Ellen White questioned England’s ‘frustrating’ tactics as the Lionesses overcame a huge scare to beat Sweden and progress to the Euro 2025 semi-finals.
England emerged victorious after a remarkable penalty shootout, which saw just five out of 14 spot-kicks scored between the two sides.
The Lionesses now play Italy in the semi-finals, but will surely have to raise their level if they are to reach the final and defend their title.
Sarina Wiegman’s side were second-best throughout the first half as a pacey and physical Sweden side went two goals ahead thanks to goals from Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius.
Frankly, the Lionesses were lucky not to be further behind at the break as Hannah Hampton made a couple of vital saves to keep the opposition out.
In the early period of the second half, Sweden had more chances on the break but failed to convert, and they were eventually punished as quickfire goals from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang sent the game to extra-time before England emerged victorious on penalties.
Speaking after a frustrating first period, White was surprised to see England resort to more direct football after struggling to get to grips with Sweden’s press.
‘We’re not executing the game plan which has worked,’ the former England striker said on the BBC at half-time.
‘I’ve said before that Sweden smothered us with their intensity and physicality and we were not able to build and play the game that we normally are.
‘We keep going long, which is never what we normally do.
‘We want to play football but obviously the way that Sweden pressed, England just wanted to get rid of the ball, but we didn’t have bodies up helping Alessia Russo at the top of the pitch which is frustrating to watch.’
Substitutions from Wiegman, especially the introduction of Agyemang and Chloe Kelly, ultimately helped turn the game in England’s favour, with both White and Fara Williams full of praise for the Brighton striker in particular.
‘You have to credit Michelle Agyemang for coming on and being such a nuisance, so physical and putting herself up against the Sweden defenders and putting them under a lot of pressure and strain and creating chaos, which led to her second goal,’ White said.
On Agyemang’s impact, Williams added: ‘Russo was very isolated in that game and I almost felt sorry for her in moments during that game with the amount of tireless runs she was making in the channels trying to bring players into the game.
‘We didn’t have anyone close to her which didn’t help us get out, but with Agyeman coming in and being a bit closer to her it helped a lot and we didn’t have that for 75 minutes.’
‘One of the hardest games I’ve ever watched’
Speaking after full-time, Wiegman made no excuses for her side’s poor first-half display, but was left at a loss for words for what ultimately proved to be a dramatic comeback win.
‘It was hard. One of the hardest games I’ve ever watched. Very emotional,’ she told BBC Sport.
‘We could’ve been out four or five times during the game. When you’re 2-0 down at half-time it’s not good.
‘We started really badly and then at the end of the first half we got better and in the second half we got better but we didn’t create anything so we had to change shape. Then we scored two goals so that was crazy already.
‘Then we go into extra-time, some players injured, some players cramping, Hannah Hampton with blood all over the place.
Then we go to the penalty shootout and we miss a lot but they miss even more and we’re through. I need to decompress I think.’
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