logo
England captain Williamson believes ‘relentless' Sweden are threat at Euro 2025

England captain Williamson believes ‘relentless' Sweden are threat at Euro 2025

The Guardian14-07-2025
The England captain, Leah Williamson, has said Sweden deserve more respect and that their strong record at major tournaments should be spoken about more frequently, as the two sides prepare to meet in Thursday's Euro 2025 quarter-final.
Sweden have reached the knockout stages of every Women's European Championship since 1995 and have been in the semi-finals at three of the past five Euros. They have also finished third in the past two World Cups and claimed silver medals at both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.
Williamson, however, feels Peter Gerhardsson's side go under the radar and are often underestimated. 'Sweden are a fantastic team, they're relentless in the way they go about their game,' the Lionesses centre-back said. 'I think they sort of avoid the expectation of every tournament, and nobody really talks about them, [which is] slightly disrespectful, I think, because they always show up and they always seem to pose a threat to most teams, and normally come out with a medal or [be] a semi-final team, so they're a strong team. We're looking forward to the fixture.'
England have scored 10 goals in their past two games to qualify for the quarter-finals in style despite losing their opening match against France, and Williamson admitted it had been an 'emotional group stage, [with] lots of ups and downs' for the defending champions, but added: 'It's been a great display of our attacking football [against Wales] and obviously that's how you win games.'
Sarina Wiegman's side had six different goalscorers against Wales, including Williamson's Arsenal teammate Beth Mead, who said England had watched Sweden's victory over Germany on Saturday. She said: 'They [Sweden] pose a very different threat and it's a team we have played a lot in the past and hopefully we can nullify what they're very good at and bring our strengths into the game.'
Before their upcoming meeting in Zurich, England and Sweden shared two draws in 2024, but their most recent meeting in a major tournament ended in a 4-0 victory for England at Bramall Lane in their Euro 2022 semi-final.
'We've got a lot of experience against them,' added the England midfielder Georgia Stanway, whose penalty opened the floodgates against Wales on Sunday. 'Obviously they're tough, they're physical, they're more direct. I'm not sure we've faced that so far in our group.'
Sign up to Moving the Goalposts
No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football
after newsletter promotion
Asked if she felt England had the upper hand against the Swedes, the Bayern Munich midfielder Stanway replied: 'Not necessarily. It's tournament football. Anything can happen in 90 minutes. I think we just need to continue where we've been. If we have the intensity that we had against the Netherlands, if we press the way that we pressed, if we win the ball back as much as we did … we can only control what we can do.
'Today we focus on what the result that we've just had and how proud we are to get out of the group. There's been many days in this tournament where we could have actually been going home. So to be in this situation to be staying a few more days is something that we can proud of.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

More competitions, longer seasons and other demands put focus on workload in elite women's soccer
More competitions, longer seasons and other demands put focus on workload in elite women's soccer

The Independent

time26 minutes ago

  • The Independent

More competitions, longer seasons and other demands put focus on workload in elite women's soccer

