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By HARRY BAMFORTH and TARA ANSON-WALSH AT STADION LETZIGRUND Updated: 06: 03 AEST, 18 July 2025 154 View comments Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as England face Sweden in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Women's Euros at Stadion Letzigrund in Switzerland. Ellen White, England Euro 2022 winner, on BBC One: Well, that wasn't in the script. I've already compared this England performance to how they played against France, but I was wrong. .. it's been worse. Sarina Wiegman simply has to make some changes straight out of the gate, otherwise this game, and their Euros with it, is done. Will she switch things up? I'm sorry, England fans, but I have to show this. I warned you all that this Sweden side were not to be slept on, and they proved it inside two minutes. I mean, it's a terrible mistake from Kiera Walsh to give Sweden the opportunity, but Kosovare Asllani still had a lot to do. And boy, did she do it. Lovely finish. Dominic King, Mail Sport: There goes the whistle. England are lucky that they are still in this game because my word they have served up some dross today. Sluggish from the off and now two behind, but it should be more. The fact that it isn't is quite a surprise, given how this game has gone. England need something special now. Oh, that would have been game over! Fridolina Rolfö gallops at the England defence and they are backtracking with every step. The Swede pulls the trigger, and you just think the third is coming, but Hannah Hampton denies her at full stretch. The Lionesses survive. It's all England now as we approach the break, but still not much joy. They have just one minute to try and make something happen before the whistle goes. The Sweden fans are having a right good old time in the stands. They haven't stopped singing since seeing their side score a second, and are having a proper dance along too. The ABBA songs have stopped for now, though. Shame, I enjoyed them. England seem to be realising that they need to attack if they are to make a comeback here. They are sustaining pressure going forward, but just can't seem to create anything of note. It's not looking good, guys. Lauren Hemp has been in the wars. She got walloped by Jennifer Falk earlier, and now she has just been hit in the head by Hannah Lundkvist. The medical staff take their time with the winger, but eventually she gets back to her feet. Hopefully, all is OK. Jess Carter, that's much better. The defender has been having a torrid time out there, Stina Blackstenius has been running her ragged. It looks like the same is happening again, but this time Carter manages to wrestle the striker off and slide the ball to Hannah Hampton. Hannah Hampton to the rescue. Sweden cut through England with ease once again with a simple ball over the top. Fridolina Rolfo finds herself clear, and you think she is going to make it three, but Hampton races out of her goal to smash the ball out of danger. Sweeper keeper! Dopes that count as an England shot on goal? Lauren Hemp gets on the end of Lauren James' cross, but her header is so tame and I'm not sure she even meant to go for goal. Anyway, Jennifer Falk claims it, so I am taking that. Is that ABBA I hear? I'm pretty sure the Sweden fans are singing 'Lay All Your Love On Me' right now. I mean, it is a banger, and I am fighting with every fibre of my being not to dance along. I won't give in. This feels like de ja vu. I feel like we are watching a replay of England's opening game against France here. It is almost a carbon copy. Not good. England need to respond, and they need to now. Ella Tooney looks to spark them into life immediately and picks the ball up on the counter. But her effort is blocked fairly comfortably, and Sweden just take back possession, and control with it. Fairly ominous, I have to say. It goes from bad to worse for England. If the Lionesses are going to retain their European crown, they are going to need some sort of miracle now. It's all too easy for Sweden as Stina Blackstenius is allowed to drift down the right under little pressure, drive into the box, and slide the ball past Hannah Hampton. Sweden are flying, England are falling. Lucy Bronze doesn't look in a good way here. She wins the ball in front of Zigiotti Olme, who then follows through and scrapes her boots down Bronze's calf. Both end up rolling around on the floor, but after a bit of a moan, everything seems ok. Looks like a nasty one, mind. England really are all out of sorts here. Even Lauren James is struggling down the right, which is really saying something. Sweden are just so compact when they settle into their shape, and England are struggling to find a way through when they