Latest news with #SoftHooligans
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The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Fear England?' No, this Sweden team believes Women's Euros 2025 is their year
The night of 26 July 2022 brought mixed emotions for Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus. On one hand, Sweden had just been thrashed 4-0 by England in the Euro 2022 semi-finals. On the other, he had just been informed that the Lionesses played the Abba anthem ' Does Your Mother Know ' in the dressing room, after Alessia Russo 's back-heel sent England through to the Wembley final on a frenzied evening at Bramall Lane. Ulvaeus said it made the humbling defeat to England at least a little more bearable. It explains why Abba has not been banned from England's pre-match playlist just yet, as captain and dressing room DJ Leah Williamson confirmed this week. After all, those are the vibes and emotions that the holders want to recapture as they target a return to the semi-finals. Instead, it is Sweden who need to change the record as they face the Lionesses once again in the knockout stages of a major tournament. The phrase 'always the bridesmaid, never the bride' follows Sweden as resolutely as the country's Soft Hooligans, the nosiest, most colourful fans at Euro 2025 so far. Sweden's loyal supporters turn out in their yellow and blue in hope rather than expectation, and have learned that the hard way. If there is any expectation, it's that Sweden may again reach the latter stages of a major tournament only to fall short: their resume over the past decade includes two defeats in Olympic final, two defeats in World Cup semi-finals, and that Euros semi-final defeat to England three years ago. 'We haven't talked about it as a squad,' said Sweden's head coach Peter Gerhardsson. 'I don't think anyone is waking up at 3:30am in the morning screaming about the 4-0 to England.' It was Ella Toone, though, who said 'Sweden should fear us' after England's 6-1 win over Wales, as the Lionesses found some momentum ahead of the knockout stages. 'We respect England and the team they have and everything they have achieved so far,' Sweden's captain Kosovare Asllani responded. 'Fear? No. We don't have the word fear in our dictionary. We look up the word courage.' That isn't to say Sweden are viewing themselves as underdogs. 'We're flying under the radar and it suits us,' Asllani continued. 'Obviously we think that we are one of the best teams in the world, due to the results we've had from the tournaments, but people rarely speak about us as someone that can win the gold. We don't think about it too much, but I think definitely people should talk about us more.' Williamson said the lack of conversation around their quarter-final opponents was 'slightly disrespectful' and believes they 'deserve more recognition" but Sweden's 4-1 win over Germany and their impressive results in the group stages has gone some way to changing that. Sweden are also unbeaten in a year, since losing to France in Euro 2025 qualifying, and the more relevant results with England ahead of this quarter-final were the more relevant results were the 1-1 and 0-0 draws during that same qualifying campaign. There is very little between the teams, and a lot of familiarity too. Williamson will be marking her Arsenal team-mate and Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius. Lucy Bronze plays next to winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and centre-back Nathalie Bjorn with Chelsea. If 'proper England' has become the phrase of England's tournament, there are many in the Sweden squad who have the experience of English football and embrace the 'physical' side of the game. 'We want to go out and play our football intensely, physically,' Asllani said. The Sweden captain, who helped the London City Lionesses to promotion to the Women's Super League last season, said her team will 'fight until the end' and 'run until we collapse'. Sweden will also look to bombard England with crosses and may attempt to crowd Hannah Hampton's box when delivering inswinging set-pieces. They are also a dangerous team in transitions, as Germany found out in their 4-1 defeat at Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund, which will host the quarter-final against England. "When you have a team who work for each other like Sweden, then you don't need to necessarily have a crazy standout threat because everyone plays their roles,' Williamson explained this week. 'I feel like the collective is our strength,' Asllani said. 'That is what's taken us here.' And the belief within the Sweden camp is growing that this may be their year at last. Rytting-Kaneryd, the speedy winger who Bronze said can 'run through walls', said following the win over Germany that 'something feels different' at Euro 2025. Asllani has two Olympic silvers on her shelf at home, to add to two bronzes from the World Cup. Sweden are hungry for a different colour. 'We have been at this stage almost every championship so we are used to it,' Asllani said. 'The fun starts now.'
