England vs Sweden LIVE: Euro 2022 semi-final build-up and early team news

England play Sweden in the Euro 2022 semi-finals at Bramall Lane tonight knowing they are just two victories away from winning their first ever major tournament trophy.

The Lionesses swept through the group stage, scoring a record 14 goals without reply against Austria, Norway and Northern Ireland, but came perilously close to exiting their home tournament in the quarter-finals when they trailed Spain 1-0 with six minutes to play before Ella Toone dramatically equalised and Georgia Stanway’s stunning goal secured a 2-1 win after extra-time.

The hosts will be roared on by another capacity home crowd but their semi-final history at major tournaments doesn’t bode well – defeats at the 1987, 1995 and 2013 Euros combining with losses at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups for a record of five defeats to just two wins (1984 and 2009 Euros). Boss Sarina Wiegman named an unchanged team for the fifth consecutive game at the tournament with Leah Williamson captaining from defence and Ellen White leading the line up front.

Follow all the latest updates from the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 semi-final:

England vs Sweden Euro 2022

34’ Beth Mead fires Lionesses into first-half lead with sixth goal of tournament

England take on Sweden in Euro 2022 semi-final

Sarina Wiegman names unchanged team for fifth consecutive game

Chelsea’s Magda Eriksson and Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius start for Sweden

Half-time: England 1-0 Sweden

20:51 , Michael Jones

Beth Mead’s goal gives England the lead at half-time.

It’s her sixth of the tournament which puts her at the top of the tree for an individual tally during a single European Championship campaign for England players.

(PA)

(REUTERS)

Half-time: England 1-0 Sweden

20:47 , Michael Jones

45 mins: No added minutes to play and the whistle goes for half-time. England are controlling the game, Sweden’s press isn’t as intense as Spain’s was in the last game which gives the Lionesses more time on the ball in midfield.

England slowly got themselves into the game, they were shaky to start with but the goal settled them down.

Story continues

45 minutes to go and England have the advantage.

England 1-0 Sweden

20:42 , Michael Jones

41 mins: Keira Walsh is down on the left side of the pitch after tracking back to make a heavy tackle. Play goes on though as England sweep up the pitch on the counter.

Fran Kirby drives into space before passing it across to Beth Mead. Mead slips the ball into the penalty area for Ellen White but the forward is pushed to the byline and runs it out of play.

England 1-0 Sweden

20:39 , Michael Jones

38 mins: It was a brilliant bit of play from England, such a flowing move from the team. Quick and decisive, topped off by a beautiful finish from Beth Mead.

Mead now has six goals in five games during this tournament.

GOAL! England 1-0 Sweden (34’, Mead)⚽️

20:34 , Michael Jones

34 mins: She does it again! Leah Williamson starts the move from defence and slots it across to Rachel Daly who drives down the wing. Daly slides the ball into the left side of the box for Lauren Hemp who lifts the ball into the box.

Ellen White throws herself at it but the pass evades her and bounces through to Lucy Bronze on the opposite wing. She dinks her cross into the arriving Beth Mead who stops the ball dead before shooting on the turn.

Hedvig Lindahl leaps to her right and gets a hand to the ball but she can’t keep it out.

England have the lead in this Euro semi-final!

England 0-0 Sweden

20:34 , Michael Jones

33 mins: Ellen White gives away a free kick over on the right side and Kosovare Asllani swings in the set piece. The first ball is headed down to Filippa Angeldal who attempts to keep the attack going.

She’s caught on the ball by Lauren Hemp who marshalls it behind for a goal kick.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:32 , Michael Jones

31 mins: A teasing ball from Sofia Jakobsson almost falls for Stina Blackstenius in the England six-yard box but Leah Williamson tracks back, intercepts and manages to clear the danger.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:29 , Michael Jones

28 mins: Beth Mead is on corner duty and picks out Lucy Bronze over on the far side of the box. Bronze’s header is knocked back towards the far post but none of her teammates are close by to guide it home.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:28 , Michael Jones

25 mins: England have dominated possession but the game is really open. Both teams have had six chances with two on target. Sweden’s two best efforts have drawn big saves out of Mary Earps.

England need a goal to settle themselves. Lauren Hemp wins another corner.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:24 , Michael Jones

22 mins: Lauren Hemp’s diagonal run inside from the left wing is causing a few issues for Sweden. She sprints along the front edge of the box before laying the ball off to Georgia Stanway.

Stanway dummies a shot, shifts away from a defender then scuffs a low effort straight at Hedvig Lindahl.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:21 , Michael Jones

19 mins: Beth Mead nicks the ball away from Hanna Glas and England sweep up the pitch. Fran Kirby passes it on to Lauren Hemp who drives into the box but can’t find an angle to shoot.

She lays the ball off to Mead who hits a left-footed effort that gets blocked by Linda Sembrant.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:16 , Michael Jones

16 mins: Close! Lucy Bronze gets forward on the right wing for maybe the first time in the game and receives the pass. She’s got the chance to whip in an early cross but decides to pull it back to Beth Mead.

Mead knocks swings her effort into the middle with her first touch and it’s a good cross. Ellen White is the target but Magdalena Eriksson squeezes in front of her and flicks it behind for a corner.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:14 , Michael Jones

14 mins: Magdelana Eriksson laces a deep free kick over to the right wing where Sofia Jakobsson brings the ball down inside the box. She’s quickly closed down by Rachel Daly but manages to flick a cross into the middle that Lucy Bronze deals with.

England try to burst forward on the counter-attack but Sweden are quickly back into position and Fran Kirby has to retreat.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:11 , Michael Jones

11 mins: Off the bar!

Sweden swing the corner into the middle of the six yard box. Mary Earps comes out to meet it but she’s blocked off and can’t get in front of Stina Blackstenius.

