The women’s national team kicks off the EC qualifiers with an away match once morest reigning European champions England at Wembley. Tonight begins the journey towards European Championship 2025 in Switzerland. Kick-off takes place at 21.00 Swedish time at Wembley in London. The match is broadcast on SVT 1 and SVT Play.
The picture:
Five scouts before the match
The journey towards European Championship 2025 begins
Tonight, the qualifiers for European Championship 2025 begin. With Sweden remaining in the A division of the Nations League, which thus serves as European Championship qualifiers, the women’s national team has improved its chances of reaching the European Championship finals in 2025. The winners and runners-up from all four groups in the Nations League A division go directly to the EC. The threes and fours go to the playoffs, as do the ones, twos and threes in the B division, just as the ones and the three best twos in the C division also do. Sweden was drawn into the same group as England, France and Ireland. Which is the only group in the A division where all four teams played in the WC 2023.
Big crowd to wait at Wembley
Tonight’s match is played at one of Europe’s largest and most classic stadiums, Wembley in London. And a lot of people are expected in the stands. The day before the match, over 65,000 tickets were sold.
Big audience boom in England
It is not only on the football field that England has been successful, in the stands there have been large crowd parties several times in recent years. The 2022 European Championship final once morest Germany was played at Wembley in front of 87,192 spectators. The 2023 Finalissima once morest Brazil was played in front of 83,132 at Wembley. Add to that two international friendly matches once morest Germany in 2019 and USA in 2022 which attracted over 76,000 people, also those matches were played at Wembley.
Fridolina Rolfö back following the injury
For the first time since the WC 2023, Fridolina Rolfö is back in the national team once more. After the WC, Rolfö operated on his injured knee and has devoted his time to rehab during the autumn and winter. During the spring, she made a long-awaited comeback in her club team Barcelona, where at the end of March she scored first in El Clásico once morest Real Madrid and then another goal in the Chamions League quarter once morest Brann.
Successful years for England
England has reaped great success in recent years. Since Sarina Wiegman’s arrival as national team captain, the English women’s national team has had its greatest successes ever. After an EC gold and a WC silver with the Netherlands, she left for England. There she has repeated her feat, leading England to a European Championship gold on home soil in 2022 and then a World Cup silver in 2023. She has also lifted England to second place in the world rankings, which is a tangent to their best position from March 2018.
The coach quote
– England is a very good team, where the vast majority of players play in the top teams here in the league. In addition, many starting players are in Champions League teams that have gone far. It will be tough, of course, but we have tricked opponents before and will try to do it once more, says national team captain Peter Gerhardsson.
Mutual meetings
Sweden: 15 wins | 48 goals scored | 25 goals conceded
Draws: 8 matches
England: 4 wins | 25 goals scored | 48 goals conceded
Sweden’s goalscorers once morest England
5 – Pia Sundhage
4 – Lotta Schelin
3 – Hanna Ljungberg, Therese Sjögran
2 – Ann Jansson, Ulla Håkansson, Gunnila Axén, Malin Moström, Ulrika Björn, Sofia Jakobsson
1 – Ann-Kristina Lindqvist, Birgitta Söderström, Anna Svenjeby, Helene Björk, Anette Börjesson, Lena Videkull, Anneli Andelen, Ulrika Kalte, Jane Törnqvist, Kristin Bengtsson, Sofia Eriksson, Salina Jeppsson, Malin Lovén, Elin Flyborg, Anna Sjöström Amcoff, Maria Aronsson, Victoria Sandell, Antonia Göransson, Caroline Seger, Anna Anvegård, Kosovare Asllani
That’s how it went last time
The last time the teams met was in the EC semi-final at Bramall Lane in the summer of 2022. Beth Mead gave England the lead in the match when she sent in 1-0 following just over half an hour. In the beginning of the second half, Lucy Bronze increased to 2-0. The English then scored two more goals through Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby which gave Sweden a heavy 0-4 loss.
