As the Euro 2025 quarter-final clash between England and Sweden approaches, the tension is palpable, fueled by recent comments from both sides. England midfielder Ella Toone suggested that Sweden "should be scared" following England's dominant 6-1 victory over Wales. However, Sweden's captain, Kosovare Asllani, has firmly dismissed this notion, asserting that her team approaches the game with respect, but certainly not fear.
Asllani's response was clear: "We respect England, the team they have and everything they have achieved so far. But fear? No. We don't have that word in our dictionary,". Instead, the Swedes are choosing to focus on "courage" and their own game plan. Asllani emphasized that the team has a strong belief in their ability and are aiming for only one outcome: a win.
Sweden has been a consistent performer in major tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals in every major competition since 2017, a feat matched only by England and France. Despite this, Asllani feels that Sweden often "flies under the radar" and doesn't receive the recognition it deserves. "Obviously we think that we are one of the best teams in the world, due to the results we've had from the tournaments, but people rarely speak about us as someone that can win the gold," she noted. She believes that people should talk about Sweden more as a team capable of winning.
England captain Leah Williamson has acknowledged Sweden's consistent performance and suggested that they "deserved a little bit more recognition". Williamson also highlighted the collective strength of the Swedish team, noting that they work well together, minimizing the need for "a crazy standout threat".
Sweden topped their group with a perfect record, including a 4-1 victory over Germany, demonstrating their capabilities. Asllani believes that this victory, along with their overall performance, has started to change perceptions. Sweden's coach, Peter Gerhardsson, downplayed the significance of England's 4-0 victory over Sweden at the last Euros, pointing out that illness had affected his squad at the time. He and Asllani both emphasized the team's improvement in recent years.
Both teams have players who are very familiar with each other. Williamson will be marking her Arsenal teammate, Stina Blackstenius, while Lucy Bronze plays alongside Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Nathalie Bjorn at Chelsea. Asllani highlighted the team's physical approach, stating, "We want to go out and play our football intensely, physically".
Historically, Sweden and England have had some interesting encounters in women's football. Sweden defeated England in the inaugural UEFA-run European Competition for Women's Football final in 1984 and also won the third-place play-off at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. However, England triumphed 4-0 in their semi-final clash at the 2022 Women's EURO. More recently, their two encounters in the Euro 2025 qualifiers ended in draws.
As the quarter-final approaches, Sweden is embracing its underdog status and focusing on its strengths. Asllani encapsulates the team's mindset: "We have an incredible belief in one another and the entire team and we do play very intense and physical football... It feels as if we are a very hungry side now. We want success,".
