It needed “bodies on the line” and some old-fashioned stubborn defending to see it out late on, but they got there – just. Right now, they will not care too much about how. England are going to the 2025 Women’s European Championship in Switzerland to defend their title, after securing automatic qualification with a nervy goalless draw in Sweden, and they have shown they are not going to give up their crown lightly.
The holders had left themselves an alpine mountain to climb when they lost at home against France in May and slipped down to third in the “group of death”. But since then they have defied this toughest of qualifying draws to secure a place among the 16 sides that will contest the finals next summer, without the need to participate in the lengthy playoff process between October and December. That unenviable fate now awaits the Olympic silver medallists Sweden.
