England secured their place at Euro 2025 after a nervous end to their final qualifying match away in Sweden.
The Lionesses started the match well after three changes from Sarina Wiegman brought Lucy Bronze, Ella Toone and Millie Bright back into the team. They dominated the ball over the first half, passing with tempo and looking for the opening goal. Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway both had decent efforts but the Lionesses failed to utilise their dominance in front of goal.
As the match progressed Sweden grew in confidence and desperation. The hosts, knowing they needed to win to get through, introduced Rosa Kafaji and Evelyn Ijeh in the second half.
Both substitutes were quick and direct but the restored partnership of Bright and Leah Williamson kept them at bay. The final 10 minutes were a nervous affair but England held out and will defend their title at the Euros next summer.
Relive the action as England take on Sweden in Euro 2025 qualifying:
Sweden v England LIVE
- England qualify for Euro 2025 despite goalless draw against Sweden
- The Lionesses secured automatic qualification if they avoid defeat tonight
- Elsewhere, Gareth Southgate has resigned as England men’s manager after Euro 2024 final defeat
- 84’ SAVE! - Hampton denies Angeldal from range (SWE 0-0 ENG)
- 51’ SAVE! - Hampton denies Angeldal from close (SWE 0-0 ENG)
- 38’ CHANCE! - Stanway’s shot from range bounces wide (SWE 0-0 ENG)
- 18’ CLOSE! - Russo misses out after a great cross from Stanway (SWE 0-0 ENG)
England qualify for Euro 2025 despite goalless draw against Sweden
20:52
Mike Jones
England secured direct qualification to Euro 2025 following a goalless draw with Sweden in Gothenburg.
The Lionesses dominated possession in the first half but their only real chances came from Georgia Stanway and Lucy Bronze.
The hosts suddenly sprung into action with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Filippa Angeldal having great opportunities either side of half-time before Sweden pushed for a goal in the final stages.
FT Sweden 0-0 England
20:36
Mike Jones
England boss Sarina Wiegman speaking to ITV: “I’m happy, I’m very relieved because it was a tough game. The first half I think we dominated. When you are so dominant we have to create more chances and score goals. In the second half we couldn’t keep up that level. We did fight for it. I think we can do a little bit better, but keeping the 0-0, qualifying in this group, I am relieved.
“I am very happy. I take many positives. This game and against France showed in moments we played so good, we just want to keep up.
“We need a year. You see moments we played really well. We want to do that longer and also when the pressure goes up.”
FT Sweden 0-0 England
20:36
Mike Jones
England captain Leah Williamson speaking to ITV: “We don’t make it easy for ourselves when we don’t score. We’ve seen out a game, same in France. These are tough places to come.
“They had a change of tactics, they have different threats. We stood firm and we stayed true. We couldn’t play the football we wanted to play the second half which put us under a lot of pressure.
“A lot more. We took care of business, we qualified and we can get the most out of ourselves before the tournament. We did that the last time and we all know how that went.”
FT Sweden 0-0 England
20:02
Mike Jones
Former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley gave her reaction on BBC Radio 5 Live saying:
“It’s safe to say that England have limped over the line in this qualification campaign instead of charging over it. The Lionesses will be so pleased that they have automatically qualified as it puts an element of control into your preparation.
“Being able to know when you can plot friendlies in and among the domestic calendar is really important. You can work on new things, formations, new faces, additional tactics.”
FT Sweden 0-0 England
20:00
Mike Jones
Full-time! Sweden 0-0 England
19:52
Mike Jones
90+4 mins: There goes the full-time whistle!
England have done it. A goalless draw in Gothenberg is enough to send the Lionesses to Euro 2025. They finish second in Group A3 with a middling performance with plenty of areas to improve.
Their defence held out in the end and the result was all that mattered tonight.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:46
Mike Jones
90 mins: Niamh Charles comes on in the final minute to replace Lauren Hemp. That’s a clear sign that Sarina Wiegman wants to close out this match and get qualification secured.
