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England reached the final hurdle in its quest for a first European Championship after defeating Sweden 4-0 Tuesday at Bramall Lane in Sheffield. Goals from Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby punched the Lionesses ticket to the final Sunday at Wembley, where they'll meet the winner of Wednesday's match between Germany and France.
England last reached the final of the Euros in 2009, where Germany hammered them 6-2 at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland, but the Lionesses will be favorites on July 31 after another impressive showing in the semis that was roared on by an adoring crowd of 30,000.
After an opening period of play in which England's defense bent but never broke, England hit Sweden with a sucker punch in the 34th-minute to take the advantage.
Bronze's ball from wide right picked out Mead in space, and the tournament's leading scorer had time enough to control, swivel and rasp a right-footed effort beyond the despairing lunge of Hedvig Lindahl.
BETH MEAD PUTS ENGLAND AHEAD IN THE SEMIFINAL! pic.twitter.com/weE5V4vccA
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 26, 2022
Sweden needed to regroup and take heart from clear chances for Sofia Jakobsson and Stina Blackstenius in the opening 45, but just three minutes after the restart, Mead's corner to the far post found Bronze unmarked and she cushioned a downward header beyond Lindahl.
¡Gooooooooool de Inglaterra!
Bronze la manda a guardar de cabeza y el gol se valida en el VAR.2-0 #VeranoDeCampeonas | #Inglaterra | #Suecia
EN VIVO
TUDN
https://t.co/guzWAtWvtZ pic.twitter.com/1Se5jYnkHu— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) July 26, 2022
England's third was a dagger and one of the best of the tournament. The chance appeared over when Russo's initial shot was saved, but the Manchester United forward quickly put another on frame with a right-footed backheel that went through the unsuspecting Lindahl's legs.
RUSSO WITH THE BACKHEEL NUTMEG TO PUT ENGLAND ONE STEP FROM THE FINAL pic.twitter.com/EGz34224Wl
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 26, 2022
Lindahl went on tilt. Kirby got England's fourth with a chip that didn't have the height, but Sweden's 39-year-old keeper provided it.
¡Gooooooooool de Inglaterra!
Kirby pica la pelota y la arquera de Suecia no puede detener el viaje del balón.4-0 #VeranoDeCampeonas | #Inglaterra | #Suecia
EN VIVO
TUDN
https://t.co/guzWAtWvtZ pic.twitter.com/Cl8V48U65s— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) July 26, 2022
All eyes will be on Germany vs. France tomorrow ahead of 90,000 packing Wembley on Sunday. It's going to be the biggest test yet of Sarina Wiegman's ability to transmit her cool and calm demeanor to the squad.
