The China Mail - England reach Euro 2025 semis after shootout win over Sweden

Smilla Holmberg blasted over from the spot in an eventful shootout in Zurich after the match finished 2-2 after extra time thanks to Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang's quick-fire strikes just as England looked to be limping out of the tournament.

The reigning European champions were staring at elimination with 11 minutes remaining in normal time after Kosovare Asllani, who opened the scoring with her 50th international goal in the second minute, and Stina Blackstenius shot Sweden into a two-goal lead at half-time.

But Sarina Wiegman's team will face Italy, who are in the last four for the first time since 1997, in the last four in Geneva on Tuesday after a sensational comeback.

Defeat ended Sweden's bid for a first major honour since winning the first official Euros back in 1984, Peter Gerhardsson's team falling in the most painful of fashions.

England scored 10 goals in their final two Group D matches to reach the last eight but showed none of that attacking flair in the early stages at the Letzigrund Stadium.

Sweden were on the front foot from the off and somehow it was no surprise when Asllani drilled home her opener after just one minute and 46 seconds, the attacking midfielder being completely free to collect Blackstenius' lay-off and score.

Jess Carter's loose pass led to that goal and moments later goalkeeper Hannah Hampton almost gifted Blackstenius her third goal of the tournament after miscontrolling the ball and allowing the Arsenal striker to bear down on an open goal before Leah Williamson slid in to cut out the danger.

Lauren Hemp's pot shot was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Jennifer Falk but that was a rare bright spot in a dismal opening half for England, who were deservedly two behind at the break.

Blackstenius showed how lethal she can be in the 25th minute when she raced in behind a dozing English defence, collected Julia Zigiotti Olme's pass, held off Carter and slotted home.

England were brighter after the restart and Hemp should have halved the deficit when she failed to direct Lauren James' cross on target.

And Bronze gave England hope by heading home Chloe Kelly's searching cross in the 79th minute before Agyemang reacted quickest to a loose ball and prodded England level.

Extra time passed without much incident and that left the shootout in which a parade of poor penalties, nine of which were missed, ended with Holmberg ballooning her effort way over and ending her team's year-long unbeaten run.

O.Yip--ThChM