The forward wins the header and turns it towards goal only for her effort to hit the crossbar and bounce away.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:09 , Michael Jones

9 mins: Save! Mary Earps is called into action again.

Fran Kirby’s tackle in the middle of the pitch deflects the ball up to Sofia Jakobsson who carries the ball towards goal before slipping it over to Stina Blackstenius.

She continues into the box and tries to curl one into the bottom corner but Earps leaps across to push the ball wide.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:06 , Michael Jones

6 mins: Hemp wins a throw in for England deep in Sweden’s half and chucks it back to Leah Williamson. The captain floats a long cross over to the back post where Beth Mead arrives behind Amanda Ilstedt and nods her attempt wide of the nearest post.

England 0-0 Sweden

20:03 , Michael Jones

3 mins: It’s been a frenetic start with the ball flowing from end-to-end. Lauren Hemp attempts to flick the ball over the top to send Ellen White in behind but the bounce takes it away from the striker and Sweden clear their lines.

Kick off: England 0-0 Sweden

20:01 , Michael Jones

Four teams remain in the 2022 edition of the Women’s Euros. England get the first semi-final underway,

Save! The Lionesses are caught dawdling on the ball in their own half and it’s quickly slid into the left side of the box. Sofia Jakobsson has a shy with a shot across the box but Mary Earps keeps it out with a strong left foot!

Early scare for England.

England vs Sweden

19:55 , Michael Jones

Here come the teams.

Leah Williamson leads out the Lionesses. They all looked focused as the Swedish national anthem starts to play.

Kick off is up next…

England defender Millie Bright on the semi-final

19:52 , Michael Jones

“We’re on a new journey. The youngsters have experienced big losses with their clubs so everyone has those experiences in different ways.

“Each semi-final is different. We want to keep building our confidence. I think our resilience in each game is growing every time, but we will fight from start to finish.

“We remain in our own little bubble. Everybody says the pressure is on us, but we stay focused on what we need to do to stay in the games.”

“We’ve prepared for this game” says Wiegman

19:49 , Michael Jones

England boss Sarina Wiegman has been speaking to BBC One.

“We’ve prepared for this game.” she said before kick off, “We’ve talked about what can happen. We’ll try to play our style but things can happen – things can go well or be hard. We’ll try to stick with our plan and stay together. Hopefully that brings success.

“I wasn’t there[for England’s previous failures]. That’s history. We are in a good place. Everyone is fit. Everyone delivers all the time. I hope we play to our strengths.”

Pressure on England says Wright

19:45 , Michael Jones

Former men’s Arsenal and England star Ian Wright says there’s going to be a lot of pressure on the Lionesses tonight as they look to reach the final of Euro 2022.

Speaking as a pundit on BBC One Wright said: “There’s a lot of pressure on them, but at the same time this is what they’ve been training for.

“They won’t get carried away, they’ve got a manager who won’t let them get carried away. Everyone is embracing what’s going on because they know what it means.”

Jakobsson’s inclusion a risk?

19:41 , Michael Jones

Swedish forward Sofia Jakobsson has not played a single minute in this tournament but goes straight into the starting XI for tonight’s semi-final.

Assistant coach Magnus Wikman suggested this could happen a few days ago saying: “She has qualities that will fit facing these teams.

“As we go into the knockout phase there will be more transitions, and her speed and endurance will come in very useful.”

England vs Sweden

19:37 , Michael Jones

England will contest a semi-final at the Women’s Euros for the sixth time (1984, 1987, 1995, 2009, 2017 and 2022), however they have progressed from just two of the previous five.

The Lionesses were eliminated at this stage at the last edition, losing 3-0 to hosts and eventual winners Netherlands in 2017.

England have won both of their previous matches in Sheffield, beating Belgium 1-0 in April 1990 (at Hillsborough) and Scotland 6-0 in March 1997 (at Bramall Lane).

Talented attacks meet mean defences in England v Sweden semi-final battle

19:32 , Michael Jones

England face Sweden and Germany tackle France as Euro 2022 reaches the semi-final stage.

Two talented attacks go up against two of the tournament’s meanest defences in the opening game at Bramall Lane.

England are the tournament’s top scorers with 16 goals, as is Beth Mead on a personal level with five, but they will run up against a similarly tough test to their last game against Spain.

Sweden have allowed only 25 total shots – comfortably the fewest of the semi-finalists – despite their 27 tackles and 40 clearances each ranking second-lowest in the tournament. That may be explained by the fact they have allowed only 97 opposing attacks, according to Uefa’s official statistics.

Talented attacks meet mean defences in England v Sweden semi-final battle

Ones to watch: Kosovare Asllani

19:27 , Michael Jones

The 32-year-old scored the opening goal in Sweden’s last meeting with the Lionesses, that 2-1 victory at the 2019 World Cup.

Asllani’s quarter-final outing against Belgium was her 17th Sweden appearance at a Women’s Euros, one behind Caroline Seger’s national record (18).

The forward spent just over a year with Women’s Super League side Manchester City after joining in January 2016.

The attacker was a teammate of England’s Lucy Bronze, Nikita Parris, Ellie Roebuck, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway, Demi Stokes, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh in Manchester.

(REUTERS)

One to watch: Georgia Stanway

19:22 , Michael Jones

The 23-year-old scored the extra-time winner in their quarter-final versus Spain to send England into the semi-finals.

It was also England’s 100th goal since Sarina Wiegman took charge. The attacking midfielder’s goal stretched England’s winning streak to 10 matches – a new national record.

Stanway has scored seven times in nine outings for the Lionesses since the beginning of April.

She also signed a three-year deal to join Bayern Munich in May having won seven major honours in as many years with Manchester City.

(Getty Images)

England vs Sweden

19:17 , Michael Jones

England have completed their inspection of the pitch, they’ll soon be back out for the warm-ups before kick off at 8pm.

