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England face Sweden, France and the Republic of Eire in their Euro 2025 qualifying community
England’s defence of their European title obtained off to a disappointing begin at Wembley Stadium as they had been held to a blueprint by Sweden in their first Euro 2025 qualifier.
Alessia Russo nodded in Lauren James’ intelligent adversarial in the first half of however Sweden equalised by device of Fridolina Rolfo later on when she crept in behind Barcelona team-mate Lucy Bronze to head in at the abet post.
It was as soon as an unconvincing performance from Sarina Wiegman’s aspect, who were drawn in a tricky qualifying community with two of the area’s top six and know they want to merit from at home.
In a repeat of the Euro 2022 semi-final, in which England thrashed Sweden 4-0, this was as soon as a noteworthy more evenly balanced approach upon with Sweden carrying mountainous threat on the counter-assault.
England’s inability to manipulate possession resulted in several potentialities, including a big one for Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius in the second half of when she was as soon as performed in behind the hosts’ defence, totally to shoot vast from shut vary.
Rolfo had earlier dragged a shot vast from one other counter-attacking transfer and the Lionesses created diminutive or no – two very leisurely efforts from Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead had been their most effective potentialities of the match.
England’s qualification route isn’t any longer straightforward – totally the pause two groups from their community qualify automatically for subsequent summer’s Euros in Switzerland, with the assorted two aspects entering the play-offs.
In addition they face France, ranked third in the area, and so that they poke to Dublin on Tuesday to take on the Republic of Eire (19:30 BST kick-off).
“Sweden are a if truth be told tricky opponent. I dwell think we would possibly well per chance want completed a couple of things greater,” said England boss Wiegman afterwards.
“We are looking to be taught from these games and dwell greater every recreation as varied countries are looking to remain too. It exhibits how shut and the device in which tight our competition is.”
Deflated Wembley as Lionesses fail to provoke
The stadium announcer at Wembley welcomed England because the “European champions here to defend their title” with mountainous enthusiasm – however it was as soon as no longer the exhilarating match many had hoped for.
An early assert of affairs on Russo, which resulted in her needing medical attention for a minimize to her shin, supposed there was as soon as a lengthy stoppage and England took a whereas to find their rhythm afterwards.
Russo’s infamous backheel in the semi-final two years was as soon as in the reminiscences of many fans as they headed to Wembley on Friday and he or she had her second again however this time it was as soon as no longer adequate to lift the team.
Paper planes had been thrown everywhere in the stands and fans shone their cellular phone digicam lights in the second half of because the ambiance dipped in correlation with England’s performance.
Sloppy in possession and lacking creativity up entrance, this was as soon as no longer the vintage England that gained Euro 2022.
Their process is to qualify from the toughest community on paper and this was as soon as no longer an supreme begin, albeit against an spectacular Sweden aspect who will like themselves to transfer the total device in Switzerland subsequent one year.
The company had been well organised in defence and tough in their press, with manager Peter Gerhardsson saying they had a thought to “take away Keira Walsh” and prevent the England midfielder from having an impact.
“The #1 [plan] was as soon as to do away with Keira Walsh after which you would maybe well per chance disturb her,” he said.
“Or no longer it’s more that we tried to press so their faces had been down and so that they are able to’t obtain the choices. In the present day for our amount 10, it was as soon as all about taking away Keira Walsh, however we’re going to have the option to no longer play that device at home.”
It was as soon as a second of quality from James which teed up Russo’s aim – a satisfying, dinked adversarial from the finest which the Arsenal striker totally had to nod over the line – however Bronze’s lapse in focus, allowing Rolfo to hotfoot in behind, proved costly.
At the venue the Lionesses lifted the trophy two years in the past, this was as soon as no longer the identical feeling at full-time as many left Wembley feeling deflated at an underwhelming begin to the qualifying marketing campaign.
Line-upsEngland
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Earps
- 2Bronze
- 5Wubben-Moy
- 6Greenwood
- 3CharlesSubstituted forCarterat 79’minutes
- 8Stanway
- 4Walsh
- 10ClintonSubstituted forTooneat 57’minutes
- 11Hemp
- 9RussoSubstituted forKellyat 79’minutes
- 7JamesSubstituted forMeadat 68’minutes
Substitutes
- 12Carter
- 13Hampton
- 14Toone
- 15Williamson
- 16Kelly
- 17Mead
- 18Kirby
- 19Daly
- 20Park
- 21Rendell
- 22Morgan
- 23Turner
Sweden
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Falk
- 4Lundkvist
- 3Sembrant
- 6Eriksson
- 2AnderssonSubstituted forNildénat 62’minutes
- 16AngeldahlSubstituted forRubenssonat 75’minutes
- 9AsllaniSubstituted forKafajiat 62’minutes
- 15Olme
- 19Rytting Kaneryd
- 11BlacksteniusSubstituted forAnvegårdat 87’minutes
- 18RolföSubstituted forJanogyat 86’minutes
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 5Nildén
- 7Janogy
- 8Vinberg
- 10Jakobsson
- 13Kullberg
- 14Kafaji
- 17Anvegård
- 20Bennison
- 21Enblom
- 22Rybrink
- 23Rubensson
Match StatsLive Text
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Match ends,