Latest news with #Smilla Holmberg
CNA
3 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
England, Sweden players proud of penalty shootout performance despite criticism
ZURICH :Players from England and Sweden heaped praise on each other for their bravery in a penalty shootout at the Women's European Championship on Thursday, despite a record-low conversion rate and criticism from fans. England's 3-2 shootout victory over Sweden, which secured the reigning champions a place in the Euro 2025 semi-finals, featured missed efforts and saves by both goalkeepers. Yet with England missing four and Sweden missing five of their seven efforts, the players drew plenty of online criticism. "For anyone to step up, it takes a lot, so credit to anyone who takes a penalty in those moments," England forward Alessia Russo said. After what was described on the BBC website as the "greatest and worst shootout of all time", Sweden defender Smilla Holmberg received comfort, not criticism, from players on both sides after missing the decisive kick. "(We told her) that she should be proud of herself, that she is brave, that she has played a great championship and that she is awesome," an emotional Sweden keeper Jennifer Falk told reporters. The meagre 36 per cent conversion rate was the worst combined penalty shootout rate in UEFA Women's Euro history, according to ESPN, the only other one under 50 per cent was the 2017 semi-final between Denmark and Austria (43 per cent). However, former Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who suffered a similar 3-2 shootout defeat in the 2021 Olympic final against Canada, told Reuters on Friday that Falk and England keeper Hannah Hampton deserved praise in the shootout. "We have to give credit to the goalkeepers who really owned that moment last night ... with each save that Falk made, she grew in the eyes of the penalty-takers, and so too did Hampton," she said after Falk made four stops to Hampton's two. "Take Magda Eriksson's penalty - it's not a bad penalty just because she hit the woodwork. That happened because she wanted so much of a margin against Hampton in goal that she aimed to put it closer to the post than she would normally have done. That's good goalkeeping," Lindahl explained. The shootout drew scathing criticism from fans on social media, with many using it as an argument against the women's game. Studies have shown, however, that the conversion rates in penalty shootouts are similar between women and men, with both achieving success rates around 75 to 80 per cent. Lucy Bronze converted her first ever penalty for England - and her team's decisive shot - despite being hampered by hamstring tightness, with a rocket that measured 102.51 kph, the third fastest goal of the tournament so far.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
England, Sweden players proud of penalty shootout performance despite criticism
ZURICH, July 18 (Reuters) - Players from England and Sweden heaped praise on each other for their bravery in a penalty shootout at the Women's European Championship on Thursday, despite a record-low conversion rate and criticism from fans. England's 3-2 shootout victory over Sweden, which secured the reigning champions a place in the Euro 2025 semi-finals, featured missed efforts and saves by both goalkeepers. Yet with England missing four and Sweden missing five of their seven efforts, the players drew plenty of online criticism. "For anyone to step up, it takes a lot, so credit to anyone who takes a penalty in those moments," England forward Alessia Russo said. After what was described on the BBC website as the "greatest and worst shootout of all time", Sweden defender Smilla Holmberg received comfort, not criticism, from players on both sides after missing the decisive kick. "(We told her) that she should be proud of herself, that she is brave, that she has played a great championship and that she is awesome," an emotional Sweden keeper Jennifer Falk told reporters. The meagre 36% conversion rate was the worst combined penalty shootout rate in UEFA Women's Euro history, according to ESPN, the only other one under 50% was the 2017 semi-final between Denmark and Austria (43%). However, former Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who suffered a similar 3-2 shootout defeat in the 2021 Olympic final against Canada, told Reuters on Friday that Falk and England keeper Hannah Hampton deserved praise in the shootout. "We have to give credit to the goalkeepers who really owned that moment last night ... with each save that Falk made, she grew in the eyes of the penalty-takers, and so too did Hampton," she said after Falk made four stops to Hampton's two. "Take Magda Eriksson's penalty - it's not a bad penalty just because she hit the woodwork. That happened because she wanted so much of a margin against Hampton in goal that she aimed to put it closer to the post than she would normally have done. That's good goalkeeping," Lindahl explained. The shootout drew scathing criticism from fans on social media, with many using it as an argument against the women's game. Studies have shown, however, that the conversion rates in penalty shootouts are similar between women and men, with both achieving success rates around 75 to 80%. Lucy Bronze converted her first ever penalty for England -- and her team's decisive shot -- despite being hampered by hamstring tightness, with a rocket that measured 102.51 kph, the third fastest goal of the tournament so far.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