England vs Sweden

19:12 , Michael Jones

Both sides’ only previous penalty shootout in the European Championship came in this fixture with Sweden winning 4-3 victory in the 1984 final second leg.

Will history repeat itself if tonight’s match goes to penalties?

Pre-match thoughts of Kosovare Asllani

19:08 , Michael Jones

Sweden forward and captain Kosovare Asllani is expecting a special game tonight as her team take on the Euro 2022 hosts.

“It will be two teams looking to play attacking football.” she said, “At the same time we think it will be a game that suits us. Playing against the home nation is a special feeling and an exciting feeling.

“They are good defensively and offensively, but in our squad [we have that] too. We are excited. We will play a fantastic team but, at the same time, we know it will be special to play against the host nation.”

(REUTERS)

England vs Sweden

19:03 , Michael Jones

England are attempting to reach the Women’s European Championship final for a third time when they face 1984 winners Sweden tonight.

The Lionesses, one of the pre-tournament favourites, have never won the trophy but their performances have encouraged supporters to believe they could win a major tournament for the first time.

They thrashed Norway 8-0 in the group stage and reached the last four after coming from behind to defeat Spain 2-1 in extra time.

Sweden, second in the Fifa rankings behind the USA and therefore the top-ranked team at Euro 2022, scraped through to the semi-finals courtesy of an injury-time goal against Belgium.

However, they are also unbeaten in this campaign and have grown stronger in every game thye’ve played.

Supporters arrive at Bramall Lane

18:57 , Michael Jones

The stadium is starting to fill up as the different sets of fans arrive at Bramall Lane. Tonight’s fixture is yet another sold out crowd and England will be hoping that the crowd’s cheers, chants and songs will be the boost they need to get through a tricky fixture.

(REUTERS)

(Getty Images)

(REUTERS)

England vs Sweden

18:53 , Michael Jones

As expected Sarina Wiegman names an unchanged starting XI for the fifth game in a row. Ellen White leads the line with Lauren Hemp, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead the other attacking threats.

For Sweden, head coach Peter Gerhardsson makes two changes. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Amanda Nilden are replaced with Sofia Jakobsson and Hanna Glas.

Sweden line-up

18:48 , Michael Jones

Sweden XI: Lindahl, Ilestedt, Sembrant, Eriksson, Glas, Angedal, Asllani, Bjorn, Rolfo, Blackstenius, Jakobsson

England line-up

18:44 , Michael Jones

England XI: Earps, Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly, Stanway, Walsh, Mead, Kirby, Hemp, White

Can Sweden reach the final?

18:40 , Michael Jones

Sweden topped Group C with seven points, finishing first on goal difference ahead of the Netherlands.

The Blågult have won their last three matches at Euro 2022 following a 1-1 draw with the Oranje in their opening fixture. They could record four successive Women’s Euros victories for the first time.

Sweden had managed just one win in their previous six Euro knockout matches prior to their 1-0 quarter-final success versus Belgium on 22nd July.

They have won just three of their last 10 Women’s Euros fixtures in the knockout rounds.

Euro 2022: England head coach Sarina Wiegman thinking only about ‘the now’ ahead of Sweden semi-final

18:35 , Michael Jones

Sarina Wiegman insisted that the present is all that counts ahead of the Euro 2022 semi-finals, despite her impressive record against opponents Sweden and England’s recent defeats in the last four of major international tournaments.

The Lionesses will have a chance to win a major international tournament for the first time in Sunday’s final if they can overcome the highest-ranked side at this Euros at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night.

After falling at this hurdle in each of their last three tournament appearances, England have the opportunity to reach their first final since Euro 2009, when they finished runners-up to Germany.

Sarina Wiegman thinking only about ‘the now’ ahead of Sweden semi-final

Wiegman’s England

18:30 , Michael Jones

England’s Euro 2022 campaign has increased the Lionesses best-ever unbeaten run to 18 games, all coming under boss Sarina Wiegman (16 wins, two draws).

They have scored 100 goals in that time, and conceded just four.

Out of those 18 victories Wiegman’s Lionesses have also kept 14 clean sheets. They will be formidable opponents for Sweden tonight.

(PA)

England facing weight of history in semi-final clash with Sweden

18:24 , Michael Jones

England will look to improve on their record in major tournament semi-finals when they face Sweden on Tuesday at Euro 2022.

The Lionesses have exited the last three major tournaments at the semi-final stage, the 2015 and 2019 World Cups and Euro 2017.

Their overall record has seen them win two out of seven semi-finals, going on to finish runners-up at Euro 1984 and 2009.

Here, the PA news agency looks back over England’s history at this stage.

England facing weight of history in semi-final clash with Sweden

Ones to watch: Linda Sembrant

18:18 , Michael Jones

Linda Sembrant made her Sweden debut as a substitute in the 2-0 friendly triumph against England in Cyprus in February 2008.

The defender struck the added-time winner in the quarter-final victory against Belgium, becoming Sweden’s oldest Euros scorer in the process aged 35 years 68 days.

She played every minute for Sweden at Euro 2017 having missed the 2009 and 2013 editions due to injury.

In May, the centre-back renewed her contract with Juventus until 2023, having won the Serie A title in all three seasons with the club plus the 2021/22 Coppa Italia.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Ones to watch: Ellen White

18:12 , Michael Jones

The 33-year-old scored the opening goal in England’s eventual 4-1 friendly away defeat by Sweden in July 2013.

White also struck England’s equaliser in their 2-1 semi-final loss to the United States at the 2019 World Cup.

The forward’s two goals against Norway in this tournament took her international tally to 52, one behind Wayne Rooney’s all-time England goalscoring record.