have the ball. Losing every battle. .. Ohhhh, that is ridiculous. Sweden are playing some filthy stuff here, and England simply can't cope with them. They play some lovely one-touch footie to work their way around the Lionesses before Rytting Kaneryd is slid through down the right. But her cross fails to find anybody in yellow. Oooft, that's going to hurt in the morning. Lauren Hemp has been absolutely clattered by Jennifer Falk, as she goes to punch a cross. Both are in a heap on the floor after that hit, but they will be OK. Right, we can breathe now. After what had been relentless pressure from Sweden, this game has calmed a little now. This is what England need to happen: they need to regroup, find their rhythm, and get back in this game. Also, I need a drink because my word that start made me sweat. It just gets crazier! Now England hit the bar, just moments after nearly going two goals down. I can't keep up. Lauren Hemp deciders to hit one, and boy does she hit one, as the ball loops ionto teh cross bar. Absolute carnage here. What the hell is going on here? England are all over the gaff, I can't quite believe what I am seeing. This time it's Hannah Hampton who has the heeby jeebies and gioves the ball away, and Arsenal hero Stina Blackstenius is in. She looks set to roll teh ball into an empty net, but her club team-mate Leah Williamson pops out of nowhere to put in a goal-saving block. The Lionesses need to wake up here. What the hell is going on here? England are all over the gaff, I can't quite believe what I am seeing. This time, it's Hannah Hampton who has the heebie jeebies and gives the ball away, and Arsenal hero Stina Blackstenius is in. She looks set to roll the ball into an empty net, but her club team-mate Leah Williamson pops out of nowhere to put in a goal-saving block. The Lionesses need to wake up here. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. .. It's the worst possible start for England, and my word, what a horrible goal to give away. Kiera Walsh makes a real mess of it at the back, giving the ball away, and it's eventually moved to Kosovare Asllani. She drills the ball across Hannah Hampton and into the corner. Oh, I am pumped. There is some really dramatic music played as the players take to their positions, so they must be pumped too. As if the occasion wasn't enough. Anyway, we are off! Oh yes, oh yessss! God Save the King has just been belted out beautifully here in Zurich. Well, by the fans. Some of the England players could work on their tunefulness a bit, I have to say. Not that singing is part of their job. Also, I have to say, Sweden's national anthem is a bit of a bop. Bot quite the Italy and France level of banger, but still nice to listen to. Anyway, the singing has been done, the teams are ready, and it's nearly time for kick-off. I'm just itching for this to get going. Sarina Wiegman, England manager, speaking to BBC Sport: By Harry Bamforth How are we all feeling? I imagine those of you wearing England shirts are absolutely bricking it as you read this post. Yep? Thought so. Just have some Extra gum, 'You've got this. ' The players are just polishing up their warm-ups now, and we are getting excitingly close to kick-off. I'm buzzing, I can't lie. As the nation gears up to cheer on the Lionesses, England partner Extra gum has teamed up with the three players to bring the phrases they rely on to stay grounded back to life in the places that made them. From commuter buses in Maidstone to study spots in Cambridge, uplifting ‘Lioness Lingo’ from each player is popping up across their hometowns, as a reminder for us all to take a moment. In Maidstone, Alessia Russo’s straightforward mantra, “cool, calm, collected”, now adorns a local bus, offering a moment of grounded clarity to weary commuters navigating busy commutes. It’s the ultimate pre-9am pep talk, serving a crisp, no-fuss reminder that even small shifts in mindset can go a long way. Over in Studley, Hannah Hampton’s unapologetic rallying cry “full send” takes centre stage at the ‘Full Send Salon’, a pop-up nail bar powered by Extra offering free Lioness-themed gel polish to fans. Designed for those nail-biting moments during the football, or just for braving a Monday at work, it’s a reminder to take a moment for yourself, keeping your nails looking on point. And in Cambridge, Lucy Parker’s quietly powerful “you’ve got this” is now jetwashed onto pavements near university colleges including St John’s and Trinity, giving students a gentle nudge of belief as they hit their next deadline or brave a late-night revision sprint. Have they got this? We will find out tonight. Watch here as Alessia Russo shares the personal mantras that help keep her calm. 