England's gritty resolve overshadows familiar frailties in Euro 2025 penalty shootout triumph
It's an image that could go down in England folklore, albeit after a performance - bar maybe a total of three minutes - that won't quite be written into history. Certainly not with any great affection. Following a series of absurd misses, in what might well have been one of the worst penalty shoot-outs in football history, a hobbling Lucy Bronze ripped off her strapping, and strode forward. An astonishing eight of the 12 previous penalties had been squandered. Some had been squandered in scarcely believable fashion, the emotional momentum of the shoot-out veering as wildly as some of the attempts. So, Bronze just smashed it straight into the roof of the net. It was a decisiveness that had been missing from the previous 10 minutes, and most of the game. It also seemed to scramble Sweden one final time, as Smilla Holmberg became just the latest player to sky the ball. This time, it was enough. Bronze's force had driven England into the semi-finals of Euro 2025. They are somehow 90 minutes from another final, albeit after a display where they really only played for a few minutes. The obvious discussion now will be over what this emotion does for the team, over the resolve, whether there will now be a momentum from this, a relief that releases them… But, if we're talking about elements like that, you just have to focus on the psychodrama of the penalties. It was unlike almost any witnessed in football history, and a rare occasion where the final score of the initial five each - 2-2 - equalled the actual game. While Bronze ultimately seized the moment, it's hard not to feel that Sweden ultimately - and calamitously - let it slip away. And that's not just from the fact they were 2-0 up in the 79th minute - a fact that almost felt irrelevant given everything that happened after. Sweden had the chance to secure their semi-final place as it was 2-2 with the very last regulation penalty, only for goalkeeper Jennifer Falk to sensationally turn around and go to take it. Saving two penalties evidently wasn't enough for her. She wanted to be a treble hero, with the last word. It wouldn't even be the second or third last word. Falk was the first to sky it, absurdly. And yet there was still another swing. You would have thought that would have been the turning point, given that Falk had been so dominant in the shoot-out and suddenly had to face up to this psychologically significant moment. How would she respond? She barely needed to. Grace Clinton handed Sweden back momentum, with a shot so soft you might even think it had been literally handed over if you hadn't watched the kick. And then, of course, Sofia Jakobsson missed again. Bronze had to show them how it was done. If the nature of the shoot-out naturally draws all focus, there was a performance that should draw some concern. In some ways, in fact, the back-and-forth nature of the shoot-out almost reflected England's display. England got it wrong, then got it right, then got it wrong again, and again, and again… only to display that vintage individual resolve to somehow get through. One of the most remarkable aspects - before the penalties - was that Sarina Wiegman made the exact same mistakes as against France. It was as if nothing had actually been learned, and that the recent revival was because of the poverty of the opposition in the Welsh and Dutch. England were still dismally vulnerable to pace. Keira Walsh had again been dominated in midfield, and Wiegman's side badly struggled to play through it. Sweden clearly targeted Jess Carter for pressing, but Leah Williamson wasn't exactly sure-footed beside her. This was the source of both Swedish goals. Kosovare Asllani strode through after two minutes, and Stina Blackstenius, whose pressing was causing all manner of problems, just scorched through for the second. England's response was so meek until eventually, and what felt so belatedly, Wiegman made three subs. They were surprising subs, especially in removing the control of Georgia Stanway. Except all of it had the effect of disrupting Sweden. That was in terms of the timing, and the manner of it. England front-loaded and went direct. Chloe Kelly, one of the three, played a superb ball for Bronze to head in brilliantly at the back post. She defiantly kicked a hoarding, in a foreshadowing of what was to come. Sweden didn't expect what came next to arrive so quickly. England almost went straight for goal again and, within two minutes, Michelle Agyemang had turned it in. Delirium. But not quite a new direction. The one issue with Wiegman's subs was that they were right for the situation but not an open game. Sweden rallied impressively and immediately re-asserted control. Extra-time did look a lot like England were just trying to play through it and maybe take a chance. They had to wait much longer for that. That also comes at a cost, despite the prize of that semi-final. Beyond going the distance, all of Williamson, Bronze and Lauren James will need patching up. There's going to have to be a lot of thought about the team. Italy, meanwhile, will surely have taken note of the blueprint to play this England. They've twice struggled in this tournament against quick and physical pressing teams. There were even signs of that going further back. Except, England still go that bit further in this tournament. Wiegman's only defeat in knock-out football is still just that 2023 World Cup final to Spain. They still persevere. They still have that resolve, that grit. They found a way. Bronze, for her part, forced the way.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
