Lauren Hemp, Keira Walsh, Ellen White, Chloe Kelly and Alex Greenwood all featured on a memorable night for the host nation at Bramall Lane, where goals from Beth Mead, former City full-back Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby ended Filippa Angeldahl’s hopes of European Championship glory.
Ellie Roebuck and Demi Stokes were unused substitutes as Sarina Wiegman’s side weathered the early storm to claim a hugely impressive victory against the top-ranked team in the tournament.
Mead opened the scoring in the 34th minute, collecting Bronze’s cross and firing a shot on the swivel into the far corner.
Sweden had started the stronger. Mary Earps stuck out a leg to make a superb save from Sofia Jakobsson in the opening minute and Stina Blackstenius headed against the crossbar, but Mead’s sixth goal of the tournament galvanised the home side.
Bronze doubled their advantage three minutes into the second half, arriving unmarked at the far post and planting a header into the opposite corner.
That signalled a change for Sweden, with Angeldahl withdrawn for Caroline Seger and the Blue and Yellows nearly pulled one back as Blackstenius’ improvised effort forced Earps into another brilliant save.
Having survived that scare, it felt like it was England’s to lose as Sweden struggled to keep pace with a side roared on by a vociferous home crowd.
Hemp should have got herself on the scoresheet, but fired Russo’s inviting low cross against the bar from four yards.
The Manchester United striker, on for White, continued her fine form off the bench as she netted the pick of the bunch with an audacious back heel after Hedvig Lindahl had failed to keep hold of her initial effort.
The impressive Kirby completed the scoring with 13 minutes remaining, with a 20-yard chip that the outstretched hand of Lindahl was unable to keep out.
It rounded off a stunning performance from England and the emotional and euphoric scenes at full-time were evidence of how much this victory meant to a team that had lost in the semi-final of their last three major tournaments.
Wembley now awaits on Sunday, where they will be aiming to end the nation’s 56-year wait for a major trophy with a victory over Germany or France.