England 's Millie Bright bowed out of the European Championship because of mental and physical exhaustion. The Netherland's Vivianne Miedema suggested too many games lead to more injuries. Ireland's Katie McCabe didn't play in a pair of games in the United States because she was said to be on the verge of burnout. New tournaments and expanded fields for existing competitions, longer seasons and more professional opportunities have some players and coaches asking: How much is too much? Workload has long been an issue in men's soccer, recently gaining more attention because of the expanded 32-team field at this year's Club World Cup. But it's a newer concern for some women as the game's profile rises on the global stage. More women's competitions, while providing more opportunities to play, also mean more travel and less time off. Alex Culvin, director of global policy for women's soccer at FIFPRO, the global players union, said there needs to be more care paid to international and regional calendars to ensure players have a balance while still growing the game. 'The growth is happening right before our eyes. However, those players also need to be protected because we can't always demand more of them all of the time without saying `We'll demand more now, and then you'll have a rest and that rest is protected. Nobody can encroach on that rest and if you do, there's consequences, regulatory consequences.' I think we haven't quite gotten there yet,' Culvin said. 'I think the mandated rest periods are something that FIFPRO really advocates for and something the players really want.' Those who play for high-profile national and club teams are most impacted. 'Mentally and physically I'm at my limits," Bright said on a podcast explaining her decision to sit out of Euro 2025 after her season with Chelsea. In April, after injuring her hamstring while playing in a Nations League match with the Netherlands, Miedema, who plays for Manchester City, criticized the ever-more crowded calendar on social media. 'I will say this over and over again. To the people in charge of the football calendar, it is time to realise the current schedule will need to change for players' physical and mental safety," Miedema wrote. McCabe, who plays for Arsenal, was left out of a pair of friendlies against the U.S. national team last month by Ireland coach Carla Ward. 'Katie has played an awful lot of minutes for club and country,' Ward said ahead of the trip. 'She's on the verge of burnout, as are some others.' FIFPRO has a dashboard that monitors high minutes for players around the globe. From June 1, 2024, to June 1, 2025, ahead of Euro 2025, Spain's Aitana Bonmatí (5,045) and teammate Mariona Caldentey (4,976) had the most minutes played of the 294 players monitored. Caldentey also plays for Arsenal in the Women's Super League in England, while Bonmatí, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, plays professionally for Barcelona. Spain will play in Euro 2025 title match on Saturday against England. U.S. women's national team coach Emma Hayes was so concerned about rest that she left her European-based players off the team for the latest international window so that they could recuperate from their seasons. Players in Europe play from fall to spring, whereas in the National Women's Soccer League, the season goes from early spring through the summer and into fall. Hayes has to manage her players with both of those seasons in mind. 'All I can control is that in 2027 there is a World Cup, and this player has this number of games, this is their season window, these are the national call-ups they might well receive, this is their offseason," Hayes said. "My job is to be educating the player with what you've achieved, what you've done the last last two years, and how that accumulative effect doesn't have an impact today, but might in two years.' National teams in Europe, Africa and South America have big regional competitions this summer — in addition to Euro 2025, there's the Africa Cup of Nations and the Copa América Feminina. But there are new events popping up as women's soccer becomes more popular. A new 7-on-7 tournament was played in Portugal that included eight professional clubs, with an attractive $5 million purse. The field for World Sevens Football included Manchester City and Bayern Munich. England coach Sarina Wiegman said the national team was in contact with players about taking part, making sure that overload wouldn't be an issue. 'Everyone has a different schedule and comes from different places. So, if you talk about Lauren (Hemp) and Alex (Greenwood), it's different, and other players who have played throughout the whole season,' Wiegman said. 'Also some players see it as an opportunity to, in a different way, get some training, playing minutes in — being aware of don't overload, be smart, because there's bigger picture in this.' Those tournaments are in addition to regional club competitions like the UEFA Women's Champions League and the new CONCACAF W Champions Cup, which starts next month. And there are more international women's competitions on the way. A women's Club World Cup will launch in 2028, while the Women's Champions Cup is set to start next year. While some more developed teams, leagues and federations are increasing opportunities, that's not the case in many parts of the world, where some players don't get enough work, putting them at the risk of injury. At the Copa América Femenina, Bolivia, ranked No. 105 in the world and playing with a squad that included amateurs, had only three matches together this year ahead of the tournament. Bolivia doesn't use all of its FIFA windows. In the end, Culvin said striking a balance is difficult. The growth of the game is important but it can't come at the expense of the players. 'It's the players who make the ultimate sacrifice, the game revolves around them. Without the players there is no game. And I think that mindset needs to be front of mind. And we need to say, `How do we protect these people as much as we can?'" Culvin said. "The stakeholders are custodians of the game, and we have a responsibility to protect our most prized assets and that's the players." ___

Lionesses hero Keira Walsh forgets rivalry and prays Euro rivals Spain ‘enjoy' final after World Cup ‘kissgate' scandal
Lionesses hero Keira Walsh forgets rivalry and prays Euro rivals Spain ‘enjoy' final after World Cup ‘kissgate' scandal

Scottish Sun

time27 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Lionesses hero Keira Walsh forgets rivalry and prays Euro rivals Spain ‘enjoy' final after World Cup ‘kissgate' scandal

