by The road to England’s Euros defense began as they ended their wait to win a major international competition, and immediately showed why the path to Switzerland will be far from simple. In the opening game of the European Qualifiers at Wembley, the Lions were held to a 1-1 draw by Sweden in a result that leaves the European champions on the back foot from the outset in their bid for one of two automatic points from here. A very early “group of death”.
Sweden at least avenged their 4-0 defeat in the Euro semi-finals two years ago, showing far more composure and defensive organization than they managed in the golden summer when they claimed England glory at home at Wembley. The visitors narrowly deserved a point after Fridolina Rolfo’s header canceled out Alessia Russo’s first-half opener. They could have won it too: when Stina Blackstenius was put through the goal but failed to test Mary Earps.
Sarina Wiegman’s side, however, went out of the game after taking the lead. Sweden are experienced, regular campaigners in the latter stages of major tournaments, but the Lionesses knew they had to make a confident and confident start to qualification following the format changes. Although England know the margin for error is even slimmer now: this was a much better point for Sweden in a group that also features France and the Republic of Ireland and only two automatic qualification spots are available.
England came forward late on, with Lauren Hemp having an effort saved by Swedish goalkeeper Jennifer Falk and another cleared off the line by captain Magdelena Eriksson. By then, midway through the second half, England had lost the spark that Lauren James had initially introduced. Too many of England’s players lacked the drive James showed when she set up Russo’s opener and played long spells as they looked as if they had forgotten how to create chances without the mercurial forward. hit the dribble first and open the space.
Despite the attacking options Wiegman requested from their bench, the Lionesses were unable to create enough pressure to trouble Sweden. Following on from the League of Nations, England could have dropped points badly to start with, but it could have been worse if Blackstenius punished the latest event in the gathering. Tuesday’s trip to Dublin is suddenly a must win, or close to it.
The Lionesses will have to improve. England was sloppy on the ball throughout, Wembley a bit sleepy. Too many chose the safe option, England doubling back on themselves. England captain Keira Walsh gave Sweden a needless early chance when she took possession of a square ball in midfield. It gave her Barcelona teammate Rolfo the first chance to break through, but when the angle closed she shot narrowly wide onto her usually reliable left foot.
England wanted something; it is the result of a quick switch and a sudden burst. And who else but James. Although Hemp found two dead ends in her early attempts to dribble past Sweden’s left back Jonna Andersson, James equalized moments later after the pair swapped sides. Passing on the wing, James went soft on the ball, rolled it under his studs, and then turned right, dropping his shoulder. From there, James swam a pleasing arc of a cross on the six-yard line and Russo bent to nod in.
England controlled the ball throughout the half but were not always comfortable. The Rolfo just continued to threaten on the left and, on the other side, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had the pace to beat her Chelsea team-mate Niamh Charles. Even with the Lionesses leading before half-time, the European champions’ moves looked open and could be cut back from the sidelines. Earps, however, was very upset.
England drove after half time, the spark that James had given them had faded. Although England let their momentum slip, Sweden didn’t exactly take it out of their grasp when Rolfo grabbed an equalizer at the back post, beating Lucy Bronze with a header. England converted from a throw-in and were penalized. Blackstenius found the ball in the box with his back to back, keeping Alex Greenwood on it. Rosa Kafaji, straight forward as a substitute, drove a cross to the back post, where Rolfo pounced on her Barcelona Bronze team-mates to go past Earps.
The Lionesses were stunned, and Sweden almost hit again. Blackstenius fired a first time ball from midfield but only Earps was to beat the Arsenal shot.
Even before Rolfo’s equalizer, Wiegman was preparing to call the changes. If England had firepower on the bench, this was the time to show it. Grace Clinton, who showed good touch and didn’t look out of place on her second England start, was already in Ella Toone’s place when James was replaced by Beth Mead. Sweden manager Peter Gerhardsson joked he was “happy” to see her go. But England had created other threats: Mead, another scorer in the semi-final against Sweden, was then joined by Chloe Kelly, another Euro hero.
The winner did not come. Toone came closest to making another Wembley impact with his clever ball to Hemp, who saw Falk’s shot then cleared off the line by Eriksson. From the corner. Mead shot down into the ground but Falk sent a strike away that curled inside the near post. Sweden survived and England, for all their options, will need more in a group where there is even less room for error now.
