England vs Sweden: Hampton reveals ‘difficult couple of years’ after penalties joy at Women’s Euro 2025

England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton said she has had a “tough” time “in and around the England environment” after saving two penalties in the Lionesses’ shootout win over Sweden to reach the semi-finals at the Women’s Euro 2025.

The holders were 2-0 behind after 25 minutes of the 2-2 draw and would have gone out but for Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk sending her effort over the bar in the shootout, with Chelsea’s Hampton winning the Player of the Match award.

“It has been a difficult couple of years in the England environment for me,” said the 24-year-old. “The girls have seen all the hard work I’ve put in and how they’ve helped me get to the point I am now.

“The girls have got behind me a lot. They know how tough it’s been for me in and around the England environment, and the whole team put on a performance for me. It’s a lovely moment.”

THE moment.

Try and watch this without smiling ☺️ pic.twitter.com/vCBS7QfF3E

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 17, 2025

Hannah Hampton: England ‘issues’

Manager Sarina Wiegman dropped Hampton in October 2022 while the prospect was at Aston Villa, attributing the decision to “personal issues that she has to solve” that made it “better for her to stay at her club”.

The Guardian reported that Hampton’s “behaviour and attitude” at team camps had caused her exclusion, adding that she was “unlikely to be selected again” by the Dutchwoman.

Then-Villa boss Carla Ward subsequently omitted Hampton from a game against Chelsea, although the player supported the team from the stands despite being advised to stay away.

“Hannah was available,” explained Ward. “Something happened yesterday and we decided it was in the best interests of the team for her to stay at home, so I did exactly that. That’s all I really want to say on the matter.”

Hampton kept 13 clean sheets in 22 league games as Chelsea went unbeaten and won the Women’s Super League last season, as well as succeeding Mary Earps – who retired from international football – as England’s first-choice goalkeeper.

England vs Sweden: Women’s Euro quarter final 2025

Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani and Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius struck during a dire first half for England in Zurich, where their hopes were hanging by a thread before Lucy Bronze headed in Chloe Kelly’s cross with 11 minutes remaining and 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang slotted in two minutes later.

“I would just prefer the game didn’t go to penalties and cause everyone the extra stress it did,” said Hampton, who ended the game with a bloody nose following a collision during extra time.

“We said at half-time, ‘we don’t want to go home and it’s down to us to turn the game around. We know everyone is going to put in 100% effort for the team.’ I’m just glad we stuck together.”

Sarina Wiegman: Penalties ‘crazy’

England manager Wiegman, who has won the last two editions of the tournament as England and Netherlands manager, said Hampton “made a difference”.

“We know she’s a very, very talented keeper, and she showed that absolutely during the game but also in the penalty shoot-out,” observed Wiegman, reflecting on a decider in which nine players missed spot kicks.

“It was a dramatic night; it was a very emotional night, and it went from left to right and back and forth. We went down 2-0 and were really struggling, but we fought back into the game, and the team showed so much resilience. That was just incredible.

“We made it 2-2, then we go to extra time and had some injuries and some cramp, so that was really tough. Then we got this penalty shoot-out and I’ve never experienced anything like this.

“That was so crazy. I thought three times we were out, and then they missed again, and at the end we scored one more than they did, and we’re through.”

Women’s Euro 2025: England’s Bronze buoyant

Chelsea right-back Bronze, who was part of the squad to win the 2022 finals and reach the 2023 World Cup final, called the game “so overwhelming”.

“Sweden were unbelievable – both teams deserve to go through, if I’m being honest,” the 33-year-old told womenseuro.com.

“We didn’t start particularly well; they were really strong in the game, but to finish the way we did in a penalty shoot-out, when it’s sudden death – what a way to win.

“Scoring in the game, I was ecstatic. That’s something I know I can bring to this team; I can always bring energy when we may be lacking.

“I don’t know about penalties –I’ve never taken a penalty for England [before], but I know I’m confident in my ability and in Hannah as our goalkeeper, so I knew I had to step up to take one.

“As long as I’ve been playing, we’ve always got to the semi-finals, so we couldn’t let ourselves down by not getting there.”

Sweden ‘had team to win’ Euro 2025

While England will face surprise packages Italy at the Stade de Geneve on Tuesday (20:00 BST), Sweden’s run of wins over Denmark, Poland and Germany came to an end in cruel fashion.

“I just feel empty,” said London City Lionesses forward Asllani. “We scored two early goals and were defending well.

“We created chances, so I don’t know what went wrong in those few minutes when they scored two quick goals.

“I don’t know what to say. We had the team to win this tournament.  I can’t take in what just happened.”

