England's women's national team, the Lionesses, are heading in the "right direction" after a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Sweden in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who was named player of the match, declared that "proper England is back" following the win.

The Lionesses' journey to the semi-finals was fraught with challenges. They initially fell behind 2-0 against Sweden, with goals from Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius. However, England mounted a late comeback, with Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scoring in quick succession to level the score and force extra time.

The penalty shootout was a tense affair, with both teams missing several spot-kicks. Hampton made two crucial saves, but Sweden had two chances to win it before England ultimately prevailed 3-2. Lucy Bronze scored the decisive penalty after Smilla Holmberg missed for Sweden.

Hampton described the shootout as "stressful playing in, stressful watching". She revealed that she was urging her teammates to score after each of her saves to provide a cushion. She also had to contend with a bloody nose after a collision in the box late in the second half. "But it’s fine, I’m better without one nostril now,” she joked.

The England goalkeeper also acknowledged the difficult journey she has faced within the England setup. She thanked her teammates for their support, saying, "They've seen all the hard work that I've put in and how difficult it's been, and how they've helped me get to the point that I am". Hampton also praised the England fans, who were behind the goal during the shootout. "I could feel the love," she said. "Especially in that shootout, they were cheering us on and it just helps you get that little bit of an edge over them".

Sarina Wiegman, England's manager, acknowledged the difficulty of the match, calling it "one of the hardest games I've ever watched". She praised her team's resilience and fightback, stating that "we're never done, the fightback, the quality to turn the game around and stay in it mentally - incredible". Wiegman also highlighted the impact of substitutes Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang, who both played a key role in England's comeback.

England will now face Italy in the semi-finals on Tuesday, July 22nd in Geneva. Italy reached the semi-finals after defeating Norway in their quarter-final match. The Lionesses are aiming to defend their Euro title, which they won in 2022. The Euro 2025 final will be held on July 27th in Basel.