There’s going to be four minutes of added time to play.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:42
Mike Jones
87 mins: There’s a bit of game management in play from England now. They’ve got themselves on the ball and slot it nicely along the left wing.
A switch of play brings it to Lucy Bronze who knocks a pass back to Georgia Stanway. She hits a half shot/half cross into the area and watches as Zecira Musovic plucks it out of the air.
Time is ticking by. Will there be a goal?
Sweden 0-0 England
19:39
Mike Jones
84 mins: Save!
Filippa Angeldal smokes a shot at goal from a long way out. The ball dips and swerves right at the last moment but Hannah Hampton manages to keep it.
That was awkward but England are still on level terms.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:38
Mike Jones
83 mins: Hannah Hampton has really struggled from set pieces, especially trying to collect or clear the ball. She hasn’t been a powerful presence but England’s defenders have been nearby to help her clear the danger.
Sweden are the aggressors now. England are holding on and trying to keep the hosts out.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:36
Mike Jones
81 mins: Rytting Kaneryd darts inside from the right anf thinks about shooting before she’s hounded by Keira Walsh. Instead the Swedish forward rolls the ball off to Filippa Angeldal who lifts a cross towards the ball post but can’t pick out Fridolina Rolfo.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:33
Mike Jones
78 mins: Sarina Wiegman decides now is the time to introduce Chloe Kelly who will bring more pace and verve to a potential counter attack.
Beth Mead is the player replaced with just over 10 minutes left to play.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:29
Mike Jones
75 mins: Angeldal whips a free kick into the box. Hannah Hampton comes for the ball and fumbles it forcing Millie Bright to knock it behind for a corner.
Jonna Andersson’s delivery is swung in towards Leah Williamson who leaps up and nods it safely away.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:27
Mike Jones
72 mins: In the other match in Group A3 the Republic of Ireland have taken the lead against France. That means if England manage to win this match and things remain as they are the Lionesses will finish top of the group.
At the minute though, Sweden have wrestled the momentum and are in the ascendancy.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:25
Mike Jones
69 mins: It’s been a stop-start second half for both teams. Lots of set pieces, breaks of play. No flow or rhythm to the game. One goal may be enough to win this game.
Rosa Kafaji makes a fantastic run into the box and is fed the ball from Rytting Kaneryd. Williamson scurries over and lunges into a tackle that just misses the forward.
Kafaji stays on her feet and wins a corner but if she’d gone down it would have been a certain penalty.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:21
Mike Jones
66 mins: Sweden switch things up first as Kosovare Asllani and Julia Zigotti Olme are taken off with Rosa Kafaji and Hanna Bennison brought on.
England win a corner that gets played short to Lauren Hemp. Hemp whips in a cross that’s tantilising but gets nodded away.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:18
Mike Jones
63 mins: Substitutions may be key in this game. England still look sharp but Sweden are starting to look further forward. Angeldal boot a long ball up to Ijeh but Williamson is on hand to marshal the ball out of play.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:15
Mike Jones
60 mins: Another 15 minutes safely negotiated by England. A draw will be enough for them to qualify but they’ll want to get themselves ahead to provide a cushion for the remainder of this match.
Sweden showed in the first half they are capable of hurting England. It’ll be interesting to see when they decide to up the tempo of their onw play.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:12
Mike Jones
57 mins: Russo carries the ball forward for England before finding Mead on the right. The angle is too tight for her to shoot so she rolls it back to Stanway.
Stanway checks to the right then unleashes a shot and fizzes the ball into the side netting.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:10
Mike Jones
54 mins: Nice!
Beth Mead whiops a free kick over to the far side of the penalty area. Lucy Bronze times her run beautifully, she leaps and powers a header towards the near post but Zecira Musovic is on hand to scoop up the ball.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:06
Mike Jones
51 mins: Now then. Sweden win their first corner of the match that gets swung into the box by Jonna Andersson. The cross is strong and comes to Lundkvist.
She heads it down to Angeldal who takes a touch then blazes a shot at goal. Hannah Hampton is called into action and drops to the right to palm it away.
