England vs Sweden LIVE: Lionesses result and final score from Euro 2025 qualifier at Wembley
England 1-1 Sweden: Fridolina Rolfo’s header cancelled out Alessia Russo’s opening goal as the Lionesses were held at Wembley
England were held to a draw by Sweden in their opening game of the Euro 2025 qualifiers as the Lionesses began the defence of their European crown with a point at Wembley.
Alessia Russo’s opening goal, set up by wonderful play from Lauren James, was cancelled out in the second half by Fridolina Rolfo’s back-post header.
Both sides had chances to win the match, with Stina Blackstenius missing a one-on-one for the visitors before Lauren Hemp had an effort cleared off the line.
It means the Lionesses face an uphill battle to claim one of two automatic qualifying spots for next summer’s Euros. After a change to the qualifying format, the Lionesses will take on France, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in Group A3.
HALF-TIME! England 1-0 Sweden
The referee blows the whistle for half-time after a sustained spell of England possession.
A calm end to a half that threatened, at one point, to be difficult. England go down the tunnel 1-0 up thanks to a well-worked goal from Alessia Russo.
England 1-0 Sweden
46 mins: The game is petering out a little bit as half-time approaches. England are keeping possession pretty confidently.
Stanway skips past a couple of challenges and wins a free-kick.
England 1-0 Sweden
44 mins: England are wasteful in possession and Sweden come again, with Blackstenius doing well to bring it down on halfway. Walsh wins the ball well though, and Hemp sets off down the left wing. England work it once more and Lauren James tries clipping a ball over the defence, but it runs out of play despite the efforts of Russo.
We’ll have three minutes of added time.
England 1-0 Sweden
42 mins: Good defending from Sweden as Russo brings it down from the throw-in and lays it off to Grace Clinton, whose effort is blocked.
England 1-0 Sweden
41 mins: England have some brief respite and a bit of possession, but Stanway’s pass is a little wayward.
England 1-0 Sweden
38 mins: Lauren James has popped up on the right again and she does well to hold it up, but England lose it.
The away side work it well once more down the right, with Lundkvist and Angeldahl exchanging passes before Rytting Kaneryd hits a tempting cross across goal, but there’s nobody there to convert!
35 mins: More defending needed from England. Sweden break with Rolfo carrying, and she lays it off to Asllani, whose shot is deflected behind.
England manage to clear the corner but Sweden come again. Rolfo is played down the left on the overlap, and her fizzed ball in is cleared for another corner.
England 1-0 Sweden
34 mins: Lucy Bronze is caught as she wins the header but she’s okay.
Sweden work a chance on the edge of the box and Angeldahl strikes an effort wide.
England 1-0 Sweden
33 mins: Sweden are almost in as Blackstenius plays a through ball to Olme, but Bronze does well to intercept.
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