Bronze a warrior but hopefully semi-final will be less of a battle
England did enough, got into the semi-finals and in years to come, if you win the European Championship people will not look at how you got through to the last four.
Sarina Wiegman had a plan – she always has a plan – and it worked. But in tournament football, it's all about achieving the end result, even in a match as bonkers as that.
You know Sarina has a plan for every scenario and of course her introduction of Chloe Kelly now looks like a masterstroke following two assists in three minutes after coming on. Putting a right-footer like Chloe on the left wing worked wonders.
But let's not overlook the part played by Beth Mead assisting fellow substitute Michelle Agyemang. They were just sensational and gave the Swedish a totally different problem. Agyemang's strength and poise in the dying minutes to claw England level was just brilliant.
For me, the real star was Lucy Bronze. Now aged 33, she gets people questioning her durability and speed. She is a winner and has looked after herself brilliantly and brought some much-needed leadership, experience and know-how to get her team out of a hole.
First, she made it 2-1 with a great header from Kelly's cross, then she scored the key penalty that ended up winning the shoot-out for us.
To take that spot-kick when all around her were missing theirs and score like she did (at 102 kilometres-per-hour, or 63mph, by the way) was simply fantastic execution.
Hannah Hampton was superb in goal but Lucy was immense. There should be a statue of her outside Wembley.
It had looked unrealistic to get back into the tie until her goal, which reignited English hope, and there's no way anyone should be left questioning Lucy now. I said on commentary at the time that penalty was her Stuart Pearce Euro 96 moment.
Let's be honest, they were not great penalties in general and the shoot-out showed how drained the players were. Of course, it was great as a goalkeeper to see save after save!
I don't know how Sweden organised their takers but keeper Jennifer Falk took criticism for her miss in the first five. I'd say she would have been brimming with confidence to take one after saving three from England.
Maybe there was a bit of adrenaline coursing through her at that stage and that got the better of her. However, keepers are great outfielders too these days so I have no issue with her taking such an important penalty.
The big question for the Lionesses ahead of the next round will be over personnel. There were plenty of walking wounded after Thursday night, not least captain Leah Williamson. So we must see who is ready to face Italy and it could be that there are enforced changes to the XI.
England do have the squad depth to cope with that, as the Sweden match demonstrated. Against Italy tomorrow, they face a different test.
I can't see Sarina going out to play any differently but we have to beware the Italian wing-backs, who are really, really good and bomb up and down the flanks relentlessly.
Aged 35 and with 122 caps, this is the biggest moment in striker and captain Cristiana Girelli's career and her team have never made it to this stage before. One game away from the final, they will be hoping that this is their time. More Trending
But now we are in the last four, this is an opportunity that needs to be embraced by England.
I never stopped believing – even when we were 2-0 down at half-time against the Swedes with a mountain to climb.
If you'd told me at the beginning of the tournament we would be playing Italy in the semi-finals, I'd have taken it but the Lionesses have had one war with Sweden and they will not want another battle of that kind.
Rachel Brown-Finnis is working on the BBC's coverage of Euro 2025
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