The Manchester City striker has started 11 of England’s last 12 Euro finals matches stretching back to 2013; she was an unused substitute in the Matchday 3 win against Portugal in 2017.

(REUTERS)

Lionesses relaxed ahead of semi-final

18:07 , Michael Jones

England finished up their preparations for this evening’s semi-final from their training camp at Lensbury Resort in Teddington. The Lionesses look relaxed and focused for the challenges ahead.

Can they get past Sweden and reach the Euro 2022 final?

(The FA via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

England vs Sweden

18:00 , Michael Jones

It’s the first of Euro 2022’s semi-finals this evening as England take on Sweden at Bramall Lane. Both teams finished top of their respective groups before making it through to the last-four after late drama in their quarter-final games.

Sweden have the better head-to-head record but England are on home soil and have strung together a run of 18 matches undefeated.

Can the Lionesses keep that streak going tonight and reach the final?

England’s record breakers

17:53 , Michael Jones

England have won eight of their last nine Women’s European Championship matches with the exception being a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Sarina Wiegman’s Netherlands in 2017.

The Lionesses made history with their 14 goals en route to topping Group A at Euro 2022, setting a new record for the highest scorers in the group stage overtaking Germany’s previous landmark of 11 in 2001.

They won all three matches in their section for the second Euros tournament running, becoming the first side to do so in successive editions since Germany did so in 2001, 2005 and 2009.

The Lionesses have also set a new national record for most goals at a Uefa Euros championship (16), surpassing their 12 in 2009. Only Germany (21 in 2009) have hit more at a single edition of the competition.

‘We want to put a smile on people’s faces’

17:46 , Michael Jones

England midfielder, Fran Kirby, says that the support for the Lionesses has grown over the course of the tournament which is spurring the team on to perform well.

“As the tournament has grown, we have been walking down the river and seen people leaning over and going, ‘Well done, girls – we’re supporting you’” she said, “If we get the chance to win in the semi-final and get through to the final, I think it will be incredible for people in this country to have something to celebrate and enjoy. We want to do that as much as possible.

“As much as we want to win, we want to put a smile on people’s faces. They may be going through a hard time in terms of the fuel costs and the cost of living now, so hopefully we can give people an escape for 90-plus minutes when they turn their TVs on.”

(The FA via Getty Images)

Georgia Stanway mixes teamwork and timing to provide England’s most spectacular moment

17:40 , Michael Jones

It was the type of goal that Georgia Stanway, growing up in the footballing outpost of Barrow-in-Furness, playing in the back garden with her brothers, would always have imagined herself scoring. The sort of emphatic, long-range strike that is befitting of such a stage, that deserved to book England’s place in the semi-finals of another major international tournament.

But in the white heat of the extra time win over Spain in Brighton, when that dream had become a reality, it was a moment she could barely remember.

“It all feels like a massive blur at the moment,” the Bayern Munich-bound midfielder said after the final whistle. “I need to watch it back and see where I was, how it went in the net, I literally can’t remember. I remember saying to one of the girls, ‘At what moment did we actually score?’”

Stanway mixes teamwork and timing to provide England’s most spectacular moment

Ones to watch: Hedvig Lindahl

17:33 , Michael Jones

This 39-year-old made her Sweden debut in a 5-0 friendly victory against England in Spain in January 2002.

Lindahl won her 100th Blågult cap in the 4-0 defeat to England at Hartlepool in August 2014 and the goalkeeper played in every minute of Sweden’s Euro 2005 campaign where they reached the semi-finals before losing in extra time to Norway in Warrington.

She spent over four years with Women’s Super League side Chelsea after joining in December 2014, winning two league titles and a pair of Women’s FA Cups.

(Getty Images)

Ones to watch: Fran Kirby

17:26 , Michael Jones

The 29-year-old scored the Lionesses’ goal in the last meeting between these sides, Sweden’s 2-1 win in the 2019 World Cup third-place play-off.

Kirby made her senior England debut against the Blågult, getting the Lionesses’ second goal in a 4-0 friendly victory in Hartlepool in August 2014.

The attacker has supplied three assists at Euro 2022 – the joint-most in the group stage at this edition, along with Beth Mead and Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani.

Her opener in the 5-0 success against Northern Ireland at this tournament was England’s 50th goal in Euros finals.

(REUTERS)

Wiegman’s pre-match thoughts

17:19 , Michael Jones

Sarina Wiegman is expecting a tight match this evening but believes that the Lionesses have planned and prepared well enough to handle Sweden’s attacking threat and now just need to execute their skills in tonight’s semi-final.

Here’s a clip from her pre-match press conference yesterday:

Dramatic injury-time winner fires Sweden past Belgium into Euro 2022 semi-final against England

17:12 , Michael Jones

Relive the quarter-final stages as Linda Sembrant’s dramatic stoppage-time winner earned Sweden a 1-0 victory over Belgium and the chance to face England in the semi-finals of Euro 2022.

Stina Blackstenius was denied a goal by VAR midway through the first half and Sweden were made to wait until the dying seconds to see off a valiant Belgian effort at Leigh Sports Village.

Wave after wave of Sweden attack in the second period had brought no joy to that point, with goalkeeper Nicky Evrard proving to be their nemesis.

But heartbreak for the Red Flames came in the second minute of stoppage time when Sembrant smashed home to send Sweden through to their ninth Euros semi-final.

Dramatic winner fires Sweden past Belgium into Euro 2022 semi-final against England

England into Euro 2022 semi-finals as Georgia Stanway rocket defeats Spain in extra-time thriller

17:04 , Michael Jones

Relive the quarter-final stages as Georgia Stanway scored the goal her tournament deserved and England – so creditably, so resiliently – got to the semi-finals.

The show goes on thanks to a great show of character. Because, in so many ways, what actually made this 2-1 quarter-final win over Spain all the more impressive was that England were so often second best.