'And it was all yellow. .. ' Coldplay would absolutely love these pictures, wouldn't they? OK, I may have made this gag way too many times, but I still find it funny, even if you don't. Anyway, if you thought the England fans had come in full force, the Swedes have taken it to a new level. There's a sea of yellow in Zurich. Yep, we all remember this. I simply couldn't go the whole build-up without mentioning the last time these two teams met at the Euros, could I? It was one of the most memorable days in Lionesses' history. England didn't just beat Sweden to make it in to the Euro 2022 final, they took them to school. It was a right old battering that was perhaps the start of Sweden's resurgence. That backheel from Alessia Russo, the Fran Kirby chip, Sweet Caroline ringing around Brammall Lane. It was perfect, simply perfect. England netted four goals, made the final, and ended up winning the whole thing. Doesn't get better than that, really. Now, I do not expect this to happen again tonight, but if it did, boy would that be a treat. I would love another thriller, wouldn't you? Steph Houghton, former England captain, on BBC Radio 5 Live: You know that march I was just on about? Well, here it is. There really are floods of England fans making their way to the stadium, and boy, are they making a racket. I mean, we all love a bit of Sweet Caroline, don't we? It should be the national anthem at this point. There are really good vibes in Zurich right now. Just take a look at this! The Lionesses are certainly going to feel well supported tonight, there are thousands of England fans on the march to Stadion Letzigrund. It really is a sight to behold, the drums are going, even a trumpet is being played, while the fans belt out chants as they make their way to the ground. You just love to see it. Sarina Wiegman, England boss, speaking on Wednesday: Anybody who is just expecting the Lionesses to wipe the floor with Sweden tonight may about to be in for a shock. This is such a tough match to call, it really is. This is a Sweden side who have improved exponentially since losing to England at the last Euros, and are currently on an incredible 15-match unbeaten run. They won all three of their group games, scoring eight goals and only conceding one. Not bad, eh? They are no slouch; far from it. However, that's not to say that they are the favourites here. .. they are facing an England side that has scored 10 goals in their last two matches and seem to be clicking just like they did three years ago. If the Lionesses are on it from the get-go, it will be really hard for this Sweden side to keep them at bay. But if England waltz into this thinking they are just going to cruise through, then they have another thing coming. This is going to be one hell of a battle. Now, let's look at who England are up against. Sweden impressively beat Germany in their final group match, and they have only made two changes from the team that got the win. Hanna Lundkvist and Julia Zigiotti Olme both come in. Oh, what a shock. .. not. Why would Sarina Wiegman change a winning formula when it is working so well? The Lionesses boss has stuck with the same side that wiped the floor with Wales last time out, and did the same to the Netherlands. Can they do it again? Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone look relaxed, don't they? Put it this way, if I didn't know what was on tonight, there is no way that I would be able to guess these two were about to play in a quarter-final at the Euros. That's good, though. Being relaxed can never be a bad thing. Also, how dapper do the Swede's look in their suits? I need to find out where they are from. I want one. Phoar, what a glorious sight. Not a single cloud dons the sky in Switzerland, well, it didn't when this picture was taken. The sun is starting to go down now. The last time I covered the Lionesses at this ground, they slapped the Netherlands silly, winning 4-0. Can they do the same to Sweden tonight? Doubt it, but who knows? Mamma Mia, here we go again. Oh drat, I can't use that, can I? That's an ABBA song and England are playing Sweden, what was I thinking? Tonight is huge. The Lionesses continue their Euros title defence against a side they beat on the way to glory three years ago, but this time the Swedes aren't here to roll over. Only one place separates these two sides in the FIFA world rankings; there is practically nothing to separate them on paper. A semi-final date with Italy awaits the winner - quite the prize. I, for one, am buzzing for this belter of a match in Zurich, and you should be too. Strap in, it could be one hell of a rollercoaster. So, let's get it started. Women cannot play football. The standard is shocki. ..
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