Where: Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England.
When: Tuesday at 9 p.m., Swedish time.
TV/radio: TV4/C More/SR P4 Radiosporten.
The teams’ path to the semi-finals:
Sweden: Netherlands 1–1, Switzerland 2–1, Portugal 5–0, Belgium (quarter-final) 1–0.
England: Austria 1–0, Norway 8–0, Northern Ireland 5–0, Spain (quarter-final) 2–1 after extra time.
The opposition: England is making its ninth European Championship and has at best two second places. In 1984 they lost the final against Sweden, after a penalty shoot-out, and in 2009 Germany was too difficult. In European Championship 2017, there was a semi-final for the English team, but once there it was a loss against the future champion Netherlands, 0–3. In this summer’s championship, however, there is real gold weathering among the home crowd. England stormed through the group stage with three straight wins and a 14–0 goal difference, then went on to turn a deficit to victory in the quarter-finals against another early favourite: Spain.
The history: England is a familiar opponent for Sweden. 26 times the countries have clashed on the women’s side and history is in Sweden’s favour. Sweden has 15 victories compared to England’s three. A draw has been played eight times. The last time the teams met was in the bronze medal match in the WC 2019 when Sweden won 2–1 after goals by Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson.
Injuries/illnesses: Confederations captain Peter Gerhardsson has had an unusual amount of both crassness and injuries to take into account during the EC. The big question mark before the semi-finals concerns team captain Caroline Seger, who missed the last two games with a heel injury. In recent days, she has been training more than before, but it is still doubtful if the midfield general is ready to start.
Last week, covid-19 also entered the Swedish EC squad, which stopped Hanna Glas, Emma Kullberg and Jonna Andersson from playing in the quarter-finals. Glas and Kullberg are back in training, and above all the former is relevant for the Swedish starting eleven. Andersson, on the other hand, has not been seen, and will be put aside. Uncertainty also applies to forward Olivia Schough, who has not trained with the team since the match against Belgium.
How Sweden will start: The many question marks make it extra difficult to predict the Swedish starting eleven in the semi-finals. If Hanna Glas is ready to play, she will most certainly join the team. The question then is what happens to Amanda Ilestedt, who was temporary for Glas last time. Will she take her place again as centre-back, and then next to Linda Sembrant, who was back in the eleven last time after being injured? And in that case, does Magdalena Eriksson move out to the left in the back line, at the expense of Amanda Nildén, who made a fine effort against Belgium? Or does Peter Gerhardsson solve the equation by switching to a three-back line, as in the opener against the Netherlands?
A therapist Caroline Seger can also arrange that. She is given every day of the week if she is playable, but the substitute Nathalie Björn, who is actually a centre-back, has been brilliant so far in the EC. In that case, how will Gerhardsson get her into the eleven?
Sweden, possible starting eleven (3–4–3): Hedvig Lindahl – Amanda Ilestedt, Linda Sembrant, Magdalena Eriksson – Hanna Glas, Filippa Angeldahl, Nathalie Björn, Amanda Nildén – Kosovare Asllani, Stina Blackstenius, Fridolina Rolfö.
Other troupe: Jennifer Falk (mv), Zecira Musovic (mv), Jonna Andersson, Emma Kullberg, Hanna Bennison, Caroline Seger, Sofia Jakobsson, Olivia Schough, Rebecka Blomqvist, Lina Hurtig, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Elin Rubensson.
Union captain: Peter Gerhardsson.
England, possible starting eleven (4–3–3): Mary Earps – Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Rachel Daly – Georgia Stanway, Fran Kirby, Keira Walsh – Beth Mead, Ellen White, Lauren Hemp.
Other squad: Hanna Hampton (mv), Ellie Roebuck (mv), Alex Greenwood, Jessica Carter, Demi Stokes, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jill Scott, Ella Toone, Alessia Russo, Nikita Parris, Chloe Kelly, Bethany England.
Confederation captain: Sarina Wiegman.
Judge: Esther Staubli, Switzerland.