If England are to defend their European title in Switzerland next summer then it will have to get better than this.
At the stadium where the Lionesses lifted this trophy, they were given a stark reminder that the shine of silverware does not last forever.
This was the Lionesses’ most lacklustre performance at Wembley since Sarina Wiegman’s reign began and they were lucky to escape with a point.
‘Of course I’m disappointed because we always want to win,’ Wiegman said.
‘I think we had a tough game against a good opponent. As a team we had to make quicker decisions, we had to pass the ball quicker and we were struggling with that.
Alessia Russo put England ahead in the first-half against Sweden in the Euro 2025 qualifier
Friday evening proved the Lionnesses’ title defence will not be without its rocky pitfalls
Sweden may feel hard done by departing Wembley with just a point on a disappointing night for Sarina Wiegman’s side
‘We scored a great goal. In the second half I thought their goal was really unnecessary. We gave away a throw-in and from that they scored. That was disappointing. We were also a little bit at moments struggling with our press on them and they did that very smart. We want to keep the ball longer. At the end of the game we got more control and could get more energy and more attacks. We hoped of course to score a goal.’
The last time England had played Sweden was their 4-0 victory in the semi-final of Euro 2022, a game remembered for Alessia Russo’s back-heel. There was a sense of deja vu when the forward had given the hosts a first half lead, but the Swedes deserved an equaliser and got one through Fridonlina Rolfo just past the hour mark.
On the balance of chances, Sweden should have won this game, but Stina Blackstenius could only fire wide when clean through on goal.
If England needed any proof that this qualification group for next summer’s tournament will not be easy then this was it. The Nations League format means they have been drawn against two of the top six ranked nations in the world in Sweden and France and an improving side in the Republic of Ireland.
But the truth is, with England in League A, it is harder not to qualify for next summer’s tournament. The top two teams progress automatically while the other two countries will face a two-legged play-off with a nation from League C.
England had come into this fixture after comprehensive victories over Austria and Italy during a warm-weather training camp in February but Sweden were always going to provide a sterner test.
Fans hoping to see Leah Williamson make her England return were disappointed, with the defender only fit enough for a place on the bench. The Lionesses’ captain has not played for her country since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in April last year and her wait for that first appearance since goes on.
This was the Lionesses first fixture at Wembley this year but the atmosphere was flat, which was not helped in part by the football for much of the first half. The one piece of quality, though, provided the opening goal.
Lauren James skipped past Jonna Andersson and chipped a delightful cross into Russo, who threw herself at the ball to head past Jennifer Falk.
The striker nodded in Lauren James’ clever cross in the 24th minute on Friday night
Fridolina Rolfo equalised for the visitors in the 64th minute against England at Wembley
Rolfo crept in behind Barcelona team-mate Lucy Bronze to head past Mary Earps at back post
Sweden’s Stina Blackstenius missed a great chance to secure victory when she fired wide
But it was a lead that always felt slender and just past the hour mark it was relinquished. It was a well-worked goal from Sweden but poor defending by England, as Rosa Kafaji’s cross picked out an un-marked Rolfo to head home at the back-post.
Blackstenius should have put Sweden in front minutes later when she was played through on goal, but the forward could only send her effort wide.
England then had two chances at the other end, as Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead forced decent saves from Falk.
Lucy Bronze had said before this game that it would be a ‘next-level’ achievement to win back-to-back European championships. Before England can even think about that, they have to get there first. Friday evening proved that the road to Switzerland will not be without its bumps
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