England Advance to Euro 2025 Semis After Dramatic Shootout Victory Over Sweden
England’s women’s football team has secured a place in the semi-finals of Euro 2025 after a thrilling comeback against Sweden, ultimately winning 3-2 in a penalty shootout. The match, held in Zurich, saw England fight back from two goals down, continuing their title defense in dramatic fashion.
The encounter began ominously for the reigning champions, as Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani opened the scoring with her 50th international goal just two minutes into the match. Stina Blackstenius doubled Sweden’s lead before halftime, leaving England in a precarious position as they faced elimination with just 11 minutes left in regular time.
However, Sarina Wiegman’s squad showcased their resilience when Lucy Bronze netted a header from a Chloe Kelly cross in the 79th minute, igniting hope for the English side. Michelle Agyemang then leveled the score shortly after, reacting quickly to a loose ball to send the match into extra time.
Despite a tense extra period that saw few clear chances, the match went to a penalty shootout, where both teams struggled to find their rhythm. A total of nine penalties were missed, but the shootout concluded with Smilla Holmberg’s effort soaring over the bar, sealing Sweden’s fate and bringing an end to their hopes of claiming a first major title since 1984.
With this victory, England will now face Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva on Tuesday, marking Italy’s first appearance in the last four since 1997.
