Sweden v England
UEFA Women's EURO 2025, Quarter-Final
8pm BST, Thursday 17 July 2025
Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland

Sarina Wiegman and Lucy Bronze spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon ahead of England’s quarter-final clash with Sweden.

Here is what they had to say.

Wiegman on what she expects from Sweden:

I expect a very competitive game where it’s very hard to predict the outcome. They’ve had a very good group stage like the three wins they had but I think we’re in a very good place too and we’re ready to go, so hopefully, we can show that tomorrow.

On the performances of Hannah Hampton:

She plays an important role for us. She’s done really well, also growing into the tournament. The first task is to keep the ball out of the back of the net but she also is very good with her feet from what we’ve seen and we can be an extra builder when we start our build-up.

On the Lionesses’ ‘proper English’ identity:

‘Proper England’ is who we are and what we want to show and of course, that has to do with our tactics and how we want to play but also our behaviours and how we want to support each other, work really hard and play to our strengths too. When we do that, the chance of winning is the highest.

On the importance of the substitutes:

I think that’s very important because you can change the game, you can bring players in the same position that have different attributes to the game, so you can change tactics a little bit, you can change combinations a bit but still keeping the levels up and try to harm your opponent, so I think that’s key.

We're LIVE with Sarina Wiegman and Lucy Bronze as they preview tomorrow’s #WEURO2025 quarter-final match against Sweden. 💪 https://t.co/HQBMjCb0Fk

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 16, 2025

Bronze on England’s 4-0 win over Sweden at EURO 2022:

We’ve played them since then. We’ve played them more recently last summer, we’ve played them in the Nations League twice in England and in Sweden. The team we played against in Sheffield in the EUROs, both for Sweden and for England, are very different and have moved on a lot. For us, it’s a very nice memory to look back on.

On adapting her game when facing Sweden:

I like to attack and I also like to defend. I can do whatever role is asked of me, whether that’s from Sarina or the players around me. We know the threat that Sweden has and that’s a lot in wide positions but at the same time, we’re a top team. You don’t want to change too much because we want to give to the game what we’re good at. We’re very much focused on our strengths and what we can bring to the game.

On growing the women’s game:

I guess every single player that puts on a shirt in this tournament probably feels that. I can imagine the Swiss team feel that because they’re the home nation. Every other team wants to replicate what England did and what the Netherlands did before us and really boost women’s football. We know that success comes from that. We know that we’re fortunate with England that when we have success, it really does explode. It’s what we want all over Europe and all over the world.

On her ‘why’:

My ‘why’ has always been the same. I’m someone who is based off of hard work and enjoying it. My ‘why’ was that I just love working hard and I love the game. It’s as simple as that. I started playing football because I love it. When I loved it, I wanted to work hard. I had a picture of myself up from against Sweden in 2019 of being absolutely exhausted at the end of that game because I will get anything and I will give everything when I play in an England shirt and I wanted all the girls to know that.

Sweden in profile

Nickname: Blågult (The Blue and Yellow)
Coach: Peter Gerhardsson
Captain: Caroline Seger
UEFA Women's EURO best performance: Champions in 1984
FIFA Women's World Cup best performance: Runners-up in 2003
Last encounter: Sweden 0-0 England, 16 July 2024

Match stats

● Sweden have lost only one of their last five games against England at the UEFA Women’s EURO (W3 D1), though that was a 4-0 defeat in the most recent meeting in the semi-finals of EURO 2022 – the Swedes are one of two teams to eliminate England from the knockout stages of the competition twice, alongside Germany (1984 final, 1987 semi-final).

● England have won just one of their last six meetings with Sweden across all competitions (D3 L2), with the most recent two ending in draws in qualification for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (1-1 home, 0-0 away).

● Sweden and England are two of three nations to have reached the quarter-final stage in all five major tournaments (World Cup/EURO) since EURO 2017, alongside France; Blågult have progressed from each of their last three last-eight ties, since they were eliminated from EURO 2017 by the Netherlands.

