England one step from immortality
Russo & Co sink Swedes to book spot at Wembley
THE semi-final curse is over. England will play in the final of Euro 2022 at a soldout Wembley. Three tournaments in a row they had fallen at this stage, but not last night. This is a different England to what we have seen before. This is an England who can weather the storm of a nervy opening, who can produce moments of magic and who might just win their first major trophy.
This 4-0 victory over Sweden, the highest- ranked nation in this competition, was simply remarkable. For 25 minutes it looked as if the nerves had got to Sarina Wiegman’s side. But they showed grit and determination before their football did the talking.
Beth Mead, the leading scorer in this tournament, got the party started in the first half. Then it was Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby who finished the job in the second.
There is no overestimating the magnitude of this moment. An England women’s team will play in front of 87,000 people at Wembley in the final of a major tournament. Whatever happens from now, this night will live long in the memory.
Of all the semi- final defeats before this, it was the 2015 World Cup where England came closest to making a final. Had it not been for a freak own goal, they could have beaten Japan. But in reality they had overachieved by reaching that stage.
In 2017, there seemed a greater chance of success but they perhaps underestimated a Dutch side managed by Wiegman and were comfortably beaten 3-0.
Though boss Phil Neville claimed they did not fear the United States at the 2019 World Cup, few really expected them to prevail. England were the clear underdogs and they were outplayed, even if it was only in a 2-1 defeat.
The build-up to this semi-final had been completely different. The mood inside the camp was calm and there was a genuine feeling that with an experienced manager, a home crowd and their best squad of the last decade, England were ready to seize the moment.
Sweden, though, were finalists at the Tokyo Olympics last year and had beaten England in the third place play- off at the 2019 World Cup. They too were desperate to make history.
It was also clear we had not yet seen the best of them. Their group stage was routine, their quarterfinal victory over Belgium narrow. They were capable of more — and that was the worry for England.
The dilemma for Wiegman was whether to make any changes to her starting XI. She had named an unchanged team for every game up until this point but there was a strong case for both Alex Greenwood and Russo to come in. But Wiegman stuck to her guns by picking the same side for the fifth match in a row.
A packed-out crowd made for an electric atmosphere at Bramall Lane, but it did little to ease England’s nerves as Sweden got on top from the first whistle.
Stina Blackstenius forced Mary Earps into a save in the first minute before the goalkeeper pushed another of the striker’s shots wide. Sweden then hit the bar from the resulting corner as the visitors piled on the pressure.
England’s passing was sloppy and another chance was presented to the Swedes as Bronze was dispossessed by Fridolina Rolfo, but the forward could only fire into the side-netting.
After a frantic 25 minutes, England settled down and from their first real chance, found the back of the net. Lauren Hemp’s cross just evaded Ellen White in the box but Bronze kept the ball alive and laid it back to Mead, who had time and space to take a touch, turn and send a half-volley into the bottom- left corner. Bramall Lane erupted.
There had been so much talk about Sweden’s aerial threat, with five of their nine goals in this tournament having come from setpieces. England had not managed any. Three minutes into the second half they had their first.
Mead’s corner picked out an unmarked Bronze at the back post. The defender’s header was not powerful, but it bounced into the bottom corner past a helpless Hedvig Lindahl. Bronze looked almost surprised as she wheeled away to celebrate.
Wiegman sent on Russo for White in the 57th minute and the forward immediately created a chance, driving down the left before putting the ball on a plate for Hemp at the back post. She should have wrapped up the game but smashed her shot against the crossbar.
Sweden needed a response and almost got it. Kosovare Asllani’s corner caused havoc in the area. Blackstenius sent a volley off her knee towards goal but Earps pro
duced a stunning save to tip her effort over the bar.
With Sweden pushing forward, England found spaces in behind and with it they produced the best moment of the night. Keira Walsh picked out Kirby down the left, who crossed for an unmarked Russo in the box. The striker’s shot was poor and Lindahl parried, but Russo chased down the rebound and produced an exquisite back-heel that went through the legs of the Sweden keeper.
The game was done, but England were not. Kirby saw Lindahl off her line and went for goal from outside the box. The goalkeeper got a hand to it but the ball trickled into the net. Game over.
There was emotion at full-time. Five players — Bronze, White, Kirby, Jill Scott and Greenwood — had experienced all three semifinal defeats. White was in tears. It has been a long journey to this point but they are there, finally, and they deserve this moment.
Clear your diaries, England will play either France or Germany in Sunday’s final. Wembley awaits.