It was certainly far from their finest performance.

That, however, at once made it the game of the tournament while drawing out some of England’s best qualities; the sort of intangible strengths that really create champions; the kind of qualities that only come out on nights like this when the tension of it all is more exhilaratingly suffocating than the summer weather.

It all set up the sweetest and loudest of celebrations in Brighton, something beyond what Euro 2022 has offered so far.

England into semi-finals as Georgia Stanway rocket defeats Spain in extra time

Sweden in semi-finals

16:56 , Michael Jones

Sweden have reached the European Championship semi-finals for the ninth time with only Germany – who will compete in the last four for the tenth occasion at Euro 2022 – the only nation to have featured more.

But, the Blågult have lost their last two Euros matches at this stage, and their only victory in their last four semi-finals at this tournament is a 1-0 defeat of Denmark at the 2001 edition.

They have been eliminated in four of their last six semi-final appearances yet also progressed 7-5 on aggregate in a two-legged tie against Norway in 1995 (3-4 away, 4-1 home).

Sweden’s record in their eight previous Women’s Euros semi-final ties is won four, lost four.

England prepared for Sweden

16:48 , Michael Jones

England coach, Sarina Wiegman, says that the team have been preparing to tackle Sweden’s threat on set pieces and have come up with plans to defend against their strikers.

“[Sweden are] very strong on set pieces so we will be prepared for that.” said the boss. “They have been dangerous on counter-attacks too with the direct strikers up front, so we’ll be ready.

Centre-back Millie Bright added: “[Sweden] have got a lot of attacking presence, obviously we’ve analysed their team. We know a few of their players, strong in defence and they’re a gritty team that never give in. I think they’ve shown that in their games.”

Lucy Bronze not looking ahead to silverware as Sweden loom at Euro 2022

16:40 , Michael Jones

Lucy Bronze insists nobody is getting carried away with thoughts that England are just two wins away from becoming European champions.

The hosts – and tournament favourites – face Sweden in the first of the Euro 2022 semi-finals on Tuesday.

Sarina Wiegman’s side have been impressive in their games so far, powering through the group stage with a 100 per cent record and then coming from behind to beat much-fancied Spain in the last eight.

“Every team starts the tournament wanting to end it as the European champion,” said right-back Bronze. “That would be amazing, obviously that’s been the goal.”

Lucy Bronze not looking ahead to silverware as Sweden loom at Euro 2022

England’s semi-final struggles

16:32 , Michael Jones

England have been victorious in four of their last six knockout fixtures at this tournament, and seven of their 14 overall – with all of those victories coming by a single-goal margin.

The Lionesses have reached the last four in successive Euros tournaments; they lost in the semi-final of Euro 2017 to a Netherlands side coached by current boss Sarina Wiegman.

They have lost three of their last four Euro semi-finals – the exception in that run being a 2-1 extra-time win against the Netherlands at the 2009 edition with Jill Scott scoring the 116th-minute decider.

The Lionesses’ only other semi-final success in this competition came at the inaugural tournament in 1984, when they secured a 3-1 aggregate victory against Denmark over two legs.

Sweden’s Euros history

16:24 , Michael Jones

Sweden are appearing at their 11th Euros tournament, fewer only than Italy and Norway who have both featured in 12.

Champions in 1984, the Blågult have reached the quarter-finals or better on each occasion, alternating between being eliminated in the semi-finals and the last eight since their most recent final appearance in 2001, when they lost in extra time to hosts Germany.

They sealed their spot at an eighth successive Euros by clinching first place in Group F, winning seven and drawing one of their eight fixtures, scoring 40 goals and conceding only two.

Their only failure to record maximum points came with a 1-1 draw against eventual runners-up Iceland in Reykjavik in September 2020.

‘It’s going to be an open game’ says Gerhardsson

16:16 , Michael Jones

Sweden boss, Peter Gerhardsson, believes that tonight’s fixture with England may play into his team’s hands as he is expecting an open game with plenty of action.

He said: “Now we are in a semi-final, it’s going to be a different kind of game, maybe a bit more like the first one we had against the Netherlands, where we talk about more transitions.

“I think England have very good transitions, but we are also good at that. I think it’s going to be a more open game than our previous ones.”

Forward Kosovare Asllani added: “I think it’s going to be an even game. We have our game plan and we are very excited for it.

“It’s going to be an intense match between two very physical teams. We are Sweden, we love to run and that’s what we will do.”

Ian Wright and Alex Scott go wild celebrating England’s quarter-final winner vs Spain

16:09 , Michael Jones

Ian Wright and Alex Scott couldn’t contain their excitement as England secured a dramatic quarter-final victory against Spain at Euro 2022.

The Lionesses had to do it the hard way, coming from 1-0 down to win 2-1 after extra time. Ella Toone netted the equaliser with six minutes to go, before Georgia Stanway scored a stunning winner in the 96th minute.

Her long-range screamer sent football fans inside the Amex Stadium – including Wright and Scott – wild. Footage from the BBC studio shows the pair going crazy as Stanway smashes in the winner:

Ian Wright and Alex Scott go wild celebrating England’s incredible winner vs Spain

Austria coach says England and Germany ‘pretty much on the same level’

16:01 , Michael Jones

Austria coach Irene Fuhmann believes there is little to choose between England and Germany at the Women’s Euro 2022.

Fuhmann’s side were beaten 2-0 by the Germans, although the result was only secured after Alexandra Popp capitalised on a 90th-minute error by goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger to add to Lina Magull’s first-half goal.

The eight-time winners are the second team into the semi-finals after hosts England but Austria’s coach cannot choose between the two as favourites.

“It’s very difficult to compare,” she said.

“I think both teams have a lot of individual quality and a depth in the squad, maybe England play a bit more vertically but Germany have very fast players, so I think two teams that are pretty much on the same level.”

