It’s time to wrap this blog up. Thanks for your company and emails on an unforgettable night at Bramall Lane. Please join us for tomorrow’s semi-final between France v Germany and then for the big one on Sunday. Goodnight!
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And here are Sophie Downey’s player ratings
One more step on Sunday. 👊
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2022
Tonight, though, we celebrate! pic.twitter.com/qW2hFHIote
After three semi-final defeats, England have finally made it to another final. Here’s Louise Taylor’s take on a famous night in Sheffield.
Thank you for saying this @IanWright0 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/n52NcuLMTL
— Project Football (@ProjectFootball) July 26, 2022
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“There are moments in life where I have been proud to be a woman but none seem more obvious than tonight,” writes Lottie. “Women’s football is often dismissed for being ‘boring’, ‘poor quality’ or ‘not as good as men’s football’. These ladies have proven all the critics, misogynists, and doubters wrong and shown that women are more than capable of making the game exciting and winning big.
“What Ian Wright said post-match about if girls aren’t allowed to play football after this, then what are we doing this for, has never been more true. I was a typical tomboy when I was younger but at school was given the option of Zumba as a girl whilst the boys played footie. There needs to be real change in the education system to allow women to play male-dominated sports and someone needs to be held accountable to make sure this happens.
“Now is the time to change. This team of women have shown what we are capable of if we have support and funding to create equity in sport. All the fingers crossed for a big win in the final!”
There’s not much I can add to that, and not only because I’m male. Regardless of what happens on Sunday, I’ll be amazed (and very confused) if this doesn’t go down as a landmark in women’s sport in England, never mind football. I don’t think it’s too trite to say that, in a sense, they’ve already won.
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With such an emphatic scoreline, it’s easy to forget the importance of Mary Earps. She made two good saves early on and a brilliant one when the score was 2-0.
Let’s return to a happier theme. I could watch this goal for the rest of my natural born days.
Should Sarina Wiegman start Alessia Russo in the #Euro2022 final for England?
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
Thoughts? 🤔#WEURO2022 #BBCEuros #BBCFootball #Lionesses
England’s last major final was in 2009, when they were hammered by Germany in Helsinki. I’ll be honest, on reflection I’m not sure why I’ve brought this up.
Here’s Suzanne Wrack’s match report from Bramall Lane.
The England players are doing a lap of honour, with the DJ going through all the favourites: Sweet Caroline, Don’t Stop Me Now, Seven Nation Army, Rockin’ All Over the World. Truly, they’re having the time of their life.
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Sunday’s final kicks off at 5pm, so you can forget about watching Gino’s Italian Escape and Grow Your Own at Home with Alan Titchmarsh. Whoever they play will be a helluva test, but they can think about that in the morning. Tonight is for celebrating one of the most joyous nights in English football history.
Sarina Wiegman’s reaction
“The second half we did really well. I thought in the first half we struggled a little bit. The second half we had total control of the game and got some more space. It’s really loud here! We’re having a little party.
“[Will you all be trolleying booze tonight?] No, no, course not! We’ll celebrate now a little bit. But as we said before this tournament, we have a dream. We’ve come very far, and now we want to take it away.
“In the second half we played so well. It was such a good performance that I think everyone will talk about it. We’re very resilient. I thought we didn’t start well, so we had a hard time, but the players found a way within the game. I’m so, so incredibly proud of them.”
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Beth Mead’s reaction
“At the full-time whistle we didn’t really know what to do! We’re ecstatic to be in the final. I enjoyed my goal – I think it came at a good time, as they’d had chances and there was pressure on us. I’m happy to help the team again. [Has it sunk in yet?] I’m really missing this song, I want to get involved!”
And with that, she’s off to sing Sweet Caroline with her teammates in front of an adoring crowd.
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Now the entire England party, backroom staff included, are bouncing around in a huddle. It’s a delightful scene, full of charm. Ellen White still can’t quite fathom it - when they all pull away she stands with both hands on her head in front of the England fans.
