‘the Nightmare That Never Ended’: Swedish Media On Euro 2025 Penalty Heartbreak

Swedish media reacted pinch incredulity and indignation aft nan country’s women’s squad mislaid nan Euro 2025 quarter-final to England connected penalties.

The Swedes had raced to a 2-0 lead successful nan first half earlier nan Lionesses responded pinch 2 quickfire goals to return nan crippled into other time. After a goalless 30 minutes Sarina Wiegman’s team, nan reigning champions, won a fraught shootout 3-2.

Aftonbladet called nan denouement “brutal” and described nan punishment shootout arsenic nan “nightmare that ne'er ended”. “For 80 minutes location was nary uncertainty astir which squad were astir to spell through,” wrote Frida Fagerlund. “Sweden dominated nan first half and had 1 limb successful nan semis until nan 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang equalised pinch very small clip left.”

In Expressen, Frida Olsson talked astir nan “indescribable joyousness and tremendous sorrow” connected show conscionable aft nan crippled had finished. “Down connected nan transportation we tin spot nan astir disgusting extremes of elite sport,” she said. “The English players are successful ecstasy and connected nan different broadside we person nan Swedish players, whose dream has conscionable been shattered into 10,000 pieces. Their gazes are empty. There are tears moving down respective players’ cheeks. They clasp successful an effort to understand what has conscionable happened. The disappointment cuts done for illustration a knife.”

England had been favourites going into nan quarter-final but were second-best successful nan first half. Lauren Hemp did deed nan barroom for nan Lionesses but nan goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had to make respective smart saves to contradict nan Swedes going 3-0 up.

There was a batch of disapproval for nan action of punishment takers pinch nan 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg being asked to return nan seventh for nan Swedes. There were respective much knowledgeable players who had not taken 1 by that time. Holmberg missed and was reduced to tears.

The erstwhile Sweden world Lotta Schelin, commentating connected TV, felt nan determination was inexplicable. “My first thought is that you should not put that unit connected an 18-year-old,” she said. “We had players specified arsenic Fridolina Rolfö, Madelen Janogy and Lina Hurtig who could person stepped up. It feels very reliable and unfair.

Holmberg was supported by each her teammates. “It is awesome that she takes that responsibility, she should beryllium proud,” said Rebecka Blomqvist while Janogy added: “It is very difficult to spot her truthful upset. We will conscionable look aft her and praise her because she is truthful incredibly cool.”

The crippled was nan last 1 for nan Sweden coach, Peter Gerhardsson, who is stepping down aft 8 successful years successful charge. “It feels beautiful pointless to effort to analyse this crippled correct now,” he said erstwhile he met nan media aft nan game. “Right now nan feelings are … 1 feels sadness. I americium sad that it ended this way.”