The England vs Sweden match ended in a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes, but England Women held their nerve to win 3-2 on penalties, crushing Sweden’s hopes and storming into the Euro 2025 semifinals.
According to ESPN, Sweden only managed to score two out of the seven penalty shots they took. All thanks to England’s goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, who made heroic saves of two penalties.
On the other side, Sweden’s goalkeeper, Jennifer Falk, saved four penalties from England’s players but missed her chance to win the shootout, after the ball went over the goalbar.
Penalty Drama: How Hampton Sealed England’s Victory?
The unpredictability of football is what keeps hearts racing: it was a Swedish striker who impressed with the opening goal in the 2nd minute.
By the 25th minute, Stina Blackstenius scored the 2nd goal for Sweden, leading the team. Until the final 12 minutes of the match, the scoreboard showed 0-2.
In the 79th minute, England’s Lucy Bronze scored a header goal, making it 2-1. Then, just two minutes later, after Michelle Agyemang entered the field, she gave England their 2nd goal, making a 2-2 draw, and forcing an additional time to match.
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After extra time ended scoreless, then came the penalty shootout which changed the fate of the teams.
Swedish goalkeeper Jennifer Falk saved four penalties in the shootout, but unfortunately missed her own goal.
England, on the other side, Lucy Bronze’s hit turned out to be a winning penalty after Swedish teen defender Smilla Holmberg missed her penalty.
England eliminate Sweden on penalties to become the second semi-finalists of the Women’s EURO 2025 😮💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/M0IJjJGAFU
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) July 17, 2025
After the win, England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton told the BBC the match was “Stressful.”
She said, “Stressful. Stressful watching, stressful playing. Every time I saved one, I was thinking, ‘Please just put it in so we have a bit of a cushion.’ Their keeper then just went and saved the next one, and I was thinking ‘oh goodness, here we go.'”
Following a rollercoaster victory, England will now face Italy in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-finals. Italy reached the semi-finals after defeating Norway 1-2.
Reportedly, the semi-final match between England and Italy is scheduled on Tuesday in Geneva.
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Amit Mishra’s Take On England Victory
England vs Sweden proved that in football, fate can change in an instant, and no actual lead is ever truly safe. Unless you hear the final whistle blow, victory is never certain.
This was one of the most frantic games I have ever experienced in women’s football. Definitely, Sweden played well, but they could not handle England’s energy in the final moments.
Finally, congratulations to the team England. Bravo!!
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