Sweden 0-0 England
19:04
Mike Jones
48 mins: Sweden have made a change at the break with Madelen Janogy replaced in the forward line by Evelyn Ijeh.
England push forward in these opening minutes and try to squeeze into the box from the right. Sweden defend well and look to get Ijeh into the game with a possible counter-attack.
Leah Williamson cuts it out quickly and the Lionesses come at their hosts once more.
Second half! Sweden 0-0 England
19:01
Mike Jones
Sweden should be more aggressive and risk-taking in the next 45 minutes as they need to win this game. That should create a bit of space for the Lionesses if they can exploit it.
England get the ball rolling once again.
HT Sweden 0-0 England
18:57
Mike Jones
England had 67% possession in that first half but only managed to create two shots, neither of them on goal. In comparison Sweden had three attempts (alos none on target) despite having half the possession.
HT Sweden 0-0 England
18:53
Mike Jones
England have only visited Germany (P8 D1 L7) and Norway (P6 L6) without ever winning more often than Sweden (D1 L3). Can they change their fortunes in the second half?
HT Sweden 0-0 England
18:49
Mike Jones
Half-time! Sweden 0-0 England
18:45
Mike Jones
45 mins: No added time played and the first half comes to a close with the teams all square.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:45
Mike Jones
44 mins: Sweden are having the better end to the half. They swing a couple of cross into the box and pile pressure on England’s defence.
One of the crosses bounces past Jess Carter and comes to Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. She should score but misses the ball and it bobbles out for a goal kick.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:42
Mike Jones
41 mins: Here’s an opportunity for Sweden now. They come down the left wing and whip a cross into the box. Millie Bright does her job by leaping highest and nodding the ball out of the area.
It comes to Hanna Lundkvist though. She controls it then rattles a shot at goal only for it to continue rising over the crossbar.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:37
Mike Jones
38 mins: Chance!
With England trying and failing to pass their way into the penalty area Georgia Stanway decides to let fly with a shot from outside the penalty area.
She strikes one well and has the goalkeeper scrambling to her right. Zecira Musovic has it covered and watches the ball bounce wide of the near post.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:35
Mike Jones
35 mins: Alessia Russo and Linda Sembrant are engaging in a fine battle with the Swedish defender probably getting the better of things at the minute.
She’s sticking close to the forward and not letting Russo have any space to turn and shoot.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:31
Mike Jones
32 mins: Jess Carter and Lauren Hemp link up with some sharp passes to get Hemp running in behind the Sweden right back. Hemp collects the ball and pulls it back into the penalty area.
She doesn’t find a teammate and Fridolina Rolfo has to run it away.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:29
Mike Jones
29 mins: Stanway is pushed in the back by Julia Zigotti Olme. The Swedish midfielder isn’t pleased but England have realised that any sort of contact could yield them a set piece.
This free kick is floated forward but doesn’t find Lucy Bronze. Sweden have been very good at dealing with aerial balls.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:27
Mike Jones
26 mins: Sweden have been defensively well organised. They’re switching fluidly between a back four and back five depending on who has possession for England.
It’s a struggle for the Lionesses to break through them at the minute.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:23
Mike Jones
23 mins: Free kick to England. Beth Mead delivers into the penalty area once again but Sweden deal with the cross. Stanway and Bronze combine again to recycle the ball but they are shuffled wide on the right side and Stanway runs it out of play.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:21
Mike Jones
21 mins: Sweden are a strong side but they’ve been dominated so far by England. That said, the Lionesses haven’t benn able to create a good chance to score which could come back to haunt them if the Swedes start to click into gear.
England only need to draw to qualify for Euro 2025. They’ll be happy with the way the game is going.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:19
Mike Jones
18 mins: Close!
A long ball from England is chased down on the right wing by Georgia Stanway. She looks and whips a quick cross into the penalty area looking for Alessia Russo.
The pass is a good one but Linda Sembrant squeezes ahead of Russo doing just enough to distract the striker as she sticks out a leg to reach the ball.
