Euro 2022: Lionesses roar into sold-out Wembley final with 4-0 win over Sweden
By Andrew Warshaw
July 27 - After falling to the same stage in their three previous major competitions, the Lionesses of England overcame their semi-final misfortune by roaring into the Euro 22 final with a crushing 4- 0 against Sweden on Wednesday, a score that sent shockwaves through women's football.
Sarina Wiegman's cheering side will face eight-time champions Germany or European semi-final debutants France in Sunday's sold-out final at Wembley after a standout performance against second world nation.
Despite a nervous start in which they were beholden to goalkeeper Mary Earps and their own crossbar, the hosts rose to the occasion in arguably the biggest game in team history England women's national - bigger perhaps than reaching the final of the two. the euros of 1984 and 2009 given the recent investments in sport and the millions of people who watch television.
Olympic runners-up Sweden, unbeaten in 34 games prior to the match, had never lost a Euros game by more than two goals, but England's second-half performance blew their minds Peter Gerhardsson's side amid a cauldron of noise at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane stadium, sparking wild celebrations across the country.
Under their Dutch coach, England's women now have the chance to do better than the men who lost to Italy last year in the delayed Euro 2020 final.
Wiegman said the "historic" victory, the 17th of her 19 appearances since taking charge of the team last September, would reverberate around the world. She has now reached a third consecutive major tournament final - having led her own country to glory at Euro 2017 and reached the 2019 World Cup final.
“This result will go around Europe and the world. It was such a performance that tomorrow everyone will be talking about us,” she said. “We said before we started the tournament that we wanted to inspire a nation - I think that's what we do.
"I'm very proud. Again the team found a way. We didn't start so well. But in the first half we got better and better and the players on the pitch found solutions. The first half we struggled, but the second half we played so much better.”
Veteran Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, so often their heroine in the past, was at fault for two of the goals, but eventually England, like against Spain in the quarter-finals, had the cruelty, the depth and finishing strength needed to overcome a slow start and dismantle the opposition.
While Beth Mead's brilliant opener was all about technique and balance, super substitute Alessia Russo's bold and instinctive backheel for England's third is sure to be replayed constantly in the build-up of the final - and beyond.
After a trying night for his team, Gerhardsson lamented: "In the first 25 minutes I thought we had enough chances, the most dangerous chances to score. Goals are really important. The more the opponent is bigger, the bigger the odds. It would have given the game a different perspective."
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1658972941labto1658972941ofdlr1658972941owedi1658972941sni@w1658972941ahsra1658972941w.wer1658972941dna1658972941
By Andrew Warshaw
July 27 - After falling to the same stage in their three previous major competitions, the Lionesses of England overcame their semi-final misfortune by roaring into the Euro 22 final with a crushing 4- 0 against Sweden on Wednesday, a score that sent shockwaves through women's football.
Sarina Wiegman's cheering side will face eight-time champions Germany or European semi-final debutants France in Sunday's sold-out final at Wembley after a standout performance against second world nation.
Despite a nervous start in which they were beholden to goalkeeper Mary Earps and their own crossbar, the hosts rose to the occasion in arguably the biggest game in team history England women's national - bigger perhaps than reaching the final of the two. the euros of 1984 and 2009 given the recent investments in sport and the millions of people who watch television.
Olympic runners-up Sweden, unbeaten in 34 games prior to the match, had never lost a Euros game by more than two goals, but England's second-half performance blew their minds Peter Gerhardsson's side amid a cauldron of noise at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane stadium, sparking wild celebrations across the country.
Under their Dutch coach, England's women now have the chance to do better than the men who lost to Italy last year in the delayed Euro 2020 final.
Wiegman said the "historic" victory, the 17th of her 19 appearances since taking charge of the team last September, would reverberate around the world. She has now reached a third consecutive major tournament final - having led her own country to glory at Euro 2017 and reached the 2019 World Cup final.
“This result will go around Europe and the world. It was such a performance that tomorrow everyone will be talking about us,” she said. “We said before we started the tournament that we wanted to inspire a nation - I think that's what we do.
"I'm very proud. Again the team found a way. We didn't start so well. But in the first half we got better and better and the players on the pitch found solutions. The first half we struggled, but the second half we played so much better.”
Veteran Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, so often their heroine in the past, was at fault for two of the goals, but eventually England, like against Spain in the quarter-finals, had the cruelty, the depth and finishing strength needed to overcome a slow start and dismantle the opposition.
While Beth Mead's brilliant opener was all about technique and balance, super substitute Alessia Russo's bold and instinctive backheel for England's third is sure to be replayed constantly in the build-up of the final - and beyond.
After a trying night for his team, Gerhardsson lamented: "In the first 25 minutes I thought we had enough chances, the most dangerous chances to score. Goals are really important. The more the opponent is bigger, the bigger the odds. It would have given the game a different perspective."
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1658972941labto1658972941ofdlr1658972941owedi1658972941sni@w1658972941ahsra1658972941w.wer1658972941dna1658972941
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