The Swedes tried to score a total of 34 times on this rainy Thursday evening. Eight attempts were successful. And with every shot they missed in that European Championship quarter-final, they seemed more desperate. That just could not be the case! The Swedes had qualified for the knockout stage as group leaders ahead of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal and had apparently found their easiest opponent in Belgium. But it wasn’t just their own lack of precision that stood in their way, but above all Belgium goalkeeper Nicky Evrard.
The 27-year-old – who rents out bouncy castles as a second job in addition to football – played a key role in Belgium making it further than ever before at a European Championship. Now she persistently prevented the favorites from taking the lead, and in the 25th minute she was helped by a controversial offside when Stina Blackstenius scored. Then, after 92 long, tough minutes, when everyone was already expecting an extra time, the time had come. The Swedes got one of the 34 shots past Evrard. After a corner from Kosovare Asllani, Nathalie Björn first tried, Evrard saved with his foot. Straight to Linda Sembrant, who made it into the semi-finals with a 1-0 lead from close range.
This is Sweden’s ninth time among the top four teams at a European Championship, only Germany has qualified more often, namely ten times. And Sweden’s coach Peter Gerhardsson was able to congratulate himself on his decision: After Hanna Glas and Jonna Andersson were infected with the corona virus, he relied on Amanda Nilden – and Sembrant, who at 35 years and 68 days is now the oldest European Championship goalscorer in her home country. “It’s hard to describe what I felt after the goal,” said Sembrant after the game in front of 7,500 spectators at the Wigan & Leigh Stadium: “It’s just incredible.”
In 1984, the Swedes won the European title for the only time
The axis of the team consisting of goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, Magdalena Eriksson, record international Caroline Seger and Asllani has been on the pitch together for a long time: The squad is strong, well-rehearsed, experienced. There are more than ten players, each with more than 120 appearances. At the last major tournament, the 2021 Olympics, Sweden reached the final with almost the same line-up as now – fueling expectations of success in England.
The team only lost to Canada in 2021 on penalties. There was also silver at the 2016 Olympics. Meanwhile, at the 2019 World Cup, Sweden lost the semi-final against the Netherlands 0-1 in extra time – only to beat England 2-1 in the match for third place. So now this encounter is being repeated on Tuesday evening in Sheffield (9 p.m., ARD) and the hope of making it back to the final after 1984 – when Sweden won the title for the first and last time – as well as in 1987, 1995 and 2001.
“I was hoping to play against Spain and be challenged by their football, that would have been fun,” said Gerhardsson, but he only wanted it to mean that his team already knew England: “England we have a better grip on, but they are no easier opponents than Spain.” The challenge may be even greater against the island hosts, not only because of their home field advantage but also because of their dynamic, fast-paced style of play.
Although his team struggled against Belgium, Gerhardsson said: “It will be an interesting game. I think we are very difficult to beat.” Since the 62-year-old took over the post in 2017, the Swedes have won a medal every time. Bronze 2019, silver 2021. Will gold follow in 2022? This would require a significant increase against the so self-confident and so far convincing English women. “We have to have a good plan to play against England,” Gerhardsson added, “an extremely good plan”.