She misses and Sweden clear.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:17
Mike Jones
17 mins: Nearly! A direct pass from Stanway seems to get England in behind the Swedish defence. Mead collects the ball then turns it onto Russo.
She eases off a defender and then the whistle goes for offside before she can shoot.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:14
Mike Jones
15 mins: This set piece is a dainty pass into the penalty area. There’s a bit of a scramble but Sweden manage to work the ball clear. England have had the better opening 15 minutes.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:13
Mike Jones
13 mins: A high press from Beth Mead sees her nick the ball off Hanna Lundkvist who tries to immediately recover it and fouls the English winger.
England have a free kick that is whipped into the box by Mead. Sweden manage to nod it out as far as Georgia Stanway. The midfielder feeds it over to Lucy Bronze who looks to dart back into the box and gets blocked off.
It’s a soft decision but the referee awards England another free kick.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:11
Mike Jones
11 mins: Ella Toone is having a decent evening already. She’s getting plenty of touches and is moving the ball around the pitch with gusto and accuracy.
England are seeing more possession, they’re trying to get Sweden to come forward and leave space out wide. There’s not been a lot of joy as of yet.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:08
Mike Jones
8 mins: Oh that is lovely. A fine cross field pass comes over to Lauren Hemp who goes direct towards the box. She plays a slick one-two with Ella Toone and gets into the area before lifting a cross towards Alessia Russo.
Magdalena Eriksson beats the England striker in the air and Sweden manage to get the ball away.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:05
Mike Jones
6 mins: Hampton is put under pressure by the Swedish press and decides to clear the danger with a no-nonsense hoof into the stands.
When England recover the ball, Leah Williamson tries to drive it into midfield but is harried by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Kosovare Asllani.
The England captain is fouled, softly, and wins a free kick.
Sweden 0-0 England
18:03
Mike Jones
3 mins: Millie Bright boots an awkward ball into the middle of the pitch and Sweden manage to bring it under control and send it to Filippa Angeldal. She cuts inside of a forward thinking Jess Carter and gets brought down.
The hosts play the free kick quickly but England manage to turn the ball over.
Ella Toone drifts out to the left wing and has loads of space to run into. The ball comes to her and she carries it into the penalty area. Alessia Russo is up with her but Toone’s pass is intercepted by Linda Sembrant.
Kick off! Sweden 0-0 England
18:00
Mike Jones
Madelen Janogy gets the ball rolling in Gothenberg after both sets of players take the knee. Sweden work it over to the right side of the pitch and then boot a long ball straight through to Hannah Hampton.
Sweden v England
17:54
Mike Jones
Here come the players.
They stride out onto the pitch knowing that this is a crucial qualifying match. Sweden must win, England can’t lose. Automatic qualification is at stake.
The national anthems are played, kick off is up next...
Sweden v England
17:50
Mike Jones
Fran Kirby has scored more goals in her England career against Sweden (3) than any other opponent, including a goal versus the Swedes on her senior international debut in August 2014.
Sweden v England
17:45
Mike Jones
Fridolina Rolfo has scored six goals in her last 12 international appearances for Sweden, more than any other player for them since the start of 2023, including the equalising goal in the reverse fixture at Wembley in April.
Sweden v England
17:40
Mike Jones
No England player has been involved in more goals in 2024 than Alessia Russo (6 – 5 goals, 1 assist) and could do so in three successive games for the Lionesses for the first time – the last player to do so was Beth Mead in July 2022.
Sweden v England
17:35
Mike Jones
England are unbeaten in each of their last 15 away matches in European Championship qualifying (W12 D3), winning each of the last eight in a row by an aggregate score of 32-1.
Sweden v England
17:30
Mike Jones
Since winning four of their five home games in all competitions in 2021 (D1), Sweden have won just three of their nine such games since (D3 L3).
Euro 2025 permutations: What do England need to qualify for the tournament?
17:25
Mike Jones
England will bid to secure automatic qualification for Euro 2025 as they face Sweden in their final Group A3 game.
