Sarina Wiegman has called England’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Sweden at Euro 2025 “the hardest game I’ve ever watched”.
The Lionesses were 2-0 down at half-time after a poor first-half performance, and a comeback looked unlikely in the quarter-final.
But two goals in 103 seconds from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang – both assisted by Chloe Kelly – took the game to extra time, before the Lionesses won a remarkable penalty shoot-out 3-2, after nine spot-kicks were missed.
England will now face Italy in the semi-finals on Tuesday July 22 in Geneva for a place in the final.
Reflecting on what must be one of England’s best comebacks during her tenure, Wiegman told BBC Sport: “It was one of the hardest games I’ve ever watched. Very emotional.
“We could have been out of the game three or four times, when you’re 2-0 at half-time it’s not good.
England celebrate after their shoot-out win over Sweden at Euro 2025
“Although we started really bad, at the end it got better, but we didn’t create anything so we had to change shape and we scored two goals – that was crazy.
“We missed a lot [of penalties], and they missed even more. I need to decompress, I think.
“Michelle [Agyemang] brings something different. She is so strong and scores a goal too, she has shown she can do that.”
Hampton: Fans’ support helped me get an edge in shoot-out
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who had to keep her team in the game at times, saved two penalties in the shoot-out. Sweden missed another three, and scored twice.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch as Sue Smith experiences a rollercoaster of emotional reactions to England’s dramatic penalty shoot-out against Sweden in the Euro
Speaking to BBC Sport, Hampton said: “We’re very happy. You can see the celebrations, the fans were behind us the whole game. Even when we were 2-0 down they knew we could bring this back and you don’t ever write us off.
“It was stressful. Stressful watching, stressful playing.
“Every time I saved one [penalty], I was just thinking ‘please put it in, so we have a bit of a cushion!’… I’m just happy and relieved now.
“It [the fans’ support] helps you get a bit of an edge and push you on, stretch a little extra for each dive and put more power in. They were definitely behind me and I appreciate all the support.”
Bronze: Subs changed the game
Lucy Bronze celebrates after scoring England’s first goal against Sweden
England defender Bronze, who scored to lead the Lionesses’ comeback as well as in the shoot-out, praised the substitutes for changing the dimension of the game.
“It was a rollercoaster,” she told BBC Sport. “Both underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time. A crazy game, as a player, and for fans too.
“Holding the team together in the first half was difficult. They had a few good chances to put the game to bed, lucky for us we kept them out. The substitutes changed the dynamic of the game.”
Michelle Agyemang was one of the impactful England substitutes against Sweden
One of those was certainly Kelly, who had picked up two assists within minutes of coming off the bench.
She told BBC Sport: “The girls coming onto the pitch did their jobs, executed it really well. That just shows, with the whole squad, when you’re needed, you take your moment.
“I didn’t feel under pressure, I just wanted to go and create some goals for the girls and be at my best. I just tried to put the ball in the box and play to my strengths.
“We knew we had to bounce back; we weren’t at our best in the first half, but we knew we were capable of doing so and we showed that.”
