England and Sweden are set for another Euros face-off in Switzerland, three years on from a one-sided semi-final which saw the Lionesses come out on top en route to glory
Sweden stars Magda Eriksson and Jonna Andersson have warned England not to underestimate them as they bid for revenge after their Euro 2022 semi-final meeting. England were comfortable winners on that occasion, romping to a 4-0 victory before beating Germany in the final.
Eriksson played the full 90 minutes at Bramall Lane that night, while fellow defender Andersson came off the bench, and victory over England this week in Sweden would be especially sweet. England have scored 10 goals in their last two games, and Ella Toone said the Swedes should be “scared” after the Lionesses put six past Wales on Sunday, but their opponents are ready for the challenge.
“I don’t know why we should be scared,” Andersson said. “I think we are a really good team and we’ve played good games now and before and against them as well.
“So we are well prepared and we know what we can do and hopefully we can show her and them that we are up for this fight and that we are going to do everything we can to go out and win the game.”
Eriksson, who knows a number of the England squad members from her time at Chelsea, is balancing respect and confidence ahead ot the knockout tie. “They’ve had a fantastic run and they are the the reigning champions, so I respect them a lot, but I also know what quantities we have in our team,” she said.
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The 4-0 loss is still on the mind of Sweden’s players, but more as a cautionary tale than anything else. “We have that game in the back of our mind, knowing that if we’re not ready, if we’re not 100% there, they can punish us,” Eriksson added.
“It’s the same now. They can punish us, they can score four goals [against] us, if we are not switched on from minute one.
“So I think it’s something that we learn from and we know what is there, but of course, many years have passed since that game. We are a different team now. So are England.”
There’s an argument that just as much can be read into the more recent qualifying games between – including a hard-fought draw in Gothenburg in July which sealed England’s place at the tournament.
“There was a lot on the line that day because we needed to qualify and we needed a result,” England captain Leah WIlliamson said. “I think it probably is the closest [to the pressure of Euros football], with it being the second time we’d played them as well, but I remember it being a pretty cagey game in that respect and I think [Thursday] will be different. Obviously it’s knockout football and one of us is going home.”
A number of Williamson’s Arsenal team-mates played for Sweden in that 2022 game, including striker Stina Blackstenius, and the Lionesses skipper shared her thoughts about the rematch. “When you come up against a team where you had a previous fixture like that [the 2022 semi-final], you will always remember it. But so much has happened since,” she said.
“We’ve played each other twice since – and last year – so for us, it seems like a long time ago. Maybe for them too.”
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