A win over the Republic of Ireland last week has left the Lionesses in control of their own destiny as Sarina Wiegman’s side look to make certain of a trip to Switzerland next summer.
The top two sides in the group will progress directly to the tournament, with the third and fourth-placed finishers forced to negotiate play-offs.
Defending champions England have so far won three of their five qualifiers and sit second in the group.
Sweden v England
17:20
Mike Jones
After a 1-1 draw at Wembley in April, England could fail to win both meetings with a team in a single qualifying campaign for a major tournament for the first time since drawing twice with France in qualifying for the 2007 World Cup.
Sweden v England
17:15
Mike Jones
England are unbeaten in their last two meetings with Sweden (W1 D1) and could go three in a row without defeat versus the Swedes for the second time after a run of four draws between 1979 and 1983.
Sweden v England
17:10
Mike Jones
Sweden are unbeaten in four previous home meetings with England (W3 D1) with the most recent of those coming in a July 2013 friendly in Uddevalla, when the Swedes ran out 4-1 winners.
Overall, only Germany (21) have beaten the Lionesses more often than Sweden (15).
England team changes
17:04
Mike Jones
Sarina Wiegman makes three changes to the starting line-up for England’s match against Sweden. Maya Le Tissier and Alex Greenwood drop out of the defence with Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze brought back in.
Further up field Jess Park drops to the bench after impressing against Republic of Ireland with Ella Toone back in as her replacement.
Sweden v England line-ups
16:59
Mike Jones
England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Carter; Walsh, Toone, Stanway; Mead, Russo, Hemp
Your #Lionesses facing Sweden tonight! pic.twitter.com/TRpKfeNSHR
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 16, 2024
Sweden XI: Musovic; Lundkvist, Sembrant, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldal, Asllani, Olme; Rytting Kaneryd, Janogy, Rolfo
Williamson feels excited and ‘lucky’ playing for England
16:52
Mike Jones
Leah Williamson also provided an insight into how it feels to captain her country and play for the Lionesses saying: “I love playing for England, anyone who gets to wear this kit is very lucky.
“It’s been an exciting time, it’s a pressurised situation and it’s competitive football. We’re trying to qualify for a tournament we won last time.
“I’m always chasing a certain level of consistency, which is a challenge in itself.”
England can score more goals
16:44
Mike Jones
Leah Williamson wants the Lionesses to regain their cutting edge in front of goal and start putting away chances when they create them.
Speaking about the 2-1 win over Ireland last Friday the England captain said: “In every game we’ve played we’ve had the opportunity to score a lot more, which would make those moments that we get a bit nervy not so nervy. It’s not a lack of concentration or trying, it’s just the way they’ve gone.
“We could have put them to bed a lot earlier.
“Friday night against Republic of Ireland was another example of that when we could have scored more goals. Obviously winning 2-1 sounds a lot closer than we would have liked considering how we dominated.”
Wiegman empathises with Gareth Southgate after Euros defeat
16:37
Mike Jones
The England women’s team watched the Euro 2024 final together from their hotel in Gothenburg ahead of their qualifier and were saddened when Gareth Southgate’s side lost.
Sarina Wiegman is one of the few who can understand what Southgate went through as she took charge of the Lionesses for the 2023 World Cup final defeat.
“First of all it took me three weeks to get over it,” Wiegman said, “No it’s very hard, when you give everything and then it can go both ways of course, because you have an opponent who really wants to win too and has those qualities too, so when you have given your everything you hope you win and then when you don’t win you’re really disappointed.
“You start thinking ‘did we get everything out of ourselves?’ ‘did we do everything that we could?’ what was in our control, and then you have to accept it.
“It’s easier to accept a win than to accept a loss but for me it took a while.”
Williamson on England men losing to Spain at Euro 2024
16:30
Mike Jones
The Lionesses captain said she was ‘devastated’ for the England men’s team after their 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final but looked for the silver lining that winning a trophy will feel ‘sweeter’ when they finally get over the line.
“Devastated for them, especially knowing some of them personally as well,” Williamson said, “I think what Gareth and his team have done over the last three or four years, reaching finals and giving us that…bringing that dream closer to reality.
