Sweden concluded their group stage campaign with a decisive 4-1 victory over Germany.
Ahead of their Euro 2025 quarter-final clash on Thursday, Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani has stated that her team “doesn’t fear” England.
The reigning European champions, England, are currently ranked fifth globally, closely followed by Sweden, who topped their group standings.
Under the guidance of Peter Gerhardsson, Sweden secured the maximum nine points, highlighted by their impressive 4-1 win against Germany.
Following England’s 6-1 triumph over Wales, midfielder Ella Toone suggested in an ITV Sport interview that Sweden “should be scared,” a sentiment Asllani strongly refuted.
“We respect England, the quality of their team, and their achievements. But fear? No. The word fear is not in our vocabulary,” Asllani asserted.
“We embrace the word courage. While we acknowledge them as one of the best teams worldwide, we have devised the perfect strategy for this match.
“Our aim is to play the kind of football we aspire to represent. We are solely focused on one outcome: winning the game.”
Sweden’s performance has been a highlight of the tournament, leading England captain Leah Williamson to comment that they “deserved a little bit more recognition.”
Notably, Sweden, along with England and France, have consistently reached the quarter-finals in all five major tournaments since 2017.
“I feel like Sweden often flies under the radar, which suits us,” remarked London City Lionesses midfielder Asllani.
“Given our track record, we believe we are among the best teams globally. However, we are rarely mentioned as potential gold medalists.
“We know that on our best day, we can defeat any team. It’s time people recognized that.”
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Although England defeated Sweden 4-0 in the Euro 2022 semi-finals, the teams drew twice during the Euro 2025 qualifiers last year.
Sweden’s manager, Gerhardsson, acknowledged England’s formidable threats, expressing relief that he personally wouldn’t have to defend against Chelsea forward Lauren James.
The 23-year-old has scored two goals in three games and proved challenging for the Netherlands and Wales.
“She fits the profile of players like Pernille Harder for Denmark, Ewa Pajor for Poland, and Lea Schuller for Germany—James is also exceptional,” Gerhardsson noted.
“I appreciate players like her because she brings something unique to the game with her movement and instincts, acting on what she believes is right on the pitch.
“Coaches often seek structure—’do this, do that.’ However, James, while attentive to coaching, ultimately trusts her own judgment.
“Every coach values such players. I just hope we can manage her effectively.”
Lucy Bronze is set to participate in her seventh major tournament for England.
Sweden recorded the highest number of open-play crosses during the group stage (61), highlighting their aerial prowess.
Key players include Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius and Chelsea winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, with 65% of Sweden’s chances originating from her right flank.
“Johanna is likely the person I get along with best at Chelsea; she is one of my closest friends there. Her mindset is particularly impressive,” shared England defender Lucy Bronze.
“She is incredibly competitive, as I’ve witnessed this season at Chelsea. She gives everything for her team. How do we stop her? Hopefully, she will be on the opposite side of me.”
Bronze, typically an attacking full-back for England, might have a challenging assignment against her former Barcelona teammate, Fridolina Rolfo, on Thursday night.
When asked if she would need to adjust her playing style, Bronze responded, “I follow [manager Sarina Wiegman]’s instructions and position myself where I can best contribute to the team.
“While I enjoy attacking, I also relish defending. We recognize Sweden’s strength in wide positions, but we are also a formidable team.
“We don’t want to make excessive changes; we want to emphasize our strengths and what we can bring to the game.”
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