Sweden 'don't Fear' England At Euro 2025 - Asllani

Sweden skipper Kosovare Asllani says they "don't fear" England arsenic nan teams hole to meet successful nan Euro 2025 quarter-finals connected Thursday.

Defending champions England are classed 5th successful nan world, conscionable 1 spot supra Sweden, who vanished apical of their group.

Peter Gerhardsson's broadside picked up nan maximum 9 points, ending their group games pinch an awesome 4-1 triumph complete Germany.

Following England's 6-1 triumph complete Wales, midfielder Ella Toone told ITV Sport Sweden "should beryllium scared" - but Asllani disagrees.

"We respect England, nan squad they person and everything they person achieved truthful far. But fear? No. We don't person nan connection fearfulness successful our dictionary," said Asllani.

"We look up nan connection courage. Of people you person to respect 1 of nan champion sides successful nan world but we person nan cleanable gameplan for this match.

"We want to execute nan shot we want to represent. In our minds location is only 1 result and that is to triumph nan game."

Sweden person been 1 of nan standout performers successful nan tourney and England captain Leah Williamson said they "deserved a small spot much recognition".

Alongside England and France, Sweden person reached nan quarter-finals astatine each 5 awesome tournaments since 2017.

"I consciousness for illustration Sweden are ever flying nether nan radar. It benignant of suits us," said London City Lionesses midfielder Asllani.

"Obviously we deliberation we're 1 of nan champion teams successful nan world from what we person been doing. But group seldom speak astir america arsenic [a team] who tin triumph gold.

"We cognize we tin hit immoderate squad successful nan world erstwhile we person our champion day. People should decidedly talk astir america more."

England hit Sweden 4-0 successful nan Euro 2022 semi-finals, but nan teams drew doubly successful nan Euro 2025 qualifiers past year.

Sweden head Gerhardsson is alert of England's threats and said he was happy he personally did not person to play against Chelsea guardant Lauren James.

The 23-year-old has scored 2 goals successful 3 games and was a fistful against nan Netherlands and Wales.

"She is 1 of these players - we trained for Pernille Harder for Denmark, Ewa Pajor for Poland is simply a typical one, Lea Schuller for Germany is simply a typical 1 - James is besides a typical player," said Gerhardsson.

"I for illustration that benignant of subordinate because she has thing special, activity and things for illustration that, but she's doing nan things she thinks are correct connected nan pitch.

"As a coach sometimes, you want building - 'do that, do that'. But James, moreover if she listens to nan coach, she makes her ain decisions.

"Every coach likes that benignant of player. But I dream we tin grip her."

Sweden recorded nan astir open-play crosses during nan group shape (61) and are known for their aerial threat.

Arsenal guardant Stina Blackstenius is among nan cardinal players, alongside Chelsea winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, pinch 65% of Sweden's chances created down her correct flank.

"Johanna is astir apt nan personification I get connected champion pinch astatine Chelsea. She is 1 of my champion friends there. The point pinch Johanna is astir apt her mindset," said England defender Lucy Bronze.

"She is very competitive. I've seen that this play astatine Chelsea. She will tally done a ceramic wall for her team. How to extremity her? Hopefully she's connected nan different broadside to me."

Bronze is usually an attacking full-back for England but she could person her hands afloat against erstwhile Barcelona team-mate Fridolina Rolfo connected Thursday night.

Asked if she will person to accommodate nan measurement she plays, Bronze said: "I do immoderate [