“We are very lucky as fans of England, men’s and women’s, to be in that position that we’re in. We didn’t quite get over the line, to a fantastic Spanish team and I know they’ll be devastated about it.
“It will take them a while I think, to get over it. But us as a country, we’ve been blessed with incredible tournaments and when those wins come, which I do believe they will, then they will be even sweeter.”
Gareth Southgate is right to go – England need a new chapter
16:23
Mike Jones
Gareth Southgate has decided his future. It was described as 50-50 before the Euro 2024 final, but after losing to Spain, the mood was naturally much gloomier.
Part of that was the atmosphere, as much as the painful late defeat. Southgate decided to stay after the 2022 World Cup because he felt the team was in a good place and there was no real issue with a mere quarter-final elimination. England narrowly lost a 50-50 game against France, so the mood towards Southgate was positive.
After this Euros, it was anything but. Throughout the tournament he repeatedly made reference to the fan opprobrium and the beer cups being thrown at him. That will to castigate Southgate – his “professional capability… questioned beyond belief”, as he put it – has similarly sat alongside the wider punditry discussion around the team.
That went from one extreme to another over Euro 2024. Southgate is said to have been irritated by the extent of the criticism from pundits he knows personally.
Lionesses are evolving under Wiegman
16:16
Mike Jones
The Lionesses have faced some criticism for their performances since losing the World Cup final as they have been unable to replicate the ruthless nature of their play that saw them triumph at Euro 2022.
Sarina Wiegman isn’t too concerned and spoke about the evolution her team is going through saying: “We know what we’re working on, we know what direction we want to go in.
“When things go really well we try to stay neutral because we know what we are doing and why we are doing it. And then when things don’t go that well we also stay neutral and keep working on the things it’s good to work on to improve.
“We never play a match to draw, we play the match to win. And if we win the game we might even win the group too. We’re approaching the game to win and we’ll see what happens.”
England want to beat Sweden says Wiegman
16:09
Mike Jones
Despite only needing a draw to secure a place at Euro 2025, Sarina Wiegman says her team won’t be settling and will play to win the match tonight.
Here she is giving her thoughts on the game:
Mary Earps or Hannah Hampton?
16:02
Mike Jones
One of the key decisions for Sarina Wiegman tonight is who she picks in goal. Mary Earps has missed the last two matches through a hip injury but is fit to start while Hannah Hampton has proven herself between the sticks against both France and Ireland.
When asked about the goalkeepers, Wiegman siad: “There’s a lot of competitiveness going on in the goalkeeping group but also in the team. There’s a decision to be made for tomorrow and then we don’t see each other for three months so players will play for their clubs and we will see.”
Lionesses triumph over Republic of Ireland to move within a point of Euro 2025
15:55
Mike Jones
England took one step closer to booking a place at Euro 2025 with a 2-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland in their Carrow Road qualifier.
Alessia Russo fired the defending European champions into the lead after just five minutes in front of a sold-out crowd in Norwich, undeterred by the soggy conditions and delighted to welcome the Lionesses back for the first time since the 2022 Arnold Clark Cup.
Georgia Stanway doubled England’s advantage with a second-half penalty but Julie-Ann Russell denied the hosts a clean sheet in the fourth and final minute of added time.
‘Really important’ to secure automatic qualification says Williamson
15:48
Mike Jones
England captain Leah Williamson explained that it is ‘really important’ for the Lionesses to qualify for Euro 2025 automatically and avoid the playoffs.
The Lionesses need just one point to secure automatic qualification when they face Sweden on Tuesday evening. If Sweden were to win on Tuesday, the Lionesses would finish third in the group and enter the playoffs this year.
“Obviously we are reigning champions so we want to be at the tournament first and foremost,” said Williamson.
“Securing qualification means you have a year to prepare and know where you want to be. The later you leave it, the more it can have a detriment to your preparations.
“It’s really important to us and that’s why we’re fully focused.”
