England should beware surging Sweden: this is not going to be a straightforward quarter-final | Girls’s Euro 2025

England's 4-0 win towards Sweden of their Euro 2022 semi-final, with that iconic Alessia Russo backheel and the sound of Candy Caroline ringing round Bramall Lane, will likely be etched into many Swedish heads when the 2 groups meet on Thursday. And England should not underestimate that feeling for the Swedes.

It was a humiliating defeat for Peter Gerhardsson's crew however they're in a a lot better place now than three years in the past. They've actually impressed on this competitors to date and they're on a 15-game unbeaten run that has lasted simply over a yr.

There's a hazard of England considering: “Oh, we've crushed this lot within the final Euros.” As a coach I all the time fear a couple of wounded crew and I feel Sweden are that, and I can say this categorically: Swedish gamers are essentially the most tactical gamers I've coached, essentially the most studious gamers, essentially the most crew‑oriented gamers, they usually go away their ego on the door. For these causes, they're a menace to each crew, they usually're a giant menace to England on this unbelievable quarter-final in Zurich.

Once I take a look at my very own evaluation, and I take a look at people, in case you take the highest 150 gamers on the planet, of the groups on this event, Sweden would rank because the seventh greatest, however they're much stronger as a sum of their elements, as a crew. Earlier than their final sport towards Germany, they have been ranked as fourth favourites to win the title, so this can be a group which have “crew” on the centre of every thing they do. They'll be extremely tactical and organised out of possession.

Their midfielder Kosovare Asllani has been distinctive and so has Filippa Angeldal. In Nathalie Björn they've a pacesetter on the again who's competent in possession but additionally actually good at working a defensive position. The midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has been taking part in properly and was notably spectacular towards Poland. So I feel this can be a harder check for England than it might have been towards Germany – not as a result of I don't charge Germany – I feel they're fantastic going ahead – however I feel they're so weak defensively, whereas Sweden are stingy as hell in defence. Don't suppose: “Oh, good, we've averted Germany.” No, this can be a sport no one would take evenly.

As a coach, England are the higher crew and they're the favourites however they're taking part in towards a Sweden crew with far larger organisation than England confronted towards Wales or the Netherlands, and the issues which have harm the holders, the bodily tempo and energy of France, are threats that Sweden pose too in transitional moments.

Because the final European Championship, Sweden have additionally introduced by way of the precise gamers they usually've discovered one other actual participant in Smilla Holmberg, the right-back. I feel she's received every thing to go the entire means. It's Gerhardsson's last event with the crew however there's a consistency in his setup. He's labored together with his strongest eight or 9 gamers for a time period so there's an actual understanding between them, he's calm and constant in his method, and I feel he can have discovered quite a bit from these failures in 2022.

He's not a giant risk-taker. I may very a lot see Sweden arrange in an organised block but it surely'll be fascinating to see how low they sit. Will they actually simply soak up strain and permit England to have the ball? On Saturday, Sweden beat the Germany press and received up towards a backline which wasn't the quickest. It's comparable with England. Sarina Wiegman's facet will likely be very aggressive with a number of gamers up excessive, very aggressive within the counterpress, and if Sweden resolve this case like France did, then I feel you're going to see equally powerful moments for England to defend.

However it is going to be fascinating to see what Sweden have discovered as a result of they play in a extremely compact 4-4-2 and in case you don't get these distances proper England will choose you off within the pockets. Particularly Lauren James. When she is within the temper she was in towards Wales, and he or she's in “that place”, she's having fun with her soccer, everyone knows she's top-of-the-line gamers on the planet. She's been good.

Additionally, that is the perfect place I've ever seen Ella Toone in, for England. She's been massively impactful for the crew. She is exploiting the areas between the full-backs and the centre-backs, and people runs from deep are actually serving to England. I feel she's taking part in with the bit between her enamel. She's received a little bit of a chip in her efficiency, and I like that facet of Ella Toone. She appears extra mature, centered and like somebody who clearly has a pure telepathy with Alessia Russo. You may see how a lot they look after one another as pals, but additionally how they know one another's sport inside out. That's actually useful as a result of possibly Russo is taking on a lot consideration from defenders and giving a bit more room for Ella.

On the reverse finish of the pitch, England need to be cautious of Stina Blackstenius. She was a nightmare to play towards. In actual fact, once I was the Chelsea supervisor, we have been all the time grateful when she wasn't within the beginning lineup for Arsenal. She makes it that a lot more durable for you as a crew to be so excessive up the pitch, due to her channel runs. She's additionally improved within the little actions, to remain onside.

I all the time thought she was a participant that drifted offside quite a bit however I feel she's introduced plenty of what we name double actions into her sport – ie, a number of working throughout a line onside – and he or she's received higher at holding these runs to remain onside. And he or she's been medical. I feel she's at her greatest stage but. I all the time rated her decisiveness and being medical – she's received every thing in her locker. She's good in case you've received balls coming into the field, she's good at working in behind and he or she now seems to be a extra full participant.

Whoever wins this quarter-final would be the favourites for his or her semi‑last and ought to be anticipated to make the ultimate, however soccer isn't that simple. What's necessary to say is that the standard of the quarter-finalists in contrast with Euro 2022 is a lot increased. Italy's efficiency towards Spain within the group stage confirmed that lastly years of labor on their home league is bearing fruit. And France, phwoar, it'll take quite a bit to beat France. I can't wait to observe them towards Germany and the opposite match-ups.