England vs Sweden

15:53 , Michael Jones

England and Sweden have faced each other 26 times, but the Lionesses have won just three of those fixtures and have been beaten 15 times. Only against Germany (21) have they suffered more defeats.

The two sides have met seven times previously in the Euros, but England have triumphed on only one occasion.

That 1-0 victory came in the second leg of the inaugural final in 1984 before the Lionesses were beaten on penalties.

That was the only time Sweden have lifted the trophy. They were beaten finalists in 1987 – when they were looking to defend the title – and again in 1995 and 2001.

England’s Euros history

15:45 , Michael Jones

England are aiming to become the third nation to win a European Championship on home soil since the group stage was introduced in 1997.

Germany in 2001 and the Netherlands – under current England boss Sarina Wiegman – in 2017 are the other two nations to do so.

The Lionesses have also twice been beaten finalists at the Euros. They lost a penalty shootout to Sweden following a two-legged tie in the inaugural tournament in 1984 – losing 0-1 away, winning 1-0 at home, losing 4-3 on pens.

Hope Powell’s team then suffered an emphatic 6-2 defeat at the hands of Germany in the 2009 tournament.

Hearing home fans sing national anthem giving England ‘extra push’, says Keira Walsh

15:37 , Michael Jones

England’s Keira Walsh cannot wait to belt out another hair-raising rendition of the national anthem ahead of Tuesday’s Euro 2022 semi-final at Bramall Lane.

The Lionesses will play Sweden for a place in the Wembley final after their thrilling extra-time win against Spain on Wednesday.

Walsh feels singing ‘God Save The Queen’ best encapsulates the growing excitement about the Lionesses’ chances of lifting their first major trophy.

The Manchester City midfielder said: “For me, it’s when we’re singing the national anthem.”

Hearing home fans sing national anthem giving England ‘extra push’, says Keira Walsh

A catch-up with Lucy Bronze

15:29 , Michael Jones

Lucy Bronze took time out of her training schedule with the Lionesses to chat about her thoughts on the Euro 2022 tournament so far, what it’s like in the England camp and how she prepares for matchdays.

Take a look:

Sarina Wiegman proves her class to guide England from the brink

15:21 , Michael Jones

Six minutes plus stoppage time. That is how close England were to the precipice, how close they came to throwing away a chance to win their first major international tournament and win it on home soil, writes Mark Critchley.

Indeed, at times at the Amex, particularly during a one-sided first half, they could not have looked much further away from the standards set by their quarter-final opponents. Spain had done little to live up to their pre-tournament hype until then. Suddenly, the Lionesses were not fulfilling the favourites tag their performances in the group stage had earned.

And yet, it is in those moments, as the clock ticks down and something needs to change, that the presence of a best-in-class coach can make all the difference.

England’s greatest asset at Euro 2022 is not Georgia Stanway, despite her spectacular winning goal struck from 25 yards out that booked a place in the semi-finals. It is not Ella Toone, the diminutive super-sub who equalised and is arguably deserving a proper run in the starting line-up. It is, instead, the manager picking that line-up and – more importantly – fixing it when required.

Sarina Wiegman proves her class to guide England from the brink

England vs Sweden

15:13 , Michael Jones

This is the first Women’s Euros fixture between the two teams since a 1-1 group stage draw in Finland in 2009.

Sweden have won three of the last four Euros meetings, including a 3-2 extra-time semi-final victory in Norway in 1987, which was the last Euro knockout stage match between these teams.

England have managed only one win in their six Euro fixtures against Sweden; a 1-0 second-leg victory in Luton of the two-legged inaugural final in 1984 preceding a 4-3 defeat on penalties.

Beckham sends well wishes to Lionesses

15:05 , Michael Jones

The hype around what England can achieve in this Euro 2022 tournament continues to grow and the Lionesses are now only two games aways from lifting a first major trophy.

They’re being supported from around the world, with sold out crowds at games and millions watching them on tv including former England men’s captain and global superstar David Beckham who sent the team some encouragement before this evening’s semi-final:

Stoney’s verdict on England vs Sweden

14:57 , Michael Jones

Former Lionesses’ captain Casey Stoney has given her opinion about how England can win tonight’s Euro 2022 semi-final and says she wants the focus to purely be on Sweden without thoughts of potentially reaching a major tournament final to creep in.

“England need to think about only this match against Sweden and nothing else.” Stoney wrote in The Times before elaborating on the Swedes’ ability to score from set pieces.

“The best way to defend against set pieces is to avoid giving them away in the first place.” she added, “The height of this Sweden team – which is on average two inches taller than England – is one of their strengths.”

Sarina Wiegman’s Euro 2022 power suit is from this high-street retailer

14:49 , Luke Baker

After a nail-biting win against Spain, England made it through to the Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final and will play Sweden on Tuesday 26 July, in what is set to be an eagerly anticipated match indeed.

The stakes are high. But there’s no denying that the woman behind the Lionesses’s success is of course manager Sarina Wiegman, who became head coach less than a year ago in September 2021.

The Dutch coach has been praised for her approach to encouraging her team to “inspire the nation”. Much like England men’s manager, Gareth Southgate, whose uniform sparked an increase in waistcoat sales, interest is growing around Wiegman’s black suit.

The former footballer has been seen demonstrating her sarotrial flair while pitchside during the Euro 2022 games.

Sarina Wiegman’s £67 power suit is from this high-street retailer

Sarina Wiegman: The mastermind behind England’s bid for Euro 2022 glory

14:40 , Michael Jones

Just two games now stand between England Women’s team and triumph; two games on home soil during which Sarina Wiegman will have to keep finding the tactical answers that will turn the Lionesses into champions, writes Karl Matchett.

