England meet Sweden at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, in the opening semi-final of 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro.
Tournament hosts, England are looking to reach a third UEFA Women’s Euro Final, whilst Sweden are chasing a fifth appearance in the Final where Germany or France await the winners of this tie.
Team News
Hannah Hampton could return for England if she tests negative for Coronavirus, after she missed their Quarter-Final win over Spain due to self-isolation after she had tested positive.
Manager, Sarina Wiegman faces a difficult decision over whether to name an unchanged line-up for the fifth consecutive match, with Alessia Russo looking to push for a start ahead of Ellen White after delivering impressive substitute appearances.
Alex Greenwood will be available for selection after her yellow card in their win over Spain was wiped in line with UEFA rules concerning concerning yellow cards across Group Stage and Quarter-Finals, in order to avoid risk of someone missing the Final through yellow card accumulation.
Sweden could be without captain, Caroline Seger who missed their last two matches with a heel injury.
Jonna Andersson, Hanna Glas and Emma Kullberg meanwhile are doubtful as they continue to recover from positive Coronavirus tests, which kept the trio out of their Quarter-Final victory over Belgium and they need negative tests before they can re-join the squad.
Olivia Schough is also doubtful after she missed the Swedes’ last training session for unspecified reasons.
Magdalena Eriksson and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd will both be available for selection without fear of suspension, due to their yellow cards from their Group C win over Portugal being wiped.
Stat Attack
- England have won just one of six previous meetings against Sweden at UEFA Women’s Euro Finals tournaments (W1, D1, L4), in which they won second leg of 1984 Final 1-0 but lost 4-3 on penalties.
- Sweden have kept three cleans in six meetings against England in UEFA Women’s Euro Finals tournaments.
- England are unbeaten in four of eight previous meetings against Sweden on home soil across all competitions (W2, D2, L4).
- 12 of England’s 16 goals in this tournament have been scored from inside of the box.
- Three of Sweden’s 36 goals in all competitions in 2022 have been scored in second-half injury time, courtesy of Olivia Schough, Stina Blackstenius and Linda Sembrant respectively.
Prediction
Having cruised through the Group Stage largely unchallenged, England largely struggled against a tactical Spain until a mixture of substitutes and tweaks in tactics paid dividends, which will certainly stand them well for this latest difficult test of their quality and depth.
England’s biggest concern though has to be ensuring that Beth Mead and Lauren Hemp are allowed to unleash their attacking pace, of which the pair were largely frustrated and isolated against Spain in an uncharacteristic performance.
Sweden meanwhile were absolutely dominant against Belgium but ultimately wasteful in front of goal with very little clinical final touch in their attacking end products, which will be a huge worry because it has been a common issue for them throughout the tournament.
In fact if they continue to play like that and England play at their very clinical best in front of a vocal home crowd, I can see just one result coming but Sweden are one of England’s bogey teams and the best European team in FIFA rankings so can’t be written off easily.
Either way, this won’t be an easy contest by any stretch but if extra-time is needed, England’s 48-hour extra rest could prove crucial although I am going for a home win no matter what if Sweden aren’t clinical enough.
Prediction: England 2-1 Sweden
Result: England 4-0 Sweden
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