England 4-0 Sweden: Lionesses reach Euro 2022 final with big win over Sweden

England reached their first main girls’s match ultimate since 2009 in gorgeous style as they put 4 previous Olympic finalists Sweden at Euro 2022 in Sheffield.

It was an exciting match from begin to end at Bramall Lane as Sweden piled on the stress within the opening 25 minutes, just for England to dismantle them with ruthless ending and a contact of sophistication.

Substitute Alessia Russo as soon as once more produced a second of magic when her instinctive backheel made it 3-0 to England solely 11 minutes after her introduction.

Golden Boot chief Beth Mead had put England forward within the first half towards the run of play, spinning and firing into the far nook, earlier than defender Lucy Bronze headed in a second.

Chelsea’s Fran Kirby put the icing on the cake when she chipped despairing goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl to finish the rout.

England keeper Mary Earps was in advantageous kind, pulling off quite a few saves to disclaim Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius – the most effective coming early within the second half when she reacted to tip a looping effort inches over the crossbar from shut vary.

Blackstenius had earlier hit the crossbar earlier than Mead’s opener swung momentum in England’s favour and from then on it was a show of their spectacular attacking depth.

Victory for the Lionesses ends a 13-year wait to return to the ultimate of a significant match and they’re the favourites to elevate the trophy for the primary time at Wembley on Sunday.

England one win away from glory

England have loved some memorable moments with their followers already at this match however the post-match celebrations at Bramall Lane went up a gear.

The chants of “Soccer’s coming dwelling” grew louder with every passing minute within the second half and infrequently have its lyrics felt extra plausible.

After coming from behind to see off pre-tournament favourites Spain within the quarter-finals, England went one step additional with this demolition of a Sweden aspect ranked second on the planet.

They regarded cagey and susceptible initially as Sweden piled on the stress however England, as they’ve performed so typically underneath Wiegman, discovered a solution.

Mead’s opener appeared to launch the shackles and because the crowd’s voice grew louder, England’s vitality grew with it.

“Once more, the group discovered a method,” supervisor Wiegman stated.

“We had been struggling just a little by the way in which they performed defensively however we did higher and higher. The gamers on the pitch discovered options. And after we scored it clearly helped so much.”

Bronze’s header gave them a cushion within the second half and Russo, scoring her fourth objective in 4 substitute appearances, as soon as once more made a big impact.

Kirby’s cheeky chip added salt to Sweden’s wounds and from then on it was a celebration ambiance at Bramall Lane as England’s place at Wembley was confirmed.

They’re now one victory away from successful the nation’s first main soccer trophy in 56 years.

Mead extends Golden Boot lead

Mead has tormented each opposition at this Euros and it was solely becoming she was the one to open the scoring and supply the catalyst for England’s spectacular victory in Sheffield.

She spent many of the opening 25 minutes monitoring again down the proper to supply defensive assist for Lucy Bronze however remained an outlet on the break.

However the Arsenal ahead had England’s first massive probability of the match when she glanced a header inches large of the put up inside 4 minutes and it took simply over half an hour for her to make her mark.

It was Mead’s sixth objective of the match – overtaking Jodie Taylor’s 5 at Euro 2017 which earned her the Golden Boot.

Mead can nonetheless add to that spectacular tally at Wembley the place she netted a second-half hat-trick towards Northern Eire in a World Cup qualifier final yr.

Her closest challenger is Germany’s Alexandra Popp on 4 targets – though she may add extra in Wednesday’s semi-final towards France – and the 2 may go head-to-head within the ultimate.

“It is good to be up there [in the Golden Boot race] however typically being chased is not all the time the nicest,” Mead joked.

“It is nothing I ever thought of being near. I am actually blissful to be the place I’m however it’s not one thing I am serious about – I simply wish to win with the group.”

Sensational Russo produces once more

Russo is shortly turning into a family title.

The Manchester United ahead has developed right into a terrifying weapon for England off the bench and when she got here on the group had been on their ft in pleasure for what was to return.

She took lower than a minute to ship – firing an inch-perfect cross to the again put up for teen Lauren Hemp, however she may solely slice it onto the crossbar.

Russo’s second would arrive 11 minutes later, when her preliminary strike was nicely saved, just for the 23-year-old to audaciously backheel the ball underneath the keeper’s legs from shut vary as she ran away from objective.

It drew gasps from these within the crowd and as Russo ran, arms outstretched together with her mouth large open in shock, England all of a sudden regarded positive of a spot in Wembley’s ultimate.

“When the third objective went in you begin believing clearly,” stated Mead. “What an evening.

“The sport turns into blurry when there’s that a lot pleasure and that a lot emotion. I am tremendous proud to be English and a part of this group proper now.”

Wiegman has named the identical beginning XI in all 5 of England’s Euro 2022 video games however Russo, who’s joint-second within the Golden Boot race, couldn’t have given a greater audition for a starring position.

The Lionesses unbeaten file underneath Wiegman will now be examined within the ultimate by eight-time European champions Germany, or a France aspect in search of their for his or her first main trophy.

“This group has confirmed [composure] now a few occasions,” stated the Dutchwoman. “The opening sport was a giant one too and we had been additionally calm.

“Sure, we may have began just a little higher. I’ve confidence on this group and in our gamers to remain calm, stick with the plan. We now have spoken about all of the eventualities.”

Participant of the match

RussoAlessia Russo

Sweden

1. Squad quantity9Participant titleAsllani

2. Squad quantity11Participant titleBlackstenius

3. Squad quantity18Participant titleRolfö

4. Squad quantity10Participant titleJakobsson

5. Squad quantity6Participant titleEriksson

6. Squad quantity16Participant titleAngeldahl

7. Squad quantity4Participant titleGlas

8. Squad quantity2Participant titleAndersson

9. Squad quantity14Participant titleBjörn

10. Squad quantity3Participant titleSembrant

11. Squad quantity13Participant titleIlestedt

12. Squad quantity19Participant titleRytting Kaneryd

13. Squad quantity8Participant titleHurtig

14. Squad quantity17Participant titleSeger

15. Squad quantity20Participant titleBennison

16. Squad quantity1Participant titleLindahl