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KEIRA WALSH is praying the Euro 2025 final is remembered for all the right reasons. England face Spain in Basel on Sunday in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Keira Walsh is hoping the Euro 2025 final on Sunday is remembered for the right reasons Credit: Getty 7 The 2023 Women's World Cup final was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales' kiss on Jenni Hermoso La Roja were crowned world champions with a 1-0 win in Sydney but their historic milestone was overshadowed over THAT KISS by then Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales on striker Jenni Hermoso. That smacker, which Hermoso said 'tarnished' her country's triumph, was ruled as a sexual assault in February this year. But Walsh is hoping Spain can 'enjoy' the final this time around with no more controversy. The England midfielder said: 'There's a lot of respect between both the teams. 'The most important thing for them is that they can enjoy this final. There's no controversy surrounding it. 'The girls deserve to be there, they play incredible football. So first and foremost, for them as human beings, that they can go out there and actually enjoy this game. 'They probably could have had more support. After the game there was a lot of controversy and I don't think for them there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of their players were, it was all about the other stuff that had gone on. 'As a professional, that was disappointing to see. I have a lot of friends in that team and I think they probably deserved a little bit more than what they got.' 7 Spain beat England 1-0 in the 2023 World Cup final Credit: Getty 7 Walsh has insisted she is not dwelling on the defeat Credit: Getty CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Walsh also insisted that she is not dwelling on the World Cup final defeat ahead of the rematch. She said: 'It was a massive disappointment. 'From a collective we probably feel like we didn't have our best performance that day. England star Chloe Kelly speaks about her crucial Euros penalty against Italy 'But as a football player you can become too emotional. 'This is a new game, new team, we know what we bring in this tournament so we're going to keep doing that and focus on the positives, not try to draw on that too much.' The Lionesses have gone to extra-time in both their knockout matches — but have led for just ONE minute. They came from 2-0 down to beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals before scoring a dramatic 119th-minute winner to book their final spot. Walsh believes their impressive resilience is 'just a part of being English'. She said: 'That's what we feel when we put the shirt on. It's that we give everything, we run ourselves into the ground. 'The beauty of this squad is that we know if we have to come off because we're tired, there's going to be someone else who can come on and finish the job. 'It's what we just speak about as a team, that English resilience and it's something that we really pride ourselves on. 'You can see from the last two games that it's something we really believe in.' Chloe Kelly's last-gasp strike against Italy on Tuesday to secure the extra-time victory was the latest goal ever recorded at a women's Euros. Walsh said: 'For us, you create those moments for yourself through belief, confidence, determination.' That never-say-die spirit was also shown in Michelle Agyemang's 96th-minute leveller that forced extra-time. Walsh added: 'I've heard people have been saying that it was luck. It's not by luck Michelle is in the box and scoring. 'It's not by luck that people are putting crosses into the box — it's thought out, it's purposeful. 'It's the absolute belief that no matter what minute it is, we're going to win it or we're going to get a result to take us to extra-time. That's the resilience of this team.' 7 England left it late to book their spot in the Euros final Credit: Getty 7 Teenager Michelle Agyemang scored deep into injury time to force extra time Credit: AP

Lionesses hero Keira Walsh forgets rivalry and prays Euro rivals Spain ‘enjoy' final after World Cup ‘kissgate' scandal
Lionesses hero Keira Walsh forgets rivalry and prays Euro rivals Spain ‘enjoy' final after World Cup ‘kissgate' scandal

The Sun

time27 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Lionesses hero Keira Walsh forgets rivalry and prays Euro rivals Spain ‘enjoy' final after World Cup ‘kissgate' scandal

KEIRA WALSH is praying the Euro 2025 final is remembered for all the right reasons. England face Spain in Basel on Sunday in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final. 7 7 La Roja were crowned world champions with a 1-0 win in Sydney but their historic milestone was overshadowed over THAT KISS by then Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales on striker Jenni Hermoso. That smacker, which Hermoso said 'tarnished' her country's triumph, was ruled as a sexual assault in February this year. But Walsh is hoping Spain can 'enjoy' the final this time around with no more controversy. The England midfielder said: 'There's a lot of respect between both the teams. 'The most important thing for them is that they can enjoy this final. There's no controversy surrounding it. 'The girls deserve to be there, they play incredible football. So first and foremost, for them as human beings, that they can go out there and actually enjoy this game. 'They probably could have had more support. After the game there was a lot of controversy and I don't think for them there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of their players were, it was all about the other stuff that had gone on. 'As a professional, that was disappointing to see. I have a lot of friends in that team and I think they probably deserved a little bit more than what they got.' 7 7 Walsh also insisted that she is not dwelling on the World Cup final defeat ahead of the rematch. She said: 'It was a massive disappointment. 'From a collective we probably feel like we didn't have our best performance that day. England star Chloe Kelly speaks about her crucial Euros penalty against Italy 'But as a football player you can become too emotional. 'This is a new game, new team, we know what we bring in this tournament so we're going to keep doing that and focus on the positives, not try to draw on that too much.' The Lionesses have gone to extra-time in both their knockout matches — but have led for just ONE minute. They came from 2-0 down to beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals before scoring a dramatic 119th-minute winner to book their final spot. Walsh believes their impressive resilience is 'just a part of being English'. She said: 'That's what we feel when we put the shirt on. It's that we give everything, we run ourselves into the ground. 'The beauty of this squad is that we know if we have to come off because we're tired, there's going to be someone else who can come on and finish the job. 'It's what we just speak about as a team, that English resilience and it's something that we really pride ourselves on. 'You can see from the last two games that it's something we really believe in.' Chloe Kelly's last-gasp strike against Italy on Tuesday to secure the extra-time victory was the latest goal ever recorded at a women's Euros. Walsh said: 'For us, you create those moments for yourself through belief, confidence, determination.' That never-say-die spirit was also shown in Michelle Agyemang's 96th-minute leveller that forced extra-time. Walsh added: 'I've heard people have been saying that it was luck. It's not by luck Michelle is in the box and scoring. 'It's not by luck that people are putting crosses into the box — it's thought out, it's purposeful. 'It's the absolute belief that no matter what minute it is, we're going to win it or we're going to get a result to take us to extra-time. That's the resilience of this team.' 7 7 7

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store