Women’s Euros: England trash Sweden to advance to the finals
Hosts England cruised into Sunday’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 final with a four-goal win against Sweden that thrilled a sell-out Sheffield crowd, the pick of their strikes a remarkable Alessia Russo back-heel.
While England retained the same starting XI as in all their games at these finals, Sweden started with Sofia Jakobsson, who had not previously featured here even from the bench, and also welcomed back Hanna Glas. Jakobsson threatened in the first minute, played through by Stina Blackstenius and making Mary Earps save with her foot.
The hosts were generally having more of the ball, but Blackstenius was dangerous on the break, Earps having to dive to deny the Arsenal forward. From the resulting corner, Blackstenius headed onto the crossbar – and Sweden’s small knot of just over 1,000 fans were more than making themselves heard among the general din.
England chances were rarer, but Georgia Stanway, the extra-time match-winner against Spain, jinked inside and tested Hedvig Lindahl, who was facing the Lionesses for the 11th time over a period of more than 20 years. However, she was beaten in the 34th minute when Mead spun to turn in Lucy Bronze’s cross on the half-volley.
The combination was reversed early in the second half when Bronze rose to head in Mead’s corner. Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson rang the changes, though it was Blackstenius who continued to threaten for the Blågult, heading a Fridolina Rolfö cross just wide. Sarina Wiegman sent on Alessio Russo and her first action was a blistering run and centre which Lauren Hemp, from point-blank range, slid in to turn onto the bar.
Sweden kept pushing, Leah Williamson blocking a shot from substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Earps saving brilliantly from Blackstenius. But then a moment of magic effectively settled the tie: Lindahl did well to save an effort from Russo, only for the England substitute to try an outrageous back-heel which went in through the legs of the shocked keeper.
England lost their 2017 semi-final 3-0 to Wiegman’s Netherlands side. But they were not prepared to settle for three of their own here, Kirby chipping over her former Chelsea colleague Lindahl for goal number four.
From then on, a sell-out Bramall Lane was pitched somewhere between wonder and hysteria, a huge final-whistle roar sending England on to Wembley in search of a first major women’s trophy
