Wembley awaits the first finalist of the Women’s Euro 2022 as the hosts England desire to break their semifinal hoodoo against Sweden with a similar stance in the tournament.
The Lionesses checked their first big challenge in the tournament against Spain in the quarterfinals but required a Georgia Stanway’s belter in the extra time to decide their fate while Sweden needed a climax header from Linda Sembrant to edge out Belgium in injury-time.
ENG vs SWE Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 26th July 2022/ Wednesday, 27th July 2022
Time: 20:00 (BST)/ 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Bramall Lane, Sheffield
ENG vs SWE Match Preview
Amex Stadium descend into sheer euphoria when Georgia Stanway decided to take matters into her hand by scoring one of the goals in the tournament in the first half of extra-time to complete a stunning comeback against Spain in the quarterfinals. Sarina Weigman’s side were unscratched in the group stage bulldozing opposition, scoring a record 14 goals and conceding none but La Roja brought a challenge like no other. Dominated largely by their opposition with their attack failing to click, Esther Gonzalez’s strike in the second half put England behind for the first time in Euro 2022 so Weigman was forced to use her cards from the bench with even Beth Mead, the top scorer of the tournament, substituted. The move paid dividends for the Lionesses as they gained the upper hand and scored five minutes from time with subs Alessia Russo nodding down a cross for Ella Toone to strike the leveller and force extra-time. From then on Spain lost the grip of the match and England did their task remarkably well in a situation haven’t experienced before in the tournament. The win in that manner certainly gives the confidence to draw out results in games not fully under control. The Lionesses have to use their substitution trick again though if Plan A doesn’t work as Sweden in the semifinal is the toughest one to overcome. Other than the final, this could be their biggest test ever as progressing from the semifinals of major competitions has not worked well for England, exiting the previous three tournaments at this stage. In 2017, the last edition of the Euros, eventual champions the Netherlands beat them convincingly 3-0. England’s last appearance in the final of any major competition was in the 2009 Euros. Interestingly, Sweden also carries a positive record in this meeting, including the bronze final win against the Lionesses in the 2019 Women’s World Cup. So, England needs to keep their spirit high at all times if they wish to win a first-ever major trophy with a highly talented squad at their disposal. The 18 games unbeaten run is just the right momentum they have at this moment.
Unlike England, Sweden’s ride in the group stages was bumpy and aside from a 5-0 battering of Portugal results wasn’t achieved smoothly. Peter Gerharsson’s team were left frustrated not to take much other than a draw in the opening group game of Euro 2022 facing the now exited holders, the Netherlands even after leading for 50 minutes and then saved by a stunning late winner from Hanna Bennison in the 2-1 victory over Switzerland avoiding another points drop-off. Qualification was assured in the final group game but Belgium proved to be a solid side in the quarterfinals. A sensational Nicky Evrard in the Belgian goal-post kept every attempt away from Sweden until Juventus’s Linda Sembrant found herself at the right time to slam in a saved shot from a late corner sending the Blue and Yellows to the last four at the Euros for the first time since 2001. That was also the last time they went into a Euro final. Real Madrid Femenino’s striker Kosovare Asllani has been pulling this team and although there were no assists or goals to show from her for the first time in this Euros, she continued to trouble the opposition with her excellent dribbling ability side by side creating chances for her teammate. The semifinal spot is not new to Sweden with qualification to the knockout stages a common theme in eleven Euros. They have won and lost from here four times each. However, the Blagult have lost their last two matches in the Euros at this stage and got eliminated from four of the six semifinals in a major competition. The positive part for the highest ranked nation in Europe is their record against England is massively encouraging especially in major competitions. This is the first time England are hoping to beat Sweden in a major tournament since 1984 so a fascinating battle for the final is on the line.
Recent Form (Euro 2022)
ENG: WWWW
SWE: WWWD
ENG vs SWE Team News
The subs made a huge impact in the last game for the Lionesses but manager Sarina Weigman is expected to keep her preferred starting lineup for the fifth consecutive game. Right-back Rachel Daly had a hard time defending Spain’s pacey winger Athenea Castillo and could face stiff competition with Alex Greenwood to retain her place. Midfielder Kiera Walsh will be fit to start to pair with quarterfinal-winning goal-scorer Georgia Stanway in midfield after being subbed off in extra time only due to cramps. Second choice keeper Hannah Hampton has rejoined the England camp following her absence through Covid.
Sweden are pending updates on the availability of Hanna Glas, Emma Kulberg and Jonna Anderson as they recover from Covid-19. The trio missed out on the quarterfinal win over Belgium. With Glas moving to right-back spot, Linda Sembrant could drop to the bench despite scoring the last minute winner in the 1-0 victory. The rest of the team remains the same. Veteran Caroline Seger is hoping to receive some minutes on the pitch after missing the last two games through injury.
ENG vs SWE Predicted Lineups
ENG: Mary Earps; Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Rachel Daly; Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh; Beth Mead, Fran Kirby, Lauren Hemp; Ellen White
SWE: Hedvig Lindahl; Hanna Glas, Amanda Ilestedt, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Anderson; Filippa Angeldahl, Kosovare Asllani, Nathalie Bjorn; Johanna Kaneyrd, Stina Blackstenius, Fridolina Rolfo,
ENG vs SWE Head to Head
The meeting between Sweden and England is as historical as it gets. Despite the Lionesses’ dull record in this fixture, they have proved to be an opposition to watch out for Sweden. Nevertheless, the Blagult have won three out of four encounters in the Euros over them but haven’t met each other in the knockout phases of the competition since 1987. The last meeting in the competition was in 2005, a 1-1 stalemate while after the year both of them played each time six times with three wins each.
ENG vs SWE Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Earps (8.5)
DEF: Bronze (9), Bright (8.5), Williamson (8.5), Eriksson (8.5),
MID: Mead (10), Stanway (8.5), Walsh (8.5), Bjorn (8.5)
FW: Asllani (9.5), Rolfo (9.5)
Captain: Beth Mead (England)
Vice-captain: Kosovare Asllani (Sweden)
Mary Earps failed to keep her clean sheet but made 3 saves in the match with one being a game saver.
Georgia Stanway earned a well-deserved player of the match award not solely down to her game-winner but the impact she made from midfield. The new Bayern Munich player completed all her dribbles, maintained 85% pass accuracy and made 8 recoveries.
Midfield partner Kiera Walsh provided the assists and completed 86% of her passes in the game and 91% in the tournament so far.
