ZURICH — As Smilla Holmberg’s final missed penalty flew into the Zurich air, the entire England squad raced towards goalkeeper Hannah Hampton in celebration. Manager Sarina Wiegman stayed near the bench and jumped into her assistant Arjan Veurink’s arms. Moments later a bloodied Hampton [thanks to an earlier collision that left her with a bloody nose] was submerged under the other 22 England players as the Lionesses used up all nine of their lives to progress past Sweden on penalties to reach the semifinals of Euro 2025.
“It was hard,” Wiegman said afterwards. “One of the hardest games I’ve ever watched. Very emotional. We could’ve been out four or five times during the game.”
For so much of the match, England were poor; Sweden should have had things tied up by the 70th minute as they were given the freedom of Zurich and pounced on simple mistakes at the back to go 2-0 up after 25 minutes thanks to Kosovore Asllani and Stina Blackstenius.
England’s defence was porous, the midfield non-existent, the passes loose. The team looked bereft, listless, and were outplayed by a quick, pressing team who brought physicality. They had Hampton to thank for keeping them in it on the stroke of half-time as she made a wonderful save from Fridolina Rolfö.
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Sweden were in total control and educated England with a lesson similar to the one France subjected them to in the opening game of the tournament. The clamor from the stands was to make changes; what they needed was the injection of life from the substitutions and a change of formation. England had been here before.
Back in 2022 it was the impact of Ella Toone and Alessia Russo off the bench who shifted the balance of power in matches on their way to the title. Then, at the 2023 World Cup, they used 3-5-2 for the first time under Wiegman on route to the final. And that Plan B shifted the balance of power back into England’s favor inside 103 seconds against Sweden.
First Beth Mead, Michelle Agyemang and Esme Morgan were introduced on 70 minutes, then Chloe Kelly was brought on eight minutes later and made an immediate impact. Kelly’s deep cross found Lucy Bronze (who had spent most of the first half chasing shadows) at the far post to nod home in the 79th minute. Then, just under two minutes later, Kelly was involved again as her cross caused havoc in the box and Agyemang, 19, netted the equalizer from close range.
England believed they could push for the winner, and had the momentum, but couldn’t get over the line inside 90 minutes as Russo had a goal-bound shot blocked. Extra-time beckoned and that was Sweden’s as the tempo ebbed out of the game, and captain Leah Willamson left the pitch with an injury, but the Lionesses held firm for a penalty shootout.
Hannah Hampton celebrates with super-sub Chloe Kelly. Pascal Kesselmark/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Penalties are a cruel way to decide a match, but this one was shambolic and both teams did their best to get knocked out. In a frantic spell, nine efforts in total went wide or were saved, and Sweden had two chances to win the match: first, goalkeeper Jennifer Falk ballooned her effort over the bar, then in sudden death, Sofia Jakobsson had hers saved onto the post by Hampton.
It was down to Bronze to slot what proved to be the winning penalty and she powered her shot straight down the middle. In her seventh major tournament, Bronze delivered, again. And when Holmberg missed hers into the night sky, pandemonium ensued.
The brutal reality is that Sweden should have won. England had the chances late on, but Sweden were the dominant force and will look at this as a massive opportunity missed. The Lionesses will call this “proper England” — a performance of grit and determination, but basically clinging on by your claws — and Hampton personified this.
Before the tournament started the Chelsea goalkeeper was thrust reluctantly in the headlines when Mary Earps’ shock retirement created an unwanted narrative. She stayed calm, but also showed the vulnerability expected of a goalkeeper heading into her first tournament as a No. 1 when she said: “It’s hard when you see English fans not want you in goal.”
In Zurich on Thursday night, there wasn’t a single England fan who wouldn’t have wanted her there.
During normal time, her repeated saves kept England in the match and by the time the penalty shootout came around, she’d already changed out of one bloodied top thanks to a mid-air collision with teammate Alex Greenwood and continued in between the sticks with her nose plugged and blood still streaming down.
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England fans celebrate penalty shootout win vs. Sweden
Fans at Boxpark Wembley celebrate England’s quarterfinal win over Sweden at the Women’s European Championship.
With the help of Hampton’s heroics, England somehow plucked a victory from a match they should’ve lost. “The fans were cheering non-stop,” the goalkeeper said afterwards. “It helps you get that little bit of an edge over them and stretch a little extra for each dive. They were definitely behind me, and I really appreciated all of the support.”
England will be counting their blessings they’re through, but they have work to do ahead of Italy. Until the substitutions, Sweden dominated the match and England’s back four looked unfamiliar. Any pass came laced with danger and unpredictability, and the Lionesses looked lost, unable to find any attacking momentum.
In the end, England became the first team to overcome a two-goal deficit in Euros knockout match to make the next round and this was a victory for Hampton, Wiegman’s judgement (again), luck, and the strength of self-belief.
There’s something truly remarkable about this group and their ability to somehow wrestle matches back into their favor. But the analysis won’t make comfortable viewing. They’ll wait on the prognosis of Williamson’s ankle injury which forced her off in extra time, and Wiegman may have to do some surgery at the back.
But that can wait. For tonight, England can enjoy this. They can count themselves very fortunate, but their Euro 2025 hopes are alive, just.