Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Women’s Euro match.
Topping their group did little to reward Sweden with a favourable quarter-final opponent. Their path was always going to cross with either France, semi-finalists at the last European Championship, or the reigning champions, England. It is the latter they now face.
Sweden (women)
Sweden, who also reached the semi-finals of the previous Euros, encountered just one serious challenge in the group stage – Germany. Yet they swept them aside with a commanding 4:1 win. The result was particularly notable, given that the Germans are currently ranked third in the world. That victory marked five wins on the bounce for Sweden, and in four of those games, they netted at least twice.
England (women)
There was little doubt surrounding the progress of England from the group stage. They cruised past the Netherlands with a 4:0 win, before dismantling Wales (6:1). However, France, who unlike England have not featured among the medal contenders in recent years, handed them two heavy defeats. The defensive lapses that led to those goals raise concerns about their back line ahead of this encounter.
Sweden (women) vs England (women) Prediction
The two teams faced off twice during qualification for this tournament, with both fixtures ending in draws (1:1 and 0:0). Another closely-fought contest seems likely, and the possibility of extra time cannot be ruled out. Sweden have impressed throughout the competition, and they appear well-equipped to hold their own in regular time – perhaps even push on for more.