● England have progressed from each of their five quarter-final ties at major tournaments (World Cup/EURO) since the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, already the longest ever run by a European nation; meanwhile the Lionesses have a perfect three from three record in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s EURO, beating Finland in 2009, France in 2017 and Spain in 2022.

● Sweden have won all three of their games at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, but have never won four in a row in the competition before. They have actually won six of their last seven games in the competition, with the exception their 4-0 loss to England in the semi-finals of EURO 2022.

● In the group stage of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, no team recorded a higher expected goals figure than both England and Sweden (both 9.34 xG), while only Spain (14) scored more goals than England (eleven – level with France). Eight different players netted for the Lionesses in the group stage, only having more players net in a single major tournament (World Cup/EURO) at EURO 2022 (9).

● 65 per cent of Sweden’s chances created from open play at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 have come down their right-hand side, the highest proportion of any nation; the Swedes recorded the most open play crosses during the group stage (61), with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd completing twice as many as any other player overall (eight).

😁💭 @ellatoone99

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 13, 2025

● Only Ellen White (ten) has scored more major tournament goals (World Cup/EURO) for England than Alessia Russo (eight – level with Fara Williams), who has netted three goals in her last six knockout stage appearances at those tournaments, including a goal against Sweden in the EURO 2022 semi-final.

● Kosovare Asllani scored (one) or assisted (three) half of Sweden’s goals in the group stage of this year’s UEFA Women’s EURO (4/8). Since Opta have assist data available for major tournaments (World Cup/EURO from 2011), only Lotta Schelin at UEFA Women’s EURO 2013 (7) and Asllani herself at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup (five) have recorded more goal involvements at a single edition of such a competition for Sweden.

● England’s Ella Toone has been directly involved in seven goals at the UEFA Women’s EURO, despite starting just two games (four goals, three assists) – the 25 year old has scored four goals in her last three international starts, as many as across her 26 prior for the Lionesses.

England Squad News

Ticket Information for England women v Sweden at EURO 2025

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Where to watch or stream England women v Sweden?

This game will be broadcast in the UK on BBC One.

Sarina Wiegman has named her side to take on Sweden in the quarter-final of EURO 2025.

The Lionesses are unchanged from the team that ran out winners over Wales in England’s final group tie.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton, 2 Lucy Bronze, 4 Keira Walsh, 5 Alex Greenwood, 6 Leah Williamson (C), 7 Lauren James, 8 Georgia Stanway, 10 Ella Toone, 11 Lauren Hemp, 16 Jess Carter, 23 Alessia Russo

Substitutes: 3 Niamh Charles, 9 Beth Mead, 12 Maya Le Tissier, 13 Anna Moorhouse, 14 Grace Clinton, 15 Esme Morgan, 17 Michelle Agyemang, 18 Chloe Kelly, 19 Aggie Beever-Jones, 20 Jess Park, 21 Khiara Keating, 22 Lotte Wubben-Moy

England came back from two goals behind to reach the Euro 2025 semi-finals by defeating Sweden on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the Stadion Letzigrund.

Sweden got off to a swift start as a mistake at the back saw Kosovare Asllani capitalise to give her side the lead and it would only get worse when Stina Blackstenius added a second 20 minutes later.

But while England left it late, they would not be defeated so easily. Lucy Bronze nodded in at the far post before Michelle Agyemang fired home from close range to level the scores and take the game to extra-time.

And it was Bronze’s penalty that gave England the advantage in the shootout, before Smilla Holmberg’s miss kept the Lionesses’ hopes of a title defence alive.

It could not have started much worse for England as sloppy passing at the back proved their undoing early on.

Asllani managed to get a touch on Jess Carter’s pass out before Keira Walsh played it straight to Swedish feet, allowing Blackstenius to play in her captain, who made no mistake to tuck her shot into the bottom corner after just two minutes.

It could have been a second moments later but a late sliding block from Leah Williamson prevented Blackstenius doing further damage.

England retaliated as Lauren Hemp saw her looping shot from the left of the box turned onto the bar by Jennifer Falk inside 10 minutes.

