England reached a sixth consecutive major tournament semi-final after coming from two goals down and sealing victory via a penalty shootout against Sweden.
The Lionesses scraped into the Euros semi-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout win in a match that turned out to be an instant classic. England had trailed by two goals and were all but eliminated by half-time but battled back with two quickfire goals from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang to force extra time.
Defender Bronze, England's seventh penalty taker, rifled her spot-kick into the roof of the net before Sweden's Smilla Holmberg put her effort over the bar at the end of a chaotic shootout. Victory for Sarina Wiegman's side came after they fought back from 2-0 down with 11 minutes of normal time left, to take the game to extra time in Zurich.
Sweden had gone 2-0 up after 25 minutes through captain Kosovare Asllani and Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius as England struggled to create much. But Bronze headed in Chloe Kelly's cross with 11 minutes to go and teenage substitute Agyemang (pic) calmly slotted the ball past Falk from close range moments later, to eventually send the game into a penalty shoot-out.
Julia Zigiotti Olme and Nathalie Björn scored for Sweden, but Russo, Kelly and Bronze converted for England and Hannah Hampton saved from Filippa Angeldahl and Sofia Jakobsson while Magda Eriksson hit the post. Smilla Holmberg and Falk, who had saved from James, Clinton and Greenwood efforts, fired over, to send England through in the most dramatic of fashions and becoming the first team to come from two goals down in the knockout stages of the women’s Euros since the tournament began in 1984 - with Hampton becoming the superstar, after emerging from Mary Earps’ shadow.
She saved two penalties, while her Swedish counterpart Jennifer Falk kept out four spot-kicks, before missing a chance to win it when she put her shot over the bar. England heroine Hampton reflected on the emotional rollercoaster of the match, reflecting: "Even when we were 2-0 down, we knew that we could bring it back - you just don't ever write us off.
"I was hoping that every time I saved one, one of our team would score just so that we have a bit of a cushion. I’m just happy and relieved that we came through it on top."
England will now face Italy for a place in the Euro 2025 final.