It’s a short list, but a significant one: 1966. That’s the only time England’s teams – men or women – have won a major trophy, that being the World Cup. Gareth Southgate’s side went close again last summer in the delayed men’s European Championship, but fell agonisingly short.

Wiegman’s team, it increasingly feels like, are capable of taking that final step at Euro 2022 – and if they do, it will be in enormous part down to the influence and expertise of the Dutchwoman in the dugout.

Sarina Wiegman: The mastermind behind England’s bid for Euro 2022 glory

England vs Sweden

14:32 , Michael Jones

The two nations are meeting for the first time since a third-place play-off at the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

Sweden won 2-1 through goals from Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson and although Fran Kirby scored to keep the game alive, the Lionesses were not able to secure an equaliser.

The Blågult have also won the last two matches between the sides with a 2-0 friendly victory in Rotherham on 11th November 2018, Jakobsson scored the winner that day too.

England’s only success in their last five games against Sweden was a 4-0 friendly win in Hartlepool in August 2014; where Fran Kirby was again among the Lionesses’ scorers.

‘May the best team win’: British-Swedish family gets ready for Euro semi-final

14:26 , Luke Baker

A family of British-Swedish football fans has been split down the middle as they get ready for the Euro 2022 semi-final.

England’s Lionesses will take on Sweden at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on Tuesday evening.

Damion Potter, 47, said he will be the “lone person in the England shirt” as he prepares to watch the game while on holiday visiting his wife Susanna’s extended family in Jonkoping, Sweden.

The former diplomat told the PA news agency: “We still need to work out a bet between my wife and myself but so far we’re thinking someone has to jump in the river for whichever team loses.

“I will be cheering for England and hoping the Lionesses go all the way. Everybody else, except for me and possibly my kids depending on the result, will be cheering for Sweden so I shall be the lone person in the England shirt.

“May the best team win.”

‘May the best team win’: British-Swedish family gets ready for Euro semi-final

England vs Sweden

14:20 , Michael Jones

England take on Sweden in the first Euro 2022 semi-final at Bramall Lane tonight with the hosts aiming to defeat their opponents at a major tournament for the first time since 1984.

Both sides were involved in late drama in their respective quarter-finals.

England came from behind to beat Spain at the Amex Stadium in Brighton on 20th July, Ella Toone levelling six minutes from time before Georgia Stanway’s spectacular extra-time winner.

Two days later Sweden joined them in the last four thanks to Linda Sembrant’s close-range finish two minutes into added time against Belgium at Leigh Sports Village.

The winner of this evening’s clash will face Germany or France in the final.

Fran Kirby eager to give England fans ‘an escape’ from life’s struggles

14:14 , Luke Baker

Fran Kirby is trying to stay level-headed but admits putting smiles on fans’ faces during a difficult time for the country is driving England on ahead of Tuesday’s Euro 2022 semi-final.

A dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Spain on Wednesday has added to the growing sense of momentum, with the last-four showdown with Sweden set to be screened in Trafalgar Square for up to 5,000 supporters.

Some of the celebrations after Georgia Stanway’s sensational winner at the Amex – and again at full time – were reminiscent of the scenes produced by England’s men’s team last summer.

While Gareth Southgate’s side fell at the final hurdle, the Lionesses are determined to go all the way and Kirby is acutely aware of the strain being placed on people by the cost-of-living crisis.

Fran Kirby eager to give England fans ‘an escape’ from life’s struggles

Talented attacks meet mean defences in England v Sweden semi-final battle

14:03 , Luke Baker

Two talented attacks go up against two of the tournament’s meanest defences in the opening game at Bramall Lane.

England are the tournament’s top scorers with 16 goals, as is Beth Mead on a personal level with five, but they will run up against a similarly tough test to their last game against Spain.

They also have the defensive organisation to deal with England’s threat from the flanks. England’s 33 per cent cross accuracy is narrowly behind Spain for the best in the tournament – but Sweden have allowed only seven completed crosses out of 44, just under 16 per cent and the lowest rate other than England themselves.

Sweden’s nine goals at the other end – five of those, including an own goal and a penalty, in the group-clinching win over Portugal – trail behind England’s 16 but they have still carried a threat.

They have had the most attacks in the tournament, 214, while Stina Blackstenius leads all players with nine shots on target and is surely due to add to her solitary goal. Mead, by contrast, has scored with all five of her efforts on target.

Beth Mead is England’s and the tournament’s top scorer (PA Wire)

How Sweden reached the Euro 2022 semi-finals

13:51 , Luke Baker

Sweden suffered a slow start to the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Netherlands followed by a scrappy 2-1 victory over Switzerland.

Although they hit their straps with a 5-0 victory over Portugal to top Group C, only a 90th-minute Linda Sembrant goal enabled them to scrape past Belgium 1-0 in the quarter-finals – although the Swedes did have 33 shots during that contest.

Group C winners

Netherlands 1-1 Sweden (Sheffield)

Sweden 2-1 Switzerland (Sheffield)

Sweden 5-0 Portugal (Wigan & Leigh)

Quarter-finals

Sweden 1-0 Belgium (Wigan & Leigh)

Sweden are the highest-ranked team at Euro 2022 (Getty Images)

How England reached the Euro 2022 semi-finals

13:40 , Luke Baker

England swept through the group stage, scoring a record 14 goals without reply against Austria, Norway and Northern Ireland but came perilously close to exiting their home tournament in the quarter-finals when they trailed Spain 1-0 with six minutes to play before Ella Toone dramatically equalised and Georgia Stanway’s stunning goal secured a 2-1 win after extra-time.