But Sweden did have their second on 25 minutes when Julia Zigiotti Olme threaded a ball in behind for Blackstenius to run onto. The Arsenal striker made no mistake to fire across goal and bury the ball into the far corner.

And Fridolina Rolfo had further chances before half-time with Hannah Hampton twice forced into action to prevent a third, racing off her line to clear before palming wide minutes later.

England came out with greater impetus after the break, with Hemp heading just wide from a brilliant cross off the right from Lauren James.

But Blackstenius’ pace continued to threaten as she once more raced through the England defence but saw her shot stopped by Hampton on 54 minutes.

The Lionesses looked like they should have been back in the game when Hemp threaded through to Ella Toone from the right to put her one-on-one with Falk, but the midfielder opted to square instead of shoot and saw her pass cut out.

A triple change by Sarina Wiegman with 20 minutes to go brought renewed impetus to the England attack but it was the introduction of Kelly eight minutes later that made the impact.

Her inswinging ball off the left just 63 seconds after coming on was perfectly weighted for Bronze to head home at the far post and put England back in the game.

It was Kelly once more who instigated the move on 81 minutes that saw Beth Mead nod her ball down into the path of Agyemang, who finished with aplomb from close range.

Alessia Russo appeared to have the opportunity to finish it off for England in stoppage time as Agyemang broke free to square for her club teammate, but her shot was blocked well.

Extra time was next and England watched Nathalie Bjorn with bated breath as she glanced a header wide from a set-piece after the restart.

The contest only became more physical as legs tired with James and Williamson both receiving treatment, the latter forced off with 15 minutes to go.

England weathered a storm of Swedish pressure as the Blagult camped in the Lionesses’ box, but England proved level to their attempts to see the game to penalties.

After Russo scored the opener in style, James and Filippa Angeldahl exchanged misses before Zigiotti Olme brought proceedings level.

Mead, Magdalena Eriksson and Alex Greenwood proceeded to miss their spot-kicks before Nathalie Bjorn fired Sweden ahead.

But Kelly stepped up to the plate to keep England in it, before the sides exchanged a further two missed penalties.

Bronze, who had already scored to get England back in the game, buried her sudden death spot-kick before Holmberg sent hers over and sent England into the semi-finals.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton (Chelsea); 2 Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), 6 Leah Williamson (Arsenal), 16 Jess Carter (Gotham FC), 5 Alex Greenwood (Manchester City); 10 Ella Toone (Manchester United), 4 Keira Walsh (Chelsea), 8 Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich); 7 Lauren James (Chelsea), 23 Alessia Russo (Arsenal), 11 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)

Subs: 9 Beth Mead (Arsenal) for Toone 70, 15 Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit) for Carter 70, 17 Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal) for Stanway 70, 18 Chloe Kelly (Arsenal) for Hemp 78, 14 Grace Clinton (Manchester United) for Walsh 104, 3 Niamh Charles (Chelsea) for Williamson 105

Subs not used: 13 Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), 21 Khiara Keating (Manchester City), 12 Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), 19 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), 20 Jess Park (Manchester City), 22 Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Goals: Bronze 79, Agyemang 81

Yellow cards: Kelly 90

Sweden: 12 Jennifer Falk; 4 Hannah Lundkvist, 14 Nathalie Bjorn, 6 Magdalena Eriksson, 2 Jonna Andersson; 16 Filippa Angeldahl, 9 Kosovare Asllani, 15 Julia Zigiotti Olme; 19 Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, 11 Stina Blackstenius, 18 Fridolina Rolfo

Subs: 22 Smilla Holmberg for Lundkvist 61, 8 Lina Hurtig for Asllani 78, 7 Madelen Janogy for Rolfo 78, 10 Sofia Jakobsson for Rytting Kaneryd 105, 5 Amanda Nilden for Andersson 105, 23 Rebecka Blomqvist for Blackstenius 117

Subs not used: 1 Emma Holmgren, 21 Tove Enblom, 3 Linda Sembrant, 13 Amanda Ilestedt, 17 Ellen Wangerheim, 20 Hanna Bennison

Goals: Asllani 2, Blackstenius 25

Yellow cards: Zigiotti Olme 89