England beats Sweden on penalties to reach Euro 2025 semifinals after dramatic comeback
Defending champion England beat Sweden on penalties Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Women's European Championship after staging a remarkable late recovery from two goals down to draw 2-2. The shootout featured some terrible penalties before England triumphed 3-2 with 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg missing the last one after Lucy Bronze had powerfully dispatched hers for the Lionesses. England had been trailing almost from the start and was 2-0 down with 12 minutes remaining before goals from Bronze and teenage substitute Michelle Agyemang took the match to extra time. It is the first time in the history of the Women's Euros that a team has fought back from two goals down in a knockout match. England will face Italy in the semifinal in Geneva on Tuesday. Sweden had topped its group with maximum points after three wins including a memorable 4-1 victory over Germany last time out and it started where it left off in Zurich. England appeared on the back foot from the off and as they tried to play it out from the back a pass rebounded off Filippa Angeldahl and came to Stina Blackstenius who teed up a completely unmarked Kosovare Asllani to slot into the bottom left corner. The goal was timed at 1 minute 46 seconds. Sweden was finding space on the right flank and exploited it again to double its lead. Blackstenius raced onto Julia Zigiotti Olme's pass and held off Jess Carter as she surged into the area and calmly dispatched the ball into the far bottom corner. England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton pulled off fine saves to deny Fridolina Rolfö and Blackstenius and keep England in the game. Chloe Kelly was brought on in the 78th minute and she had an immediate impact as she whipped in a cross from the left for Bronze to head in at the back post. And another precise cross two minutes later was nodded down for fellow substitute Agyemang to head in the equalizer. It was the 19-year-old's second goal for England on her third appearance. There were few real chances in extra time meaning that penalties would be needed to separate the sides. Both Sweden and England had won their last penalty shootouts in the round of 16 at the 2023 World Cup. Four players from each team missed their spot kicks before Bronze scored hers and Holmberg blazed over.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
England beats Sweden on penalties to reach Euro 2025 semifinals after dramatic comeback
ZURICH — Defending champion England beat Sweden on penalties Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Women's European Championship after staging a remarkable late recovery from two goals down to draw 2-2. The shootout featured some terrible penalties before England triumphed 3-2 with 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg missing the last one after Lucy Bronze had powerfully dispatched hers for the Lionesses. England had been trailing almost from the start and was 2-0 down with 12 minutes remaining before goals from Bronze and teenage substitute Michelle Agyemang took the match to extra time. It is the first time in the history of the Women's Euros that a team has fought back from two goals down in a knockout match. England will face Italy in the semifinal in Geneva on Tuesday. Sweden had topped its group with maximum points after three wins, including a memorable 4-1 victory over Germany last time out, and it started where it left off in Zurich. England appeared on the back foot from the off and as they tried to play it out from the back a pass rebounded off Filippa Angeldahl and came to Stina Blackstenius, who teed up a completely unmarked Kosovare Asllani to slot into the bottom left corner. The goal was timed at 1 minute, 46 seconds. Sweden was finding space on the right flank and exploited it again to double its lead. Blackstenius raced onto Julia Zigiotti Olme's pass and held off Jess Carter as she surged into the area and calmly dispatched the ball into the far bottom corner. England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton pulled off fine saves to deny Fridolina Rolfö and Blackstenius and keep England in the game. Chloe Kelly was brought on in the 78th minute and she had an immediate impact as she whipped in a cross from the left for Bronze to head in at the back post. And another precise cross two minutes later was nodded down for fellow substitute Agyemang to head in the equalizer. It was the 19-year-old's second goal for England on her third appearance. There were few real chances in extra time, meaning that penalties would be needed to separate the sides. Both Sweden and England had won their last penalty shootouts, in the round of 16 at the 2023 World Cup. Four players from each team missed their spot kicks before Bronze scored hers and Holmberg blazed over. ___ AP soccer:
