Lionesses clicking into gear at Euro 2025 as they prepare for Sweden scrap | OneFootball

Promising signs for England and a sense that Sarina Wiegman’s side finding form at the right time

After scoring 10 goals in their past two games, the mood around England’s bid to retain their European crown has shifted dramatically.

There is now a growing sense that, after a shaky start, England are finding form at the right time and they are full of confidence going into Thursday’s quarter-final against Sweden.

Sweden may well require a different type of performance from the Lionesses.

England thrashed Wales 6-1 in their final group game

AFP via Getty Images

There will be a temptation to look ahead to the semi-finals next week and a favourable tie against Italy, but it would be wrong to underestimate Sweden.

Peter Gerhardsson’s side are no pushovers. They are ranked sixth in the world and reached the semi-finals of each of the past three major tournaments.

Sweden’s physical approach sets them apart from other sides and they committed more fouls than anyone else at Euro 2025 on their way to topping Group C with three wins.

“They are a direct team, they’re physical and they can pose us challenges,” said Lionesses midfielder Georgia Stanway. “I don’t think we have played that style of play in the group so far.”

England drew their two games against Sweden during qualification for Euro 2025, but the Lionesses have evolved since then.

After some tactical tweaks following the loss to France, there is a sense that this is a settled and assured England side.

The defence looks more solid with Alex Greenwood at left-back and Jess Carter central. Ahead of them, Ella Toone has knitted the midfield together with her energy.

In attack, Lauren James was subdued against France as a No10 - but is now rejuvenated playing with space and freedom on the right flank.

Everyone appears to know their roles and, just like three years ago when England won the Euros on home soil, that even extends to the substitutes.

When substitutes Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones scored against Wales, they both did the same celebration of clicking their fingers.

England substitutes are celebrating by clicking their fingers

Getty Images

Fellow substitute Chloe Kelly later revealed it was devised by the bench players - or “finishers”, as they are known - and it sums up their togetherness.

“It’s great,” said Kelly. “We have a little group of us, the finishers, the positive clique we call it. We said if one of us comes on to score then we should do that as our celebration.

“We work really hard on the training pitch, in the gym, making sure we’re prepared when we go on to the pitch and we have a great group of girls, so it’s about enjoying the whole experience as a group.”

The bench was a huge weapon for England when they won Euro 2022 and, as we enter the knockout stages in Switzerland, it will be again.

Sweden will look to wear England down with their physicality and Wiegman will need fresh legs off the bench.

“I think that is very important because you can change the game,” she said.

“You can bring players in the same position that have different attributes to the game, so you can change tactics a little bit, you can change combinations a bit but still keeping the levels up and try to harm your opponent, so I think that’s key.

“I expect a very competitive game where it’s very hard to predict the outcome.

“They’ve had a very good group stage like the three wins they had but I think we’re in a very good place too and we’re ready to go, so hopefully, we can show that.”