Resilience, Luck And Subs - England's Winning Formula

They couldn't do it again, could they?

England were 2-0 down astatine half-time of their quarter-final pinch Sweden astatine Euro 2025 - but managed to people 2 goals successful arsenic galore minutes to tie level.

They could person mislaid 3 times successful nan shootout - but Chloe Kelly scored, Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk blasted complete pinch a punishment of her ain and England counterpart Hannah Hampton denied Sofia Jakobsson.

Sweden exposed England's protect frailties again - but England head Sarina Wiegman made nan correct substitutions to move nan crippled astir successful Zurich.

It was a communicative of England's resilience, a ample portion of luck and an explosive effect of nan 'super-subs' arsenic they booked a semi-final connected Tuesday against Italy. Sound familiar?

They person go affirmative traits of England's awesome tourney journeys - nan 'super-subs' proving nan quality astatine Euro 2022 and nan resilience, mixed pinch luck, taking them to nan last astatine nan 2023 World Cup erstwhile they missed cardinal players.

"That's a value that is truthful beardown successful this team, that togetherness and fighting back. It shows truthful overmuch resilience," said head Wiegman.

"We changed it and brought successful different players. They brought different things to nan crippled that really helped nan squad successful that moment.

"That is truthful powerful from this team. That luck arsenic well, yes, astatine slightest 3 times I thought we were out."

Wiegman's rotations arrived for illustration clockwork successful 2022 - midway done nan 2nd half, nary matter nan score, and ever made a difference.

She named nan aforesaid starting XI for each six matches and backed her players to present nan gameplan.

It has been akin successful Switzerland, pinch Wiegman's action remaining unchanged for a 3rd successive lucifer and her first substitution coming successful nan 70th infinitesimal against Sweden.

England had been carved isolated by Sweden's gait successful a relentless first half, and were still nether unit arsenic goalkeeper Hampton made cardinal saves aft nan break.

Defender Jess Carter had struggled against Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, meaning she had to switch pinch Leah Williamson and go nan right-sided centre-back.

Sweden, flowing pinch confidence, were brutally persistent and their fans buoyant, singing ABBA songs arsenic England trailed 2-0.

Surely Wiegman would make changes astatine half-time? Surely she would respond to Sweden's directness? Surely England had a Plan B?

But Wiegman has seldom swayed from her scheme - because it usually works.

The introductions of Kelly, Beth Mead, Michelle Agyemang and Esme Morgan changed things.

England were abruptly connected nan beforehand foot. Kelly's heavy transverse was headed successful astatine nan backmost station by defender Lucy Bronze, and 103 seconds later, Agyemang made it 2-2.

It was nan 3rd clip England had scored via a substitute astatine Euro 2025, much than immoderate different team.

"I don't cognize why but this squad is conscionable incredible. They instrumentality together," said Wiegman, erstwhile asked really her broadside continued to respond to setbacks.

"We had a disappointing crippled against France but really nan players came together, took work and stepped up... they took action to make it better.

"They do immoderate is basal to move astir a consequence for illustration we did today. It is truthful awesome and I'm conscionable really proud to beryllium a portion of this team."

England fans whitethorn had uncertainty but they did not show it astatine Stadion Letzigrund arsenic those down nan extremity to Wiegman's correct sang her sanction arsenic they trailed 2-0.

When things yet started going to plan, England still relied connected plentifulness of luck.

The shot didn't rather driblet for Sweden connected set-pieces, and arsenic other clip wore on, momentum felt for illustration it was pinch England.

But successful nan shootout, it was Sweden's crippled to win. They had 2 chances to seal triumph pinch penalties of their ain and managed to squander both.

Sweden goalkeeper Falk wasted nan first opportunity, blasting nan shot complete nan crossbar, earlier Hampton dived debased to prevention Jakobsson's spot-kick.

As Sweden's elder players missed their opportunities, England's astir knowledgeable was fresh to return her moment.

It was fitting that 33-year-old Bronze, playing successful her seventh awesome tournament, delivered erstwhile it mattered.

Someone who epitomises England's resilience, she stepped up, took a heavy activity and thumped her punishment into nan tile of nan net.

A roar erupted from Bronze arsenic she looked astatine nan supporters down nan goal, ripping disconnected portion - that she had put connected herself during nan lucifer - successful nan process.

Around half an hr earlier, she had kicked nan hoardings down nan aforesaid nett - a merchandise of emotion arsenic she kickstarted England's comeback.

"Lucy was chaotic successful herself, right? There was a batch going connected pinch her. She became a physio, she became a striker, she nailed nan champion punishment of nan day," said team-mate Mead.

"I deliberation Lucy really showed her acquisition successful those moments. She's our astir knowledgeable England subordinate and I deliberation she was 1 of nan players that very overmuch sewage nan determination retired of america each today."

Having grounded to person 4 penalties, Wiegman admitted she was "really concerned" that England were heading out.

But it was fitting that Bronze helped transportation her squad complete nan line.

"She is conscionable 1 of a kind. I person ne'er seen this earlier successful my life. I person worked pinch truthful galore unthinkable shot players but what she does and her mentality," said Wiegman.

"The penalty, nan extremity - that is not what defines her. What defines her is that resilience, that fight. The only measurement to get her disconnected nan transportation is successful a wheelchair."