Smilla Holmberg was in tears after her penalty miss against England cost Sweden a place in the Euro 2025 semi final (UEFA via Getty)

Sweden head coach Peter Gerhardsson has faced heavy criticism over his decision to allow 18-year-old Smill…

Lucy Bronze inspired England to victory over Sweden (Photo: Getty)

Following their dramatic quarter-final win against Sweden on Thursday, England are just one game away from the Euro 2025 final.

The Lionesses looked down and out after a c…

Sarina Wiegman hailed a captain’s contribution from Lucy Bronze after the England veteran inspired her teammates in last night’s dramatic quarter-final win over Sweden.

The reigning European champions looked destined for an early exit when they trailed 2-0 at half-time following a lacklustre display.

Indeed, it wasn’t until Bronze’s header 11 minutes from the end that the Lionesses threatened the comeback that was completed 130 seconds later when Michelle Agyemang pounced to score her first tournament goal.

An absorbing, but ultimately goaless, period of extra time ensued before a dramatic penalty shootout which England victorious from by the skin of their teeth.

Astonishingly, only five of the 14 spot kicks taken were successfully converted as goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and her opposite number, Jennifer Falk, excelled themselves.

Bronze, who wore the armband after Leah Williamson limped off, led the way in sudden death, hammering her effort straight down the middle before retrieving the ball and slamming into the turf.

It was an astonishing show of emotion, reminiscent of Stuart Pearce’s iconic outburst following his successful penalty conversion, six years on from a costly miss against West Germany, against Spain at Euro 96.

‘Lucy Bronze is just one of a kind,’ said a relieved Wiegman after the game. ‘I have never ever seen anything like this before in my life.

‘I’m a very lucky person that I’ve worked with so many incredible people, incredible football players.

‘What she does and her mentality and how she does it, the penalty, the goal, that’s not what defines her.

‘What defines her is that resilience, that fight. I think the only way to get her off the pitch is in the wheelchair.’

As the contest wore on and with the time in Zurich approaching midnight, the incredulous crowd wondering if anyone would score, Bronze limped up to the spot minutes after she had been on her back strapping her own thigh while England’s physios were busy elsewhere.

Having seen a succession of weakly-hit penalties saved, Bronze removed the strapping before stepping up to slam her attempt home with unstoppable power.

‘I just felt a little bit tight at the end of the game and I thought I just need to get through to make sure I can keep going, but I thought (the bandage) is going to hinder me in a penalty,” Bronze said.

‘I didn’t expect it to go to the sixth penalty, so I didn’t take it off. And then it was my penalty, I thought ‘I need to take this off because I’m going to absolutely smack it’.

England squeaked into the Euro 2025 semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

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.

Eng…

Millie Bright and Mary Earps will play no part at Euro 2025 (Photo: Getty)

England continue their Euro 2025 campaign tonight with a crunch quarter-final against Sweden.

The reigning European champions will face a tough task against the Sw…

A tough task but we’re seeing some ‘proper England’.

The pressure is on Sarina Wiegman on Wednesday evening (Picture: Getty Images)

England face a crunch game with Netherlands at the Women’s Euros on Wednesday evening, after losing their opening match of the competition.

It was a disa…

England have to deliver.

Defeat is not an option.

Millie Bright and Mary Earps will play no part at Euro 2025 (Photo: Getty)

England’s defence of their European Championship crown begins tonight when they take on France in their opening game of Euro 2025.

Manager Sarina Wiegman has…

England will face France in their tournament opener (Picture: Getty)

England kick off their title defence at Euro 2025 with a tricky group-stage encounter against France in Zurich.

The Lionesses arrived in Switzerland after a tumultuous b…

England’s Women’s Euro squad has several fresh faces (Picture: Getty)

There’s no such thing as the perfect preparation for a major tournament – injuries occur, players lose form, things go wrong.

But even by those standa…

Football never stands still – squads evolve.

There’ll be new fans aplenty.

The champions kick off their campaign in exactly a month’s time.

Millie Bright will not play for England at Euro 2025 (Getty)

Chelsea captain Millie Bright has withdrawn from selection for England’s Euro 2025 campaign this summer.

The 31-year-old, who won the domestic treble with Chelsea this sea…

‘I think she’ll look back and be disappointed.’

Mary Earps has called time on her England career (Getty)

Mary Earps has announced her retirement from international football just 39 days before the start of England’s European Women’s Championship campaign.

The 32-year-old, w…

‘Not good enough!’