The Lionesses are through to the Euros semi-finals after Sweden’s sudden death in “one of the worst penalty shoot-outs in football history”.
England got off to a rocky start against a clinical Swedish side. Sweden got a goal just two minutes into the game with a strike into the bottom corner from Asllani – the fastest they have ever scored in a major tournament. Sweden continued to dominate the first half, with the speed of Stina Blackstenius slipping past England’s shaky defence to cement a 2-0 lead.
It seemed like it might be too late when the 70’ substitutes allowed England to finally show their teeth. However, after only a minute on the pitch, Chloe Kelly whipped in a cross that was fired in by Lucy Bronze’s head. Only 105 seconds later, Kelly delivered another ball and this time it reached the boot of Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old talent who has 3 caps for England and 2 goals already.
Faye White said it was “a comeback to remember after using up all our lives. Will need to patch up a few players after putting bodies on the line.” By the time it reached penalties, both sides looked battered.
Hannah Hampton stepped between the posts with a gauze to stop up her bloody nose. Tired legs missed 9 of the 14 penalties. Lucy Bronze – whose middle name is literally “Tough” – had strapped up her own leg as medical staff responded to Alex Greenwood, and ripped the taping off before firing into the net and ripping up Sweden’s Euros dream.
Sarina Wiegman summed up the chaos of those final moments in simple words: “We miss a lot, they miss even more, and we’re through”. It was England’s spirit, perhaps more than their performance, that will go down in history. Their battle came at a cost, however. Captain Leah Williamson is in doubt for the semi-final against Italy after leaving the pitch with an ankle injury. Wiegman has her work cut out for her if the Lionesses are to progress to their third consecutive major final.
Image Credits: “Lucy Bronze 20181009” by EL Loko is licensed under CC BY 4.0.