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Yes, it really, really, really did happen
WHAT. A. PERFORMANCE.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2022
WE ARE HEADING TO THE #WEURO2022 FINAL! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/5slvrnjm7q
Ellen White walks onto the field, haemorrhaging tears of joy. Most of the players are beaming. Sarina Wiegman, as calm as ever, has a more restrained smile as she embraces the players one by one. Whatever happens on Sunday - and we’ll come to that, don’t worry - everyone involved will remember this night forever.
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Full time: England 4-0 Sweden
England will play France or Germany at Wembley on Sunday after hammering Sweden at a euphoric Bramall Lane. Sweden were the better team for half an hour, much the better team, but Beth Mead’s expert finish settled England down and they ran away with the game after half-time.
Lucy Bronze headed the second, the substitute Alessia Russo scored an incredible backheel and Fran Kirby chipped the fourth. The semi-final hoodoo is over, and now England will play their first final since September 2009.
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90+1 min Three minutes of added time. Most of the crowd would happily watch another three hours.
90 min Hemp’s teasing cross from the right just evades Russo, under pressure from Bjorn, and bounces fractionally wide of the far post.
89 min The Russo backheel was even better because she had to wrap her right foot around her standing leg. That’s why I’m loath to be too critical of Lindahl, because the element of surprise was so great. She was definitely at fault for Kirby’s goal though.
Another look at that Alessia Russo goal? Oh, go on then. 😍
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
Live: https://t.co/zg8cPsrbEf#BBCFootball #BBCEuros pic.twitter.com/9y7bdKLZ5r
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88 min “You’re all very welcome,” says Adam Griffiths. “I am nowhere near a telly on Sunday so the name is practically on the trophy.”
87 min “Kirby is the cleverest football player England have had since Karen Carney,” ays Ruth Purdue. “Both were at least two passes ahead of the rest. I am not an England fan but it makes me smile to see her playing again.”
Amen to that.
86 min: Triple substitution for England Jill Scott, Alex Greenwood and Chloe Kelly replace Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly and Beth Mead, whose superb goal started all this. A word for Daly too, who was under a lot pressure coming into this game and has been close to flawless.
85 min Stanway is booked for a poor, studs-up tackle on Bennison. A few referees would have sent her off for that, though on balance I think a yellow card was correct.
83 min And here’s the fourth goal.
Sometimes, things just go your way...#BBCFootball #BBCEuros
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
82 min “Just wonderful for Fran Kirby,” says Charles Antaki. “Has there ever been such an unassuming and self-effacing midfield dynamo-schemer-general? Crowded out v Spain but majestic tonight.”
81 min Toone’s cross is shanked onto the roof of her own net by Bjorn.
81 min I’ll be honest, I’m still reeling from the third goal, never mind the fourth.
What can you say about that?! 🤯 #BBCFootball #BBCEuros
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
80 min “Wow!” says Matt Dony. “Somewhere, Phil Neville is taking credit for this…”
79 min Ella Toone replaces Fran Kirby, who walks off to a standing ovation and high-fives her manager. What a lovely moment for a player who has been through so much.
Fran Kirby, who has been close to her mischievous best tonight, gets in on the act. It came from a throw-in on the right, with Mead poking a quick, clever pass into the path of Kirby as she ran beyond the defence. Kirby curled a first-time chip over Lindahl, who got two hands on the ball but could only push it over her head and into the net.
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GOAL! England 4-0 Sweden (Kirby 77)
I think it’s safe to say that England are going to Wembley.
76 min Two more changes for Sweden: Lina Hurtig and Hanna Bennison replace Linda Sembrant and Stina Blackstenius.
75 min Sweden are still dominating possession, but at the moment England look the likelier scorers. A night like that was unimaginable in the first 25 minutes, when Sweden opened England up on the counter and had all the best chances.
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73 min Bjorn is booked for tripping Stanway.
