Another knockout match between England and Sweden, the last saw the hosts England win 4-0 in the semi-finals of Euro 2022.
This time, Sweden enters the game having beaten Germany 4-1, but England is boosted by a 6-1 victory over local rivals Wales and scoring 10 goals in two matches, following an impressive 4-0 win over the Netherlands, which was their worst defeat in Euros history.
You might have seen player clicking when another scores celebration was a nod to the players who didn't start the match but still played a crucial role from the sidelines. In this England squad, they're not just subs, they're known as the "finishers" and it's a title they've fully embraced.
Sweden has won three, drawn one, and lost one of the last five meetings between these sides; however, the most recent was the 4-0 domination in the Euro 2022.
It was a result that still stings, though, for some Swedes, the pain was numbed by the ironic use of ABBA’s "Does Your Mother Know" in the Lionesses’ dressing room celebrations. “At least they picked a good song,” joked ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus afterwards.
However, since then, in the qualification for this Euros, these two sides have met and both have ended in draws.
Sweden won all three of their group stage matches, while Sarina Wiegman lost her first-ever major tournament game outside the final.
The Swedes have never won four consecutive games in a single European Championship tournament, while England head into their fifth consecutive quarter-final at a major tournament since Euro 2017, a feat also achieved by Sweden and France.
They will be looking to beat the Lionesses for the first time since recording a 2-1 victory in the third-place playoff at the 2019 World Cup.
Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani has been central to their attacking threat, directly involved in four of their eight goals in the group stage (1 goal, three assists).
For England, the attacking midfield spark will again come from Ella Toone, the only player since 2013 to score a goal, provide an assist, and complete 100% of passes in a single Euros match (playing only 45 minutes), who was part of that dominant 2022 semi-final side. Reflecting on facing Sweden again, Toone said:
“We know they’ll be out to prove a point after 2022. It’s a team full of experience and talent — but so are we. We respect them, but we don’t fear them. That game [in 2022] gave us belief, and we’ve still got that belief.”
She also said that Sweden should be scared.
England enter this Euro 2025 quarter-final as clear favourites, given a win probability of 49.4% in 90 minutes, while Sweden’s chances trail at 26.5%.
Overall, the Opta supercomputer predicts that England will progress to the semi-finals in 61.1% of its 10,000 simulations.
Off the Pitch: The ABBA Factor Returns?
Music might not influence the scoreboard, but it still plays a part in the rivalry’s colour. When Swedish fans recently suggested ABBA’s legacy trumped that of The Beatles — and thus predicted a Swedish win — England captain Leah Williamson laughed off the comparison:
“I disagree with that, I’m afraid. One might be easier to dance to, but no. I don’t think that will be on the playlist, but it worked in 2022, so I don’t want to banish ABBA completely.”
England may have history on its side from 2022, but Sweden has momentum and revenge on its mind. This quarter-final is not just a rematch — it’s a reckoning.
With ABBA in the background and legacy on the line, England and Sweden are ready to dance once again.
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