England star Lucy Bronze may have provided the understatement of the century when she described the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 penalty shootout win over Sweden as a “crazy game”.
Sarina Wiegman’s side found themselves a goal down inside the opening two minutes thanks to Kosovare Asllani. Arsenal Women’s forward Stina Blackstenius doubled the deficit by the 25th minute.
Sweden should have been home and dry, but two goals in quick succession brought England level late on. Super sub Chloe Kelly made an instant impact, providing a perfect cross for Bronze at the far post. The Arsenal attacker was involved in the buildup again shortly after, leading to Michelle Agyemang’s equaliser.
Both teams were beset by injuries over the course of this titanic battle, but the Swedes did recompose themselves to take control of extra time. Nonetheless, the game went to a penalty shootout, which is where the real drama began.
Nine spot kicks went abegging, four of them saved by Sweden’s Jennifer Falk. Somehow she didn’t end up on the winning side, missing a penalty of her own which would have sent them through to the semi-finals.
With the shootout in sudden death, Bronze stepped up to put England ahead 3-2. 18-year-old Smilia Holmberg cruelly missed the decisive attempt.
England penalty hero Lucy Bronze explains ‘crazy’ Sweden win
“It was a crazy game,” Bronze told the BBC. “I saw my brother right at the end and he was so excited and I know when I saw him like that I knew we had put him through it.
“Holding the team together in the first half was difficult, (Fridolina) Rolfo pushed on and she almost had a third goal. When we made the substitutes the momentum went with us.”
The Chelsea full-back, who at one point strapped her own leg owing to a niggle, had been paying close attention to the Falk’s penalty saves, dissecting her process before besting the goalkeeper.
“I actually hurt my leg a little bit in the game, that’s why I took the tape off,” Bronze admitted.
“I watched the goalkeeper in the shootout and she goes quite early. I’ve been around long enough, I have to know the ins and outs of the game.”
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