Hosts England qualified for the 2022 Women’s European Championships final tonight with a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of Sweden in Sheffield.
The Lionesses scored three second-half goals to hand the 1984 champions their heaviest defeat ever in the competition.
The victory, through goals from Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby, took England to their first major final in both men’s and women’s football since 2009, when the Lionesses also reached the Women’s Euro final and lost to Germany.
England, who extended their unbeaten run to 19 games under manager Sarina Wiegman, will face Germany or France in the grand finale at Wembley on Sunday.
Bramall Lane, home ground of Championship side Sheffield United, was lit up in celebration in the 34th minute as Mead struck after England had withstood Swedish pressure in the opening 25 minutes.
Bronze made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half, while substitute Russo produced a moment of magic with a backheel finish to make it 3-0 only 11 minutes after her introduction.
Chelsea star Kirby completed the rout against the Tokyo Olympics finalists in the 76th minute when she chipped goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.
Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps was in fine form for the Lionesses, pulling off superb saves to deny Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius and other Sweden forwards.
England’s 4-0 win is the biggest ever margin of victory in a semi-final at the UEFA Women’s European Championship, according to Opta statistics.
Wiegman also made history as she became the first manager to lead two different nations to the final of the UEFA Women’s European Championship, following her triumph with Netherlands in 2017.
The Dutchwoman is looking to lead the Lionesses to their first-ever Women’s Euro title and England’s overall first major trophy since the men won the 1966 World Cup.