Group A winners

England 1-0 Austria (Old Trafford)

England 8-0 Norway (Brighton & Hove)

Northern Ireland 0-5 England (Southampton)

Quarter-finals

England 2-1 Spain (aet, Brighton & Hove)

(REUTERS)

Sweden team news and predicted line-up

13:29 , Luke Baker

Sweden’s issues mainly revolve around Covid-19, with Hanna Glas, Emma Kullberg and Jonna Andersson all missing the quarter-final win over Belgium after testing positive.

Providing the trio are available, Glas and Andersson will likely start as the two full-backs but the remainder of the team should be unchanged, including a front three of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Fridolina Rolfo and Stina Blackstenius, despite Rolfo struggling to affect proceedings against the Red Flames.

Predicted line-up

Sweden XI: Lindahl; Glas, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldahl, Asllani, Bjorn; Rytting Kaneryd, Rolfo, Blackstenius

England team news and predicted line-up

13:20 , Luke Baker

England have named an unchanged line-up for every Euro 2022 match so far and, with no injury worries, Sarina Wiegman has the option of doing so again.

Alessia Russo and Ella Toone have repeatedly impressed off the bench and could theoretically start ahead of Ellen White and Fran Kirby respectively, while left-back Rachel Daly had a torrid time against Spain which means Alex Greenwood could start ahead of her, but Wiegman is most likely to stick with the XI that have got her this far – and allow the substitutes to continue to impact games off the bench.

Predicted line-up

England XI: Earps; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly; Walsh, Stanway; Kirby; Hemp, White, Mead

Football charity ‘buzzing’ after getting tickets to see Lionesses

13:12 , Luke Baker

A football charity has said it is “buzzing” after securing tickets to the England vs Sweden semi-final of Euro 2022 for a group of aspiring female football players.

Football Beyond Borders – a social inclusion charity which uses football to empower young people – is hosting 40 girls from south London and Lancashire as part of a residential and wanted the girls to watch the “electric” moment from the stands.

On Friday night, the charity put out a call for tickets on its social media accounts and by Monday, its target was reached, with 44 tickets secured for the girls and staff.

“They’re girls from south London and rural Lancashire. There’s no way they would get to Sheffield without this residential and so we thought, we just have to get these tickets,” Ceylon Andi Hickman, 26, head of brand at the charity, told the PA news agency.

Football charity ‘buzzing’ after getting tickets to see Lionesses

Lauren Hemp vs Kosovare Asllani: The stars who could decide England vs Sweden semi-final

13:00 , Luke Baker

Kosovare Asllani

Position: Forward

Age: 32

Height: 5ft 5in

Caps: 165

Tournament goals: One

Tournament attempts: 13

Tournament assists: One

Debut: 2008

Club: AC Milan

The new AC Milan signing’s experience is in contrast to Hemp’s youth but their impact has been similar. Captain Asllani’s only goal of the tournament so far came via a penalty against Portugal but she had assists in all three group games to jointly lead the tournament standings in that category.

She scored against England in the 2019 World Cup third-place play-off and her ability with the ball at her feet could create a selection headache for Wiegman given the way left-back Rachel Daly was tormented by Spain substitute Athenea Del Castillo in the quarter-final. Like Hemp, Asllani is also a key set-piece taker for a team who thrive on such situations.

Kosovare Asllani’s skill on the ball has caused problems for opponents all tournament (PA Wire)

Lauren Hemp vs Kosovare Asllani: The stars who could decide England vs Sweden semi-final

12:47 , Luke Baker

Lauren Hemp

Position: Forward

Age: 21

Height: 5ft 4in

Caps: 26

Tournament goals: One

Tournament attempts: 11

Tournament assists: One

Debut: 2019

Club: Manchester City

The Manchester City winger has been a key part of England’s success under Sarina Wiegman and has already contributed in this tournament with a goal and an assist in the 8-0 group-stage rout of Norway.

Goals have occasionally been hard to come by but since finally breaking her international duck in style with four in November’s 20-0 win over Latvia, she has eight in her last 13 caps.

She was below her best for much of the quarter-final against Spain but after surviving Wiegman’s wave of substitutions, she forced her way into the game and her decoy run opened the path for Georgia Stanway’s stunning winner. Her set-piece delivery could also have a part to play.

Lauren Hemp has the ability to turn any match on its head in an instant (REUTERS)

How England can beat Sweden, according to Sweden

12:35 , Luke Baker

If England want to know how to beat Sweden, they can just ask Sweden. In fact, they can just Google it, writes Mark Critchley.

Type “how to beat Sweden” into your search bar and the top result will be howtostopsweden.com, a promotional campaign for the yellow and blue kit that the Blagult are wearing at this Women’s European Championship. On there, you will find a 26-page tactical report – written by Anders Eriksson, the national team’s own match analyst – which breaks down and examines their attack, their defence and each player in the squad, the idea being to reflect Sweden’s “openness and transparency” as a nation.

Of course, this is a cute and original marketing stunt to flog Adidas shirts rather than a foolproof blueprint to get the better of the highest-ranked side in the tournament. As you might expect, a lot of the advice focuses on how to best prepare for Sweden’s strengths rather than how to exploit any weaknesses. England’s own analysis, led by Sarina Wiegman’s technical staff, will be far more thorough and useful in that regard.

Still, the report is a helpful guide to what the Lionesses can expect from their semi-final opponents on and off the ball, as well as the individual threats they will face. “First of all, since Sweden is one of the fastest playing teams in the world and also one of the very best at counterattacking, do everything you can to reclaim the ball once you lose it,” it begins, offering the first hint into how this will be a different proposition to the quarter-final against Spain.

How England can beat Sweden, according to Sweden

England facing weight of history in semi-final clash with Sweden

12:22 , Luke Baker

England will look to improve on their record in major tournament semi-finals when they face Sweden on Tuesday at Euro 2022.

Here, the PA news agency looks back over England’s history at this stage.

England facing weight of history in semi-final clash with Sweden