England through to semi-finals of Women’s Euros after beating Sweden on penalties

England have booked their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Euros after knocking out Sweden.

The Lionesses won 3-2 on penalties at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, after clawing their way back to take the game into extra-time.

The defending champions had been 2-0 down at half-time after goals from Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius in the quarter-final clash.

England then levelled matters towards the end of normal time. Lucy Bronze delivered the first England goal at 79 minutes, assisted by substitute Chloe Kelly. Two minutes later, Michelle Agyemang followed suit, taking the score to 2-2.

After a goalless extra-time, it all came down to penalties.

Alessia Russo kicked things off, finding the back of the net for England, before Lauren James and Alex Greenwood had their attempts saved by Sweden’s Jennifer Falk.

The game was sent into sudden death after Falk went face-to-face with England’s Hannah Hampton but sent the ball flying over the crossbar.

It all came down to Sweden’s seventh penalty after Bronze sensationally scored, with 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg missing the chance to send her team through.

England will next face Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva on Tuesday.

‘That was crazy’

England boss Sarina Wiegman described the action as “one of the hardest games I’ve ever watched”.

“We could have been out of the game three or four times, when you’re 2-0 at half-time it’s not good,” she said after the match.

“Although we started really bad. At the end it got better, but we didn’t create anything so we had to change shape, and we score two goals – that was crazy.”

“We miss a lot [of penalties], and they miss even more. I need to decompress, I think.”

Pressure was on the Lionesses after they won the tournament in 2022.

Their journey in the group stages started with a defeat to France, but hopes were lifted after England sailed past the Netherlands and Wales to reach the knockout stages.

Sweden on the other hand went into Thursday’s game unbeaten in the tournament so far, having already defeated Germany, Poland and Denmark in the group stages.