England in the European Championship qualifiers
England – Sweden | April 5
Ireland – England | April 9
England – France | 31 May
France – England | June 4
England – Ireland | July 12
Sweden – England | July 16
The scorers: –
Latest starting eleven (England – Italy 5-1, Training International)
Mary Earps
Lucy Bronze – Lotte Wubben-Moy – Alex Greenwood – Niamh Charles
Georgia Stanway – Keira Walsh – Grace Klinton
Chloe Kelly – Alessia Russo – Laruen Hemp
The opponent profile
Mary Earps | 1993 | Goalkeeper | Manchester United
Considered by many to be one of the world’s best goalkeepers. In the last two years, she has received the award as the world’s best goalkeeper from FIFA. Was also awarded the golden glove at the WC 2023 as the best goalkeeper of the entire tournament. Was also named England’s best player last season and was selected for the world eleven in 2023. One of the key players when England won World Cup silver last year and when they won European Championship gold at home in 2022 when she was also selected for the team of the tournament. At club team level, however, there have not been as many successes. The only titles came in 2018/19 when she won the cup and the league with Wolfsburg where, however, she was only listed for four league matches during her stay at the club. Since 2019, she has been playing for Manchester United, where she will soon pass 100 league games.
The talent
Lauren James | 2001 | Forward | Chelsea
Arrived at Arsenal where she became the club’s second youngest ever debutant at 16. Managed five league games before she left for Manchester United where, as a teenager, she scored a total of 22 goals in 40 games and helped take the club up to the top flight. In the summer of 2021, she joined Chelsea, where in her first two seasons she won the double, the league and the FA Cup, both times. Last year she was named young player of the year in England and this season she has started with 13 goals in 15 games in the league. Has six goals in 22 international matches, half of these goals came in this summer’s WC where she took part in winning WC silver. Was also selected in the world eleven last year. Little sister of Reece James, also at Chelsea.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Kayla Rendell (Southampton)
Backing: Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Millie Turner (Manchester United)
Midfielder: Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Bayern München), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Jess Park (Manchester City), Grace Klinton (Tottenham)
Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Lauren James (Chelsea)
The national team captain: Sarina Wiegman
Facts England
Number of European Championships: 9 (by 2022) | Best result: European Championship gold (2022)
Number of World Cups: 6 (by 2023) | Best result: WC silver (2023)
Number of Olympics: 2 (no later than 2021) | Best result: Quarter-final (2012, 2021)
Merit: EC gold 2022, WC silver 2023, EC silver 2009, WC bronze 2015
World ranking: 2
Highest rank: 2 (March 2018, March 2024)
Most caps: Fara Williams, 172 caps
Most national team goals: Ellen White, 52 goals
Sweden in the European Championship qualifiers
England – Sweden | April 5
Sweden – France | April 9
Ireland – Sweden | 31 May
Sweden – Ireland | June 4
France – Sweden | July 12
Sweden – England | July 16
The scorers: –
Latest starting eleven (Sweden – Bosnia-Herzegovina 5-0, Nations League)
Zecira Musovic
Josefin Rybrink – Nathalie Björn (K) – Amanda Nildén
Matilda Vinberg – Hanna Bennison – Filippa Angeldahl – Madelen Janogy
Anna Anvegård – Stina Blackstenius – Rosa Kafaji
Sweden’s squad
Goalkeepers: Tove Enblom (Vålerenga IF), Jennifer Falk (BK Häcken), Zecira Musovic (Chelsea)
Backing: Jonna Andersson (Hammarby IF), Magdalena Eriksson (Bayern Munich), Emma Kullberg (Brighton), Stina Lennartsson (Hammarby IF), Hanna Lundkvist (San Diego Wave), Amanda Nildén (Tottenham), Josefine Rybrink (BK Häcken), Linda Sembrant (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders/Forwards: Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City), Anna Anvegård (BK Häcken), Kosovare Asllani (AC Milan), Hanna Bennison (Everton), Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal), Sofia Jakobsson (San Diego Wave), Madelen Janogy (Fiorentina), Rosa Kafaji ( BK Häcken), Fridolina Rolfö (Barcelona), Elin Rubensson (Houston Dash), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea), Matilda Vinberg (Tottenham), Julia Zigiotti Olme (Brighton)
The national team captain: Peter Gerhardsson
Facts Sweden
Number of European Championships: 11 (by 2022) | Best result: European Championship gold (1984)
Number of World Cups: 9 (by 2023) | Best result: Silver (2003)
Number of Olympics: 7 (by 2021) | Best result: Silver (2016 & 2021)
Merit: EC gold 1984, EC silver 1987, 1995 & 2001, WC silver 2003, WC bronze 1991, 2011, 2019 & 2023, Olympic silver 2016 & 2021
World ranking: 6
Highest rank: 1 (August 2023)
Most international matches: Caroline Seger, 240 international matches
Most national team goals: Lotta Schelin, 88 goals
