Sarina Wiegman has referred to as England’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win in opposition to Sweden at Euro 2025 “the toughest recreation I’ve ever watched”.
The Lionesses had been 2-0 down at half-time after a poor first-half efficiency, and a comeback appeared unlikely within the quarter-final.
However two objectives in 103 seconds from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang – each assisted by Chloe Kelly – took the sport to further time, earlier than the Lionesses gained a outstanding penalty shoot-out 3-2, after 9 spot-kicks had been missed.
England will now face Italy within the semi-finals on Tuesday July 22 in Geneva for a spot within the remaining.
Reflecting on what should be considered one of England’s greatest comebacks throughout her tenure, Wiegman advised BBC Sport: “It was one of many hardest video games I’ve ever watched. Very emotional.
“We may have been out of the sport three or 4 instances, while you’re 2-0 at half-time it isn’t good.
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England rejoice after their shoot-out win over Sweden at Euro 2025
“Though we began actually unhealthy, on the finish it received higher, however we did not create something so we needed to change form and we scored two objectives – that was loopy.
“We missed so much (of penalties), they usually missed much more. I have to decompress, I feel.
“Michelle (Agyemang) brings one thing totally different. She is so robust and scores a objective too, she has proven she will be able to do this.”
Hampton: Followers’ assist helped me get an edge in shoot-out
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who needed to hold her group within the recreation at instances, saved two penalties within the shoot-out. Sweden missed one other three, and scored twice.
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Watch as Sue Smith experiences a rollercoaster of emotional reactions to England’s dramatic penalty shoot-out in opposition to Sweden within the Euro
Chatting with BBC Sport, Hampton mentioned: “We’re very completely happy. You’ll be able to see the celebrations, the followers had been behind us the entire recreation. Even after we had been 2-0 down they knew we may deliver this again and you do not ever write us off.
“It was traumatic. Worrying watching, traumatic enjoying.
“Each time I saved one (penalty), I used to be simply considering ‘please put it in, so now we have a little bit of a cushion!’… I am simply completely happy and relieved now.
“It (the followers’ assist) helps you get a little bit of an edge and push you on, stretch a bit further for every dive and put extra energy in. They had been undoubtedly behind me and I respect all of the assist.”
Williamson: We’re by no means accomplished
England captain Leah Williamson to BBC Sport:
“I really feel proud. That was terrible to look at on the finish. We’re by no means accomplished, the fightback, the standard to show the sport round and keep in it mentally – unimaginable.
“We have accomplished a great deal of prep (on penalties). It is the simplest and the toughest factor on the planet. There may be a lot science behind it.
“We have performed three finals in a row now, mainly. I am a cheerful woman right this moment.”
Bronze: Subs modified the sport
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Lucy Bronze celebrates after scoring England’s first objective in opposition to Sweden
England defender Bronze, who scored to steer the Lionesses’ comeback in addition to within the shoot-out, praised the substitutes for altering the dimension of the sport.
“It was a rollercoaster,” she advised BBC Sport. “Each underwhelming and overwhelming on the similar time. A loopy recreation, as a participant, and for followers too.
“Holding the group collectively within the first half was tough. They’d just a few good probabilities to place the sport to mattress, fortunate for us we saved them out. The substitutes modified the dynamic of the sport.”
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Michelle Agyemang was one of many impactful England substitutes in opposition to Sweden
A kind of was actually Kelly, who had picked up two assists inside minutes of coming off the bench.
She advised BBC Sport: “The women coming onto the pitch did their jobs, executed it very well. That simply reveals, with the entire squad, while you’re wanted, you are taking your second.
“I did not really feel beneath strain, I simply needed to go and create some objectives for the women and be at my greatest. I simply tried to place the ball within the field and play to my strengths.
“We knew we needed to bounce again; we weren’t at our greatest within the first half, however we knew we had been able to doing so and we confirmed that.”