71 min I’m still reeling from that goal. The imagination, the chutzpah, and the noise - a different kind of roar, a delirious fusion of “Get in!” and “WTF!”
This is spine-tingling stuff! Walsh and Kirby sliced Sweden apart, with Kirby putting the chance on a plate for Russo. She hit her shot straight at Lindahl, when she should have scored. Thank goodness she didn’t score, because what hgappened next was incredible. Russo charged after the rebound, muscled Seger off the ball and produced a sudden backheel that went through the legs of the keeper Lindahl. That is an amazing goal.
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GOAL! England 3-0 Sweden (Russo 68)
Alessia Russo has scored the most outrageous goal!
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67 min Marvellous play from Hemp, who scorches past Glas and drives a low cross that just evades Russo in the six-yard box.
65 min: Fine save from Earps! England struggle to clear a Sweden corner. Eventually the ball is forced across the area towards Blackstenius, who thighs a shot that loops teasingly over Earps. She leaps backwards and just manages to tip it over the bar. That’s an outstanding save.
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64 min Sweden continue to dominate possession, though England look reasonably comfortable in defence at the moment. Asllani wins another corner off Daly...
63 min ... but it’s a poor corner from Asllani, straight into the side netting.
62 min Asllani gets away down the left and wins a corner off the covering Walsh...
61 min Russo chests a long ball superbly into the path of Kirby. Her pass towards Hemp is overhit, but that was another terrific touch from the substitute Russo.
60 min The scoreline means the first-half roles have been reversed, with England sitting deeper and playing on the break.
57 min: Hemp hits the bar! Russo almost made a goal straight away. She rampaged down the inside-right channel and hammered a devastating ball across the six-yard box. Hemp got to it first, ahead of Glas, but hit the bouncing ball against the crossbar. What a chance to finish Sweden off!
57 min: England substitution Alessia Russo replaces Ellen White, who worked incredibly hard for little obvious reward.
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56 min Another good cross from Rolfo is flicked wide by the head of Blackstenius. She was under a lot of pressure from Williamson, who gave her a slight push in the back to ensure she couldn’t get a clear header.
56 min Here’s that second goal from Lucy Bronze. I’m still not sure how it found its way in, or why she had so much space beyond the far post.
"Lucy Bronze strikes gold for England!!" ⚽👏
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
Live: https://t.co/0apvrneDGX
England 2-0 Sweden#WEURO2022 #BBCEuros #ENGSWE pic.twitter.com/j41ghA2y9t
55 min Another change for Sweden: Jonna Andersson replaces Amanda Ilestedt, which means Hanna Glas will move across to right-back.
54 min “I chose not to watch, just to be on the safe side,” says Adam Griffiths (see 7.37pm). “I can’t help but feel this is all down to me.”
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52 min Rolfo gets away down the left and teases a superb cross to the far back. Daly, backpedalling, gets the slightest headed touch and the ball hits Ilestedt before deflecting behind for a goalkick. Without Daly’s touch, Ilestedt may well have scored.
52 min: Double substitution for Sweden The captain Caroline Seger, who is returning from injury, and the exciting Johanna Rytting Kaneryd replace Filippa Angeldal and Sofia Jakobsson.
51 min Beth Mead has now been involved in nine goals in the tournament.
50 min If England go through, that goal will mean so much to Lucy Bronze after the disappointment of 2019.
GOAL GIVEN! England 2-0 Sweden
That was such a simple goal. Mead curled the corner to the far post, where the unmarked Bronze planted a header back across goal. It bounced through a crowd and beat the unsighted Lindahl as she dived to her right. There’s a VAR check to see whether Hemp was offside, and in the keeper’s eyeline. I think she’s okay.
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GOAL! England 2-0 Sweden (Bronze 48)
Lucy Bronze makes it 2-0!
47 min Kirby threads a clever pass behind Ilestedt to find Hemp. She cuts the ball back sharply towards Mead, whose shot hits Glas and goes behind for a corner. That was lovely play from England.
