Familiar Foes, Different Match

Lionesses wary of 'relentless' Swedes despite outplaying them at Euro 2022

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ZURICH – England's run to the Women's Euro 2022 title included a 4-0 semi-final victory over Sweden, but captain Leah Williamson said that thrashing at Bramall Lane was ancient history as the sides prepare to meet again on July 17.

England play their familiar foes in the European Championship quarter-finals at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, and while they would love to sweep them aside again, the defender said the Lionesses have tremendous respect for their opponents.

“I think when you come up against a team, when you have had a previous fixture like that (in 2022), then you're always probably going to remember it,” Williamson said on July 15 at England’s base camp in Zurich.

“But I think so much has happened since. It’s different, two very different teams now compared to that night.”

Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson agreed, saying: “It didn’t go well for us because they scored four goals, but that is history. Now it is a new game if we are going to meet England. We are going to write a new history, a better history, a good history.”

Sweden dismantled highly fancied Germany 4-1 to top Group C and Williamson said they had not been getting the respect they deserved in Switzerland.