European Championship 2025 has begun gallantly for the Swedish part. European Championship 2022 ended much worse.
The semifinal loss to England, 0–4 in Sheffield, was a stinging defeat.
And if you believe the English players, they have not become worse since the gold on home soil three years ago. After the 1–2 loss in the premiere against France, they have rolled over both the Netherlands (4–0) and Wales (6–1) on the way to Thursday's quarterfinal against Sweden in Zurich.
Against the Netherlands, we had both energy and a good attitude, the players worked for each other. It was the same things that took us far in the last European Championship, says experienced right-back Lucy Bronze.
That all players work hard for each other has been a key every time England has gone far. You can't get all the way just on talent. But we have both parts.
”Had it tough”
The Swedish team has not forgotten that semifinal loss.
I remember that we had it very tough. And that it became quite a few goals against us in that match. It's clear that you are revenge-hungry, says midfielder Hanna Bennison.
Assistant national team coach Magnus Wikman knows what the Swedish players must do to get the better of England. And what they should not do.
It's a structured team with individual edge, says Wikman.
They were very good against the Netherlands and if we were to play such "short" football as the Netherlands did, then we will get to ride properly.
Can be chance-scarce
The 4–1 win over Germany on Saturday was valuable, he thinks.
It was very important that we got this match, because it will be a level up now, with even greater tension. The match against Germany also mattered, but not as much as the one on Thursday.
He describes England as a team that is easy to scout, difficult to defeat. Sweden must watch out for the English forward setup, perhaps primarily Chelsea star Lauren James, and then take advantage of the opportunities that arise.
It's a tough team to create chances on. But also a team that maybe doesn't flow with goal opportunities forward either. So it often becomes goal-scarce and tight matches and you need to be sharp in the decisive situations. It usually becomes 4–4 or 3–3 in good chances. So I think it will be crucial to be the best in the penalty area.