Williamson on ‘sloppy’ defending versus Ireland
15:42
Mike Jones
Friday night’s victory over Republic of Ireland was fairly regulation for England who took a controlled 2-0 lead before conceding late in the game.
It was the fifth goal they have conceded in five matches and captain Leah Williamson said the 2-1 scoreline sounded “a lot closer” than it needed to be.
“When you have not scored that many – in all the games we have played, we’ve had the opportunity to score more – it then makes those moments a bit nervy,” she said.
“That’s when sloppiness can come in or pressurised situations. I don’t think it’s a lack of concentration or trying on our part. It’s just the way the games have gone.
“We could have put the games to bed a lot earlier and Friday was another example of that. Whether that stops us conceding, who knows?”
Sarina Wiegman on previous draw with Sweden
15:35
Mike Jones
The England boss spoke in yesterday’s pre-match press conference and touched on the game at Wembley which saw these two sides draw 1-1.
She said: “I think we definitely want to do better than we did at Wembley, we could have executed better than we did and we’ve been working on that and I hope we will improve.
“It’s a good team. Very structured team. Powerful with lots of experience. They can play direct and get behind the defence. We are aware of that and we have prepared. They have to win but that’s what we aim to do too.”
Gareth Southgate steps down as England manager after Euro 2024 final defeat
15:28
Mike Jones
Gareth Southgate has stepped down as England manager after Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Southgate’s tenure comes to an end after nearly eight years in charge, guiding England to four major tournaments.
The 53-year-old oversaw 102 matches, winning 61 and losing just 17 during his time in charge, becoming the first manager to lead England’s men to two major tournament finals.
Sweden v England prediction
15:21
Mike Jones
Sweden will take confidence from the 1-1 draw they earned against England when the two teams met earlier in qualification but Sarina Wiegman’s side have seemingly rediscovered their form.
They were dominant against the Republic of Ireland though lacked a ruthlessness in front of goal which could hurt them against a decent Swedish team. This will be closely contested but England should have enough quality to come out on top.
Sweden 1-2 England.
England team news and predicted line-ups
15:14
Mike Jones
England are still without Lauren James, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Kayla Rendell to injury, while Niamh Charles managed a substitute appearance against Ireland following a calf problem. Hannah Hampton started in goal for that match but Sarina Wiegman has a decision to make in goal with Mary Earps available after her hip problem has been resolved.
Predicted line-ups
Sweden XI: Musovic; Andersson, Kullberg, Sembrant, Rybrink; Rolfo, Olme, Bennison; Rytting Kaneryd, Jakobsson.
England XI: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Carter; Walsh, Stanway; Hemp, Park, Mead; Russo.
How to watch Sweden v England
15:07
Mike Jones
The Euro 2025 qualifier is due to kick off at 6pm on Tuesday 16 July at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with coverage on the channel from 5.30pm. A live stream will be available on ITVX.
Sweden v England
15:00
Mike Jones
England travel to Sweden this evening with the aim of sealing automatic qualification for Euro 2025. A draw or better will be enough for the Lionesses after they defeated the Republic of Ireland 2-1 last Friday thanks to goals from Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway.
That victory moves them above Sweden in Group A3 and gives them a three point advantage heading into this final qualification fixture. Should the Lionesses lose they will need to progress through a series of play-offs in order to reach the tournament in Switzerland and have the chance to defend their title.
For their part, Sweden - who drew with England in the first game of qualifying - need to win. They lost 2-1 to France last time out meaning their promising campaign is at risk of ending on a sour note.
Good afternoon!
14:23
Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Euro 2025 action as England take on Sweden in what is effectively a final to see which of the two teams secures automatic qualification for the tournament.
The teams played out a 1-1 draw in their earlier fixture and a similar result will be enough for the Lionesses to finish ahead of Sweden in Group A3.
Tonight’s hosts need to win to secure their place at the tournament and avoid a playoff but but Sarina Wiegman’s side will be confident following back-to-back wins against France and Ireland.
We’ll have all the latest team news, line-ups and updates throughout the afternoon so stick with us as we build-up to kick off at 6pm.