Women’s Euro 2025 quarter-finals

Spain meet Switzerland in Bern on Friday and France encounter Germany in Basel on Saturday (both 20:00) in the remaining quarter-finals.

“We played really well in the first half,” said Sweden manager Peter Gerhardsson. “In the second half we saw England push, and we didn’t want to pull back as far as we did, but we played against very skilful opponents.

“We came back in extra time. They got tired and we were more perky. But that analysis is pointless right now; it’s melancholy. You feel a certain sadness that it turned out this way.”

“That’s what this tournament is about,” suggested Bronze. “Two teams going head to head and then going right to the wire.”

Euro 2025 quarter-final fixtures

Wednesday, July 16

QF1: Norway 1-2 Italy (Geneva)

Thursday, July 17

QF3: Sweden 2-2 England (2-3p) (Zurich)

Friday, July 18

QF2: Spain vs Switzerland (Bern, 20:00, BBC)

Saturday, July 19

QF4: France vs Germany (Basel, 20:00, ITV)

So clean from Diani 🎯🤩#OTD || #UWNL || @equipedefranceF pic.twitter.com/NSTV4vVj46

— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) February 23, 2025

Semi-finals

Tuesday, July 22

SF1: Winner QF3 v Winner QF1 (Geneva, 20:00)

Wednesday, July 23

SF2: Winner QF4 v Winner QF2 (Zurich, 20:00)

Final

Sunday, July 27

Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (Basel, 17:00)

Women’s Euro 2025 groups: Which teams qualified?

England were given a tricky task in Group D, facing 2017 champions the Netherlands and a France team ranked 11th in the world by Fifa.

Elsewhere, eight-time champions Germany met inaugural winners and four-time finalists Sweden in Group C, while Spain’s attempt to reach the final for the first time pitted them against opponents including Italy, runners-up in 1993 and 1997.

Group A

Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland

Group B

Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal

Group C

Denmark, Germany, Poland, Sweden

Group D

England, France, Netherlands, Wales

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Who is your England number 1? 🧤#UWNL pic.twitter.com/VXpd1T5yQm

— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) March 4, 2025

Women’s Euro 2025 fixtures, schedule

Euro 2025 Group stage

Wednesday, July 2

Group A: Iceland 0-1 Finland (Thun)
Switzerland 1-2 Norway (Basel)

Thursday, July 3

Group B: Belgium 0-1 Italy (Sion)
Spain 5-0 Portugal (Bern)

Friday, July 4

Group C: Denmark 0-1 Sweden (Geneva)
Germany 2-0 Poland (St.Gallen)

Saturday, July 5

Group D: Wales 0-3 Netherlands (Lucerne)
France 2-1 England (Zurich)

Stop that, Matilda Vinberg 🥵#UWNL || @svenskfotboll pic.twitter.com/Oo1SeWrubm

— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) March 1, 2025

Sunday, July 6

Group A: Norway 2-1 Finland (Sion)
Switzerland 2-0 Iceland (Bern)

Monday, July 7

Group B: Spain 6-2 Belgium (Thun)
Portugal 1-1 Italy (Geneva)

Tuesday, July 8

Group C: Germany 2-1 Denmark (Basel)
Poland 0-3 Sweden (Lucerne)

Wednesday, July 9

Group D: England 4-0 Netherlands (Zurich)
France 4-1 Wales (St.Gallen)

Thursday, July 10

Group A: Finland 1-1 Switzerland (Geneva)
Norway 4-3 Iceland (Thun)

Last-ditch defence from Gemma Evans 💪#UWNL || @Cymru pic.twitter.com/8WfqNg5xtq

— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) March 3, 2025

Friday, July 11

Group B: Italy 1-3 Spain (Bern)
Portugal 1-2 Belgium (Sion)

Saturday, July 12

Group C: Sweden 4-1 Germany (Zurich)
Poland 3-2 Denmark (Lucerne)

Sunday, July 13

Group D: Netherlands 2-5 France (Basel)
England 6-1 Wales (St.Gallen)

How to watch Women’s Euro 2025: TV channels, live stream

In the UK, coverage will be shared between the BBC and ITV. The fixture list above shows which channel is broadcasting each match in the group stage, with the division of games in the semi-finals to be confirmed.

Fans can watch the games online and live-stream them on a vast range of devices through the BBC Sport website, BBC iPlayer app, ITV.com and the ITVX app.

Women’s Euro 2025 tickets: How to buy

Tickets range from around £22-£35 between the group stage and the quarter-finals, with the semi-finals having an upper price range of around £61 and tickets for the opening game and final ranging between around £26-£79.

For full details and to book, visit UEFA.com’s ticketing page for Women’s Euro 2025.

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