England 4 Sweden 0: Lionesses finally end semis hoodoo as historic performance secures Euro 2022 final date at Wembley
THE LIONESSES were roared by the nation into their first major final in 13 YEARS.
England, who have lost their last three major semi-finals, ended their curse to continue the legacy they are leaving in this country.
Their prize is now a glittering clash at Wembley against either Germany or France who play at Stadium MK on Wednesday night.
Tonight’s pasting well and truly got the party started, so England get your boozers ready because Sarina Wiegman’s stars need the nation sinking pints and singing full throttled renditions of Three Lions’ this weekend.
Heroes Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby were the ones on target – but this tournament has meant so much more than just scoring goals and winning games.
England Women have done so much for equality and national pride, having reached their first final since England were beaten by Germany at Euro 2009.
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Their performances have attracted millions of new fans and record crowds as history continues to be made at the tournament.
It’s no surprise the players are even becoming household names and getting cheered in the streets when they go out of their team hotel in Teddington, south-west London.
And forget the Gareth Southgate waistcoat – English football has fallen in love with Wiegman’s power suit.
It has been a thrilling ride to the final with the Lionesses smashing an eye-watering 14 goals in the group stages before dramatically beating Spain in the quarter-finals ahead of last night’s romp.
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Surprisingly it was an uneasy start for the hosts who could have been on the receiving end of an ugly score-line had their gutsy stars not put their bodies on the line.
Sofia Jakobsson was wreaking havoc down the left-hand side and made light work of shimmying beyond an uncharacteristically sluggish Lucy Bronze in the opening half.
Less than a minute in she twisted inside and out of Bronze and Millie Bright before cracking a warning shot at Earps – who did brilliantly to keep it out with an outstretched foot.
But just as boss Sarina Wiegman likes it, England remained cool, calm and collected to mop up the damage.
Although they must have been sweating when Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius rattled the woodwork with a header.
From then on England established a gradual dominance, they just needed a clear sniff at goal.
And it was no surprise when that arrived from Arsenal star Mead.
MEAD FOR THE LEAD
She turned beautifully, took a touch to crack a ruthless strike into the net after being teed up by Bronze’s inch-perfect cross from the right on 34 minutes.
Mead’s opener made it six goals in six games at the Euros, making her England’s all-time top scorer at the tournament, as she surpassed Jodie Taylor.
Incredibly she has now hit 20 goals in 17 games under Wiegman’s reign.
She also equalled Germany’s Inka Grings’ record for goals in a single tournament set in 2009.
England were electric from then, with Lauren Hemp bursting out the traps after the break to cross to Mead who steered her shot wide.
And Sweden were made to pay by Bronze – not that the ex-Manchester City ace knew much about it!
BRONZE IS GOLDEN
The Barcelona defender rose to meet Mead’s corner to steer a header across goal and inside the far corner.
VAR threateed to rain on the parade with a check for a possible offside by Hemp in the build up but the stadium erupted when the goal stood.
Finally Bramall Lane was treated to the first rendition of “Three Lions” in-front of the sell out 28,000 fans.
England had an iron grip on the game from there as their performance mirrored the rough and ready spirit of the Steel City.
Hemp missed a sitter from point-blank range after linking up with Russo, who was fresh on for White.
But Manchester United’s Russo was on standby to spare Hemp’s blushes with an outrageous backheel for 3-0.
She saw an effort from close range saved by Hedvig Lindahl, but hunted down the ball and whipped a backheel to NUTMEGthe keeper on 69 minutes.
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Kirby then tucked into the goal-fest with another corker for the hosts to seal the deal.
She pounced on a pin-point pass from Mead to chip an effort that Lindahl could only spill into the net on 76 minutes.