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Sweden's Soft Hooligans push better vibes at Women's Euro 2025
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans cheer for their team ahead of the Women's Euro 2025 Group C football match on July 12. ZURICH – Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to promote good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's European Championship in the Netherlands. 'It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy,' Kjellman told AFP. 'We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans',' she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. 'In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section,' Aronsson explained. 'We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games . You were on your own ,' Kjellman said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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'There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too,' said Kjellman. 'In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group,' she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. 'We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions,' said Kjellman. 'The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches.' The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: 'Everyone should feel welcome,' Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. 'There are many families and children in the stands,' Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. 'We receive mocking comments about our name,' Kjellman said. 'But we choose not to focus on that,' her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. 'Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go,' she said. 'In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all.' The two women are optimistic about younger generations. 'Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish two-time Ballon d'Or winner Feminin Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player,' Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory at Euro 2025. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims '41 Years Since Last Time' on one side and 'Bringing the Gold Home' on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euro in 1984. They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on July 12. 'I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had,' said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. 'There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue , and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way .' Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England on July 17. Said Gerhardsson: 'It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage.' Swedish fans went on a ticket-buying frenzy on July 14, buying up all the available spots in their section for the match within an hour of going on sale. 'This news gives the whole team so much energy in the build-up to the quarter-finals,' forward Madelen Janogy said in a statement issued by the Swedish Football Association. AFP, REUTERS
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Sweden's fan revolution: How mothers and daughters built the ‘Soft Hooligans' movement for inclusive football
ZURICH, July 16 — Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to promote good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's Euros in the Netherlands. 'It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy,' Kjellman told AFP. 'We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans',' she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. 'In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section,' Aronsson explained. 'We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own,' Kjellman said. Eight years later, with the Women's Euros now underway in Switzerland, the atmosphere has changed significantly, the two women noted, sitting in front of a ski lift in an alpine landscape wearing caps with the slogans 'More Women in Football' and 'Soft Hooligans'. 'There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too,' said Kjellman. 'In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group,' she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. 'We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions,' said Kjellman. 'The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches.' Sweden's players celebrate with their supporters after winning the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Group C football match with Germany at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, on July 12, 2025. — AFP pic Political message The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: 'Everyone should feel welcome,' Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. 'There are many families and children in the stands,' Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. 'We receive mocking comments about our name,' Kjellman said. 'But we choose not to focus on that,' her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. 'Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go,' she said. 'In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all.' The two women are optimistic about younger generations. 'Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player,' Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory in this year's Euros. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims '41 Years Since Last Time' on one side and 'Bringing the Gold Home' on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984. They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on Saturday. 'I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had,' said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. 'There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue, and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way.' Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England. 'It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage,' said Gerhardsson. — AFP
Local Sweden
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Local Sweden
Sweden's 'Soft Hooligans' promote better vibes at Women's Euros
Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to spread good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. Advertisement The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's Euros in the Netherlands. "It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy," Kjellman told AFP. "We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans'," she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. "In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section," Aronsson explained. "We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own," Kjellman said. Eight years later, with the Women's Euros now underway in Switzerland, the atmosphere has changed significantly, the two women noted, sitting in front of a ski lift in an alpine landscape wearing caps with the slogans "More Women in Football" and "Soft Hooligans". "There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too," said Kjellman. "In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group," she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. "We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions," said Kjellman. "The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches." Advertisement Political message The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: "Everyone should feel welcome," Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. "There are many families and children in the stands," Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. "We receive mocking comments about our name," Kjellman said. "But we choose not to focus on that," her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. "Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go," she said. "In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all." The two women are optimistic about younger generations. "Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player," Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory in this year's Euros. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims "41 Years Since Last Time" on one side and "Bringing the Gold Home" on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984. Advertisement They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on Saturday. "I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had," said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. "There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue, and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way." Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England. "It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage," said Gerhardsson. By AFP's Agnes Johanna Wästfelt
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sweden's Soft Hooligans push better vibes at Women's Euros
Zurich: Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to promote good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's Euros in the Netherlands. "It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy," Kjellman told AFP. "We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans'," she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. "In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section," Aronsson explained. "We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own," Kjellman said. Eight years later, with the Women's Euros now underway in Switzerland, the atmosphere has changed significantly, the two women noted, sitting in front of a ski lift in an alpine landscape wearing caps with the slogans "More Women in Football" and "Soft Hooligans". "There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too," said Kjellman. "In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group," she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. "We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions," said Kjellman. "The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches." The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: "Everyone should feel welcome," Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. "There are many families and children in the stands," Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. "We receive mocking comments about our name," Kjellman said. "But we choose not to focus on that," her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. "Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go," she said. "In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all." The two women are optimistic about younger generations. "Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player," Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory in this year's Euros. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims "41 Years Since Last Time" on one side and "Bringing the Gold Home" on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984. They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on Saturday. "I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had," said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. "There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue, and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way." Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England. "It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage," said Gerhardsson. — AFP
