Women's Euros
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England fought back from two goals down to continue the defence of their European title as they beat Sweden 3-2 in a desperately tense penalty shootout in the quarter-final.
Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk saved four of England’s penalties but missed her own from the spot, with Lucy Bronze scoring what proved to be the winner after the shootout went to sudden death.
England had earlier trailed 2-0 with Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius scoring first-half goals for the impressive Swedes.
But England rallied late on, scoring two goals within two minutes. First Bronze headed in Chloe Kelly’s cross and then Michelle Agyemang grabbed the equaliser.
England went on to somehow win the shootout and will now play Italy for a place in the final.
GO FURTHER
Sweden 2 England 2 (2-3 on pens) – Lucy Bronze leads Lionesses to Euros penalty glory
Gerhardsson also spoke about Smilla Holmberg, Sweden's 18-year-old who missed the decisive penalty: "Everyone supports her, and not only her. The sadness is not because you are 18, others are just as sad at 27 or 30. What you saw after the shootout was support, everyone supported one another. It will be difficult to deal with later, but us in the coaching team made the choice of players, and we have never been cowardly to make a decision, but sometimes things do not go your way.”
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Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson speaking after his team's defeat: "We played really well in the first half. In the second half we saw England push, and we didn’t want to pull back as far as we did, but we played against very skillful opponents. We came back in extra time, they got tired, and we were more perky. But that analysis is pointless right now, it’s melancholy. You feel a certain sadness that it turned out this way.
“I am sure people from Sweden and England or wherever will be touched by this match. You have to have a winner or loser.”
Team captain Kosovare Asllani spoke to UEFA.com after Sweden's loss: "We scored two early goals, and we were defending well. We created chances, so I don't know what went wrong in those few minutes when they scored two quick goals. I don't know what to say. We had the team to win this tournament. I just feel empty. I can't take in what just happened."
Lucy Bronze, scorer of England's first goal, spoke about the wild twists and turns this match took: "It was a rollercoaster. Both underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time. A crazy game, as a player, and for fans too.
"Holding the team together in the first half was difficult. They had a few good chances to put the game to bed, lucky for us we kept them out. The substitutes changed the dynamic of the game."
On facing Italy in the semi-final: "On paper, Italy are ranked lower, but they've got everything to win. I thought they played well, they deserve to be in the semi-final."
Kelly also spoke to BBC about the moments during the game in which England had to suffer through pressure from Sweden.
"Against a top side like Sweden, there's going to be times where you are struggling a little bit, but it's about sticking together in those moments.
"Even in extra time, there were moments where we felt uncomfortable, but it's riding the storm together, knowing we've got resilient players in our team and we can bounce back from anything."
Chloe Kelly, who quickly assisted both of England's goals after coming on as a substitute, spoke to BBC Sport after the match: "We knew we had to bounce back. We weren't at our best in the first half, but we knew we were capable of doing so and we showed that.
"The girls coming onto the pitch did their jobs, executed it really well. That just shows, with the whole squad, when you're needed, you take your moment.
"I didn't feel under pressure, I just wanted to go and create some goals for the girls and be at my best. I just tried to put the ball in the box and play to my strengths."
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England coach Sarina Wiegman spoke to BBC Sport after he side's incredible win: "It was hard. One of the hardest games I've ever watched. Very emotional. We could've been out of the game four or five times. When you're 2-0 down at half-time it's not good.
"We started really badly and then at the end of the first half we got better and in the second half we got better but we didn't create anything so we had to change shape. Then we scored two goals so that was crazy already.
"Then we go into extra time, some players injured, some players cramping, Hannah Hampton with blood all over the place.
"Then we go to the penalty shootout and we miss a lot but they miss even more and we're through. I need to decompress I think!"
Finally, Williamson spoke about the injury she suffered rolling her ankle during the first half of extra time. She played on for several minutes before coming off at half-time of extra time.
“It wasn’t about me and a game like that requires you to be at 100 per cent," she said. "Nobody can put a foot wrong. It wasn’t the time to stay on the pitch, but I don’t know.”
Williamson also touched on the impact that subs made in this match when speaking to BBC Sport. Michelle Agyemang scored the equalising goal, while Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly both recorded assists.
"That’s what I’m most proud of," the England captain said. "You hope you create an environment where everyone’s ready and feels valued enough, that when it’s their time they can step up and do their job, and that’s what you just saw. Everyone covered so much ground, did their job and they can help out each other as well. I’m so proud of them.
"We’ve played three finals in a row now basically, where if you lose you go home. We have the belief, we have the proof, it’s just about turning up doing their job. I’m a happy girl today."
Leah Williamson also spoke to BBC Sport after England's wild victory: “I feel really, really proud. That was awful to watch at the end. I love that we never give up. We’re never done. We don’t believe we’re ever done. The fightback, the quality to turn the game around and stay in it mentally was just incredible.”
On practicing penalties: “Loads. I know there were a few misses than normal but that’s something you have to box off before a tournament. There’s so much science behind it nowadays, it’s the easiest and hardest thing in the world.”
Speaking to BBC Sport, Hampton also touched on the nosebleed she suffered in a collision late in the second half: "I think I was better in the game when I had one nostril than when I was completely fine! Just happy and relieved now.
"It's fine. Me and nosebleeds never go well. Me and the doctor have had some great history in the past with having to go to hospital and stuff so as soon as he came over he was thinking 'not again'. I'm better with one nostril now."
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England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton spoke to BBC Sport after that dramatic penalty shootout: "It just all has gone so quickly, that last little bit of the penalty shootout. We're very happy. The fans knew we could bring this back and you never write us off."
On what the shootout was like: "Stressful. Stressful watching, stressful playing. Every time I saved one I was thinking 'please just put it in so we have a bit of a cushion'. Their keeper then just went and saved the next one and I was thinking 'oh goodness, here we go.'"
On whether she could feel the fans' impact: "Yeah. I could tonight, especially in that shootout. They were cheering non-stop. It helps you get that little bit of an edge over them and stretch a little extra for each dive. They were definitely behind me and I really appreciated all of the support."
A match that had several chapters to it and can't be neatly summed up. Sweden controlled most of normal time and dominated the chances in extra time, but England made the absolute most of their superiority late in the second half to make their chances count.
Commenters on our discussion page were not impressed with the penalties taken in that shootout.
Michael B.: Some of the worst PKs I have seen taken in a shootout since Taylor Allderdice Junior High School and Gladstone Junior High School in 1960 at Burgwin Park in Hazelwood, PA. That one ended 0-0 and the next criteria was corner kicks. Gladstone won 1-0.
Theodore H.: The most outrageously bulls— game I have ever seen. Absolutely loved it.
Hugh M.: What the hell was that shootout? England got away with a France performance.
Paul B.: England players looked so nervous in the shootout.
Sam D.: Sweden just out-Englanded England.
You have to feel for Smilla Holmberg. Eighteen years old and misses the penalty that puts her nation out of the Euros. That's a brutal moment for anyone to handle, let along a teenager making just her third appearance for the national team. Thankfully, her team-mates were quick to console her after her miss.
England's win today is the first time a team has ever won a knockout match at the Women's Euros having trailed by multiple goals.
Amidst all the crazy drama of the penalty shootout, don't forget that England trailed 2-0 until the 79th minute! This match truly had it all.
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Fitting that Lucy Bronze realised that every penalty was failing the same way. She was phenomenal all game. A leader, calm and composed amid genuine naive madness.
That was the best and worst penalty shootout of all time. Magnificent stuff.
That was the nerviest, messiest series of penalties I’ve seen in some time. It’s right up there with the 2023 World Cup quarter-final between Australia and France, but the psychological toll can’t be overstated.
I will never be able to erase the image of Hannah Hampton facing her first international penalties with stuffing up her right nostril, or Lucy Bronze wrapping her own thigh in the waning minutes of extra time before smashing home the penalty that was ultimately the one that punched England’s ticket to the semi-final. Wow. Just wow.
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