England’s Lionesses will defend their Euros crown after securing qualification for next year’s tournament with a goalless draw against Sweden on Tuesday evening.
Sarina Wiegman’s side travelled to Gothenburg needing to avoid defeat in order to qualify automatically, otherwise they would have to settle for a place in the play-offs.
England were the stronger team in the first-half but both defences were in top form, with the first shot on target coming after the break in the 50th minute.
That chance came courtesy of Sweden who, needing a win to secure qualification for themselves, stepped up their game but Hannah Hampton was on hand to make an important save.
Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway and Leah Williamson all could have scored but lacked the clinical finish, while down the other end Hampton, starting ahead of Mary Earps again, was forced to weather a storm of Swedish chances.
It was a nervy performance from the young goalkeeper, but she held firm to secure the point, with Wiegman now preparing her side to retain their Euros title following their historic win at Wembley three years ago.
In what has been a sad few days for English football, with the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain followed by Gareth Southgate’s resignation on Tuesday, the Lionesses were able to restore a little bit of joy.
‘We don’t make it easy for ourselves when we don’t score,’ captain Williamson told ITV post-match.
‘We’ve seen out a game, same in France. These are tough places to come.
‘They [Sweden] had a change of tactics, they have different threats. We stood firm and we stayed true. We couldn’t play the football we wanted to play the second half which put us under a lot of pressure.
‘We took care of business, we qualified and we can get the most out of ourselves before the tournament. We did that the last time and we all know how that went.’
At their home Euros in 2022, they became the first England team to win a major trophy since 1966 and as reigning champions and World Cup runners-up, the Lionesses will no doubt be one of the favourites to triumph at Euro 2025.
Euro 2025 is being held in Switzerland next July and will be contested between 16 teams, with England set to discover their opponents when the draw is made in December.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE : Channel 4 blasted for ‘unhinged’ broadcast ahead of Euros 2024 final
MORE : England Lioness hits out at women’s football snub in Gareth Southgate Euro 2024 post
MORE : Mary Earps reveals why she’s leaving Man Utd in candid statement over exit
Share this with