46 min Peep peep! Sweden begin the second half, with no changes on either side. Yet.
Most goals scored at a single Women’s European Championship tournament:
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 26, 2022
🇩🇪 6 - Inka Grings (2009)
🏴 6 - Beth Mead (2022)
Meado has the record in her sights. #WEURO2022 pic.twitter.com/FunqfUET6N
Half-time reading
Half time: England 1-0 Sweden
An expert finish from Beth Mead has given England a precious lead in the semi-final. They started nervously, with Mary Earps making two good saves and Stina Blackstenius hitting the bar, but grew into the game and had their best spell after the goal. It was a terrific 45 minutes.
"She's done it again!"
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
Beth Mead 🔥 #BBCFootball #BBCEuros
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44 min Kirby, who has been much more influential than she was against Spain, scurries away from Angeldal but curls well wide from 25 yards.
44 min “One of the commentators on the feed I’m watching just said that Sweden’s lone Euro title came in 1984,” says Peter Oh. “If they don’t find an equaliser soon, things could get dystopian for them in a hurry.”
43 min This first half has flown by.
42 min Rolfo’s very deep cross is headed back across goal by Jakobsson, but it was an effort just to keep the ball in play and it’s collected by Earps.
41 min A beautiful flick from White finds Kirby, who hurries the ball onto Mead. She waits for White’s run and slides the ball through, but White is well tracked and runs the ball out of play.
39 min Stanway smashes over from long range. This is England’s best spell so far, sparked by that superb goal from Beth Mead. Her first touch really was immaculate, and the second didn’t exactly invite opprobrium either.
"She's done it again!"
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
Beth Mead 🔥 #BBCFootball #BBCEuros
38 min Almost another chance for England! Kirby slides a good pass to find Stanway on the right side of the area, and her low cross towards White is well cut out by Sembrant (I think) at the near post.
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36 min And now Beth Mead is two clear of Alexandra Popp in the race for the Golden Boot.
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It’s her sixth goal of the tournament, and the biggest by far. Hemp’s cross just evaded White in the middle, but Bronze kept the ball alive and whipped an early cross back towards Mead. She controlled it deftly, turned and hammered the bouncing ball through the hand of the diving Lindahl. That was a classy, clinical finish, and it’s brought the house down.
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GOAL! England 1-0 Sweden (Mead 34)
Beth Mead blasts England into the lead!
33 min Angeldal is fouled on the right wing by White. Asllani’s free-kick is headed away by Daly.
32 min Jakobsson’s cross is calmly intercepted at the near post by Williamson, a fine piece of defending.
29 min Hemp, England’s best attacker so far, runs at Ilestedt to win a corner. Mead curls it deep towards Bronze, who heads back across goal and wide. I think she was trying to put it into a dangerous area (which she did) rather than go for goal.
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27 min A quiet couple of minutes, the first such period in the match.
24 min Kirby makes an excellent sliding challenge in her own area to stop Angeldal running onto Jakobsson’s cutback.
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23 min Hemp scurries infield and finds Stanway just outside the area. She makes a little bit of room for a left-footed shot but drags it tamely through to Lindahl.
21 min Hemp slides a low cross to White near the penalty spot, but Eriksson ensures she doesn’t have a clear shot at goal and the ball dribbles through to Lindahl.
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20 min Mead wins the ball off Glas to start an England counter. Eventually Hemp gives the ball back to Mead, whose curling shot from 15 yards is blocked. Mead appeals for handball but I don’t think there was anything in it.
18 min The influential Asllani wins Sweden’s first corner. She takes it herself, floating it towards the near post. It’s headed down by Eriksson, I think, and booted clear a little desperately by Daly. England aren’t quite hanging on defensively, but nor are they comfortable.
17 min Bjorn’s long-range shot is blocked by Stanway; then Walsh does well to track Asllani and win a throw-in for England.
16 min Mead’s corner hits the unsighted White and drifts behind for a goalkick.
15 min Mead’s dangerous cross is headed behind by Eriksson for the first England corner...
