Sweden's Women's Football Team Ready to Face England in EM Quarterfinals

Sweden's national women's football team is poised for their EM quarterfinal match against England on Thursday at Letzigrundstadion in Zürich. After winning all three of their group games—1-0 against Denmark, 3-0 against Poland, and 4-1 against Germany—Sweden enters the match with high spirits and confidence. In contrast, England, despite being the reigning European champions, suffered a setback with a loss to France in their opening group match but rebounded with impressive wins over the Netherlands and Wales.

Swedish players are not intimidated by comments from England's Ella Toone suggesting they should be scared. Filippa Angeldahl asserted, "We are not scared. We are more pumped up, and I think everyone is looking forward to Thursday." Magdalena Eriksson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their preparation, saying, "We respect our opponents but believe we are ready and have analyzed their strengths and weaknesses."

The Swedish delegation has received a boost with key players Fridolina Rolfö and Eriksson returning from injuries. Additionally, Smilla Holmberg, who recently scored against Germany, may get the nod to start again, adding depth to the squad. "Having an extra day of rest compared to England could play a crucial role in how we perform," expressed head coach Peter Gerhardsson, remarking on Sweden's favorable position entering the match.

While English fans are confident and expect a decisive win reminiscent of their previous 4-0 semifinal victory over Sweden, Swedish players remain focused and grounded. Lina Hurtig noted, "I believe we are the better team overall, despite England having individually talented players."

With the stakes high for both teams, this quarterfinal is not just a tactical contest but also a personal rivalry, as Sweden aims to advance to the semifinals against potentially either Norway or Italy next week.