England news: Lionesses prepare for quarter-final test against Sweden at 2025 Women’s Euro
After surviving the ‘Group of Death’ and scoring ten goals in their final two group games, England now face one of their toughest challenges yet - a quarter-final clash with in-form Sweden on the night of Thursday, July 17.
The Lionesses looked anything but title contenders in their opening 2-1 defeat to France, but Sarina Wiegman’s side have found their rhythm since then.
A dominant 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, followed by a clinical 6-1 demolition of Wales, ensured England reached the last eight in style.
They are peaking at the right time, and with renewed confidence running through the squad, the defending champions will fancy their chances, even against a seasoned Sweden side.
Sweden’s ruthless run and added motivation
Sweden, however, have been quietly ruthless so far. They breezed through Group C, including a thumping 4-1 win over Germany that turned heads across Europe.
With the likes of Stina Blackstenius leading the line and a strong spine of experienced players, this is a team that knows how to handle high-stakes games.
And with head coach Peter Gerhardsson stepping down after the tournament, there’s an added sense of urgency in their camp.
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Key battles to watch
England’s defensive line will have to be sharp, especially against Sweden’s crosses from wide and the physical presence of Blackstenius in the box.
At the other end, Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Ella Toone have emerged as vital attacking outlets, and much will depend on whether the Lionesses can dominate in midfield and break Sweden’s compact shape.
A different meeting from Euro 2022
The last time these two met at a major tournament, England ran out 4-0 winners in the semi-finals of Euro 2022.
However, both sides have evolved since then. Sweden are more dynamic, and England have gone through a rough period, particularly following their World Cup final defeat to Spain in 2023.
This quarter-final could go either way, but one thing is certain - it will be a proper test of England’s credentials.
Score prediction: 3-2 England
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