14 min Bronze loses the ball in a dangerous area to Rolfo, who charges into the England area and then smashes wide from a tight angle.
13 min Here’s that chance for Sofia Jakobsson after 20 seconds of the game.
It's a good job for England that Mary Earps was switched on from the start. 😦#BBCFootball #BBCEuros
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
12 min A very ambitious effort from Stanway (and why not) goes well wide.
11 min England have started quite well in possession, with Hemp looking especially lively, but then look extremely vulnerable to counter-attacks.
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10 min Hemp surges away from Bjorn, who cynically pulls her back. No yellow card, which is pretty strange refereeing.
9 min: Blackstenius hits the bar! The resulting corner is curled into the six-yard box, where Earps misses her punch and Blackstenius heads against the bar. Dear me, what a start.
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8 min: Another save from Earps! Sweden look so dangerous on the break. Asllani guides a beautiful pass through to Blackstenius, who pulls between Bright and Bronze to run through on goal. She mishits her shot into the ground, but it still looks set to sneak into the net until Earps dives low to her left to push it away.
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7 min This is more like the last 10 minutes than the first, such is the pace and intensity of the game. It’s been a brilliant start.
5 min: Chance for Mead! Fran Kirby, 50 yards from goal on the left, drives a superb angled ball over the Sweden defence. Mead gets away from Glas but heads tamely wide of the near post from eight yards. That was a decent chance, although the ball did come a long way so it wasn’t the easiest header.
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4 min It’s been an open start to the game, with both teams looking bright and breezy in possession.
3 min “In a huff,” says Paulo Biriani. “The owner of our village bar here in Andalucia has refused to show the game after Spain’s defeat last week. Relying on you here Rob...”
Oh dear.
1 min: Good save from Earps! Sweden almost take the lead after 20 seconds! Rolfo muscled Stanway off the ball in midfield and found Blackstenius. She threaded a fine pass through to Jakobsson, who ran off Bright and hit a low shot across goal that Earps saved with her left foot. Her reactions were really good.
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The first Euro 2022 semi-final is under way!
1 min Peep peep! Georgia Stanway passes the ball to Keira Walsh, and we’re away.
Here come the players! There’s a wonderful atmosphere, with plenty of Sweden fans at Bramall Lane as well. Whether you preferred relaxant is 52% ABV liquor or chamomile tea, now is the time to pour it.
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A reminder of the teams
England (4-1-4-1) Earps; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly; Walsh; Mead, Stanway, Kirby, Hemp; White.
Substitutes: Hampton, Roebuck, Greenwood, Carter, Stokes, Scott, Parris, Kelly, England, Toone, Wubben-Moy, Russo.
Sweden (4-2-3-1) Lindahl; Ilestedt, Sembrant, Eriksson, Glas; Angeldal, Bjorn; Jakobsson, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius.
Substitutes: Falk, Musovic, Andersson, Nilden, Kullberg, Hurtig, Blomqvist, Seger, Rytting Kaneryd, Bennison.
Referee Esther Staubli (Switzerland).
TPIAFC, TDTDT
Now this, from Pejman Faratin, is fantastic: a gallery of the Euro 1984 final between England and Sweden, and a glimpse into a really good night out in Luton.
And here’s more on that final, which lasted 70 minutes and was played with a size four ball.
Have your say on Euro 2022
Peter Gerhardsson speaks
“It’s fantastic to play a semi-final again, in front of a crowd like this – we will enjoy it. Even if we’re not at home, we like to play in front of people, so it’s no problem for us.”
Sweden are determined to enjoy the match no matter what...
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
📱💻🖥 #ENG v #SWE LIVE @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer, @BBCSounds & the @BBCSport app.#WEURO2022 #BBCEuros #BBCFootball #Lionesses
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Sarina Wiegman speaks
“We’re prepared. We’ve talked about every part of the game. We want to [impose] our style of play but things can happen in the game – things can go well, things can be hard. We’ll try to stick with our plan, do our very best and stay together, and hopefully that brings us success.
