On a cloud in Sheffield, the English crushed the Olympic vice-champions to score the first ticket for Wembley.
England are one step away from home. Opposed to the formidable Swedes, Olympic vice-champions, the English simply crushed this first semi-final of the Women’s Euro (4-0).
After a difficult first half hour against enterprising Swedes, England weathered the storm to finally take the lead. It was the competition’s top scorer Beth Mead who opened the scoring against the run of play with a nice pivoting right shot from the box (34′). The Swedes try to react but take a blow behind the head and are finally trailing 1-0 at the break.
Sarina Wiegman’s players mainly made the difference in the second half. Upon returning from the locker room, the former Lyonnais Lucy Bronze made the break with a whim from a corner (48th). Then the ‘Lionesses’ delighted the 28,624 supporters at Bramall Lane Stadium with two brilliant kicks. Alessia Russo scores 3-0 with a backheel between the legs of the opposing goalkeeper (68th). Local star Fran Kirby closes the English recital with a lob from 25 meters by taking advantage of a handball from Lindahl (76th).
Almost miraculously in the quarter against Spain (2-1, ap), the English qualified with style for the final at Wembley, where they will face France or Germany, who face each other this Wednesday in Milton Keynes ( 9 p.m.).