jakobsson (Rytting Kaneryd 52), Asllani, Rolfo, Blackstenius (Hurtig 76)
Sweden Women subs not used: Musovic, Falk, Nilden, Kullberg, Blomqvist
Booked: Bjorn
Referee: Esther Staubli
Attendance: 28,624