“I wasn’t there [for the other semi-final defeats], that’s history. I think right now we’re in a very good place. Everyone is fit; everyone is playing her game and delivering on pitch and off the pitch. I just hope we play to our strengths.”
"We just need to stick together."
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
England boss Sarina Wiegman has spoken!
📱💻🖥 #ENG v #SWE LIVE @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer, @BBCSounds & the @BBCSport app.#WEURO2022 #BBCEuros #BBCFootball #Lionesses
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“For various reasons I have been unable to watch England’s march to the semis, and they’ve done quite well in my absence,” says Adam Griffiths. “My worry is that I’ll jinx them if I watch tonight, and I really want to watch, and we can’t be having that. What’s to be done?”
I think, and I say this with love, it’s time to reluctantly accept that your influence on this game is exactly the same as mine: the square root of bugger all.
Watching the match abroad (II)
“I’m not sure if this will help Emma Hartfield but I’ll be watching the game on uefa.tv,” writes Travis Giblin. “Not sure what the international rights are in Europe but that’s my answer from Canada.”
That which doesn’t kill your tournament dreams makes you stronger
“Hej from Sweden Rob,” says Julian Menz. “Watching with the in-laws, and I have received a thorough grilling from my seven-year-old daughter (born in Sweden) about who I support. It has been really amazing to see the level of coverage given to the tournament, and see her having role models she can relate to. Come On/Heja Svengland!”
It sounds like the tournament has already had a profound impact in England, so goodness knows how great the legacy will be if they win it.
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Watching the match abroad
Can anyone help?
“Is there a link to watch or listen to the match for all those on their holidays please?” writes Emma Hartfield (near Malaga where it’s still 34 degrees at 8.15pm) . “We have four girls aged 4-13 (plus four excited adults) looking to cheer on the Lionesses. Thank you!”
In case you’ve been at a digital retreat in the Kerguelen Islands for the past week, here’s how England and Sweden reached the semi-finals.
Take a bow, @StanwayGeorgia - that was a 𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥🎯#WEURO2022 pic.twitter.com/43gT7F4e4F
— UEFA Women's EURO 2022 (@WEURO2022) July 26, 2022
🇸🇪 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔 🤩@LindaSembrant's late, late strike booked @svenskfotboll's spot in the SFs!#WEURO2022 | #SWE pic.twitter.com/QUYHqcr82N
— UEFA Women's EURO 2022 (@WEURO2022) July 26, 2022
The case for England
- They’ve had an extra two days’ rest.
- Their comeback against Spain, after being outplayed for so long, will make them feel invincible.
- They are unbeaten in 18 games under Sarina Wiegman.
- Sarina Wiegman.
- They know a number of Swedish players from the WSL.
- It’s coming home!
The case for Sweden
- They’re second in the world rankings.
- They know how to win semi-finals (if not necessarily finals).
- Excluding penalty shootouts, they are unbeaten in 34 games.
- Their head-to-head record against England: 15 wins, three defeats.
- A number of their team know the England players from the WSL.
- It’s going home!
David Squires in a genius, and his review of the quarter-finals is up to standard.
We're here! 👋 pic.twitter.com/fr5QmjaYUl
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2022
“Waiting for the Sheffield rain to stop (hopefully) before heading to the match,” says Chris Boyle. “How concerned are you by England’s schooling from Spain for most of the previous tie? Still disconcerted by the familiarity from so many men’s defeats (accepting, crucially, the Lionesses weren’t eliminated).”
Not massively, mainly because Spain are a unique team who can do that to anyone. And if you win a game like that, after struggling for so long, it must set up new pathways in the brain. England are a better team than they were a week ago.
I still think this game is 50/50, but the manner of England’s chasing last week doesn’t really bother me.
The teams in full
England (4-1-4-1) Earps; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly; Walsh; Mead, Stanway, Kirby, Hemp; White.
Substitutes: Hampton, Roebuck, Greenwood, Carter, Stokes, Scott, Parris, Kelly, England, Toone, Wubben-Moy, Russo.
Sweden (4-2-3-1) Lindahl; Ilestedt, Sembrant, Eriksson, Glas; Angeldal, Bjorn; Jakobsson, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius.
Substitutes: Falk, Musovic, Andersson, Nilden, Kullberg, Hurtig, Blomqvist, Seger, Rytting Kaneryd, Bennison.
Referee Esther Staubli (Switzerland).
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Team news: England unchanged
All that flapping of gums about Alex Greenwood and Ella Toone was a waste of time: Sarina Wiegman has named the same XI that has started every game in this tournament.
Sweden two changes from the side that beat Belgium on Friday. Sofia Jakobsson replaces Johanna Rytting Kaneryd on the right wing, and Hanna Glas, available after contracting Covid, is in for Amanda Nilden. The captain Caroline Seger and Jonna Andersson are fit enough for the bench.
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This is an excellent profile of Sarina Wiegman, an extraordinary who, for much of the last month*, has seemed like the calmest person in England.
* If not for a couple of minutes straight after the Spain game.
Guide to the Sweden team
If you want to know more about the Swedish team, which is full of stars like Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfo and Real Madrid’s Kosovare Asllani, this interactive guide is custom designed for your needs.
Or, if you prefer, you can read this dossier on how to stop Sweden – written by Sweden’s own match analyst. I’m not making this up.
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It’s raining pretty heavily at Bramall Lane, though the forecast is better for kick-off. I have no idea what the moral of this story is.
May the best team win tonight. But most of all, may nobody be robbed by VAR.
Ellen White or Alessia Russo? It’s White for me. And, more importantly, for Anita Asante.
Early team news
Sarina Wiegman has picked the same XI throughout the tournament, but there is a growing feeling that she will make at least one change tonight. Alex Greenwood for Rachel Daly and/or Ella Toone for Fran Kirby are the obvious options. There is also a case for Alessia Russo ahead of Ellen White, though to my mind the current roles suit them both perfectly.
Sweden have had problems with injuries and Covid throughout the tournament. Hanna Glas and Emma Kullberg, who missed the tense quarter-final win over Belgium, are available again, while Caroline Seger should at least be among the substitutes. We don’t yet know whether Jonna Andersson will play - or whether their coach Peter Gerhardsson will go with 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3.
Possible teams
England (4-1-4-1) Earps; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Greenwood; Walsh; Mead, Stanway, Kirby, Hemp; White.
Sweden (4-2-3-1) Lindahl; Ilestedt, Sembrant, Eriksson, Glas; Angeldal, Bjorn; Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius.
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Louise Taylor’s big-match preview
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! - England v Sweden in the Euro 2022 semi-finals. Look, it doesn’t roll off the tongue, it wouldn’t look great on a movie poster and it might even be an oxymoron, but England are once again approaching the penultimate frontier. After three consecutive semi-final defeats, all involving different types and degrees of heartbreak, they have another chance to reach their first major final since 2009.
This time it’s in their home tournament, which means everything is heightened: hope, the fear, excitement, goodwill, pressure, expectation, giddiness. Some people are already looking ahead to Sunday’s final, and the chance of becoming the first England Women’s team to win a major tournament. But forget everything you’ve read about destiny, or Sweden’s performances, or Beth Mead’s flammability: this game is as near as dammit to 50/50.
Sweden are a fantastic side, second in the world rankings - and in last year’s Olympics, when they lost on penalties to Canada in the final. The last time England hosted the European Championship, back in 2005, they were knocked out in the group stages by, you betcha, Sweden.
The winners of tonight’s game will play France or Germany at Wembley on Sunday. The losers will spend their summer holiday trying to escape one of life’s most haunting questions: what if?
Kick off 8pm.
The calm before the storm. 🏟 pic.twitter.com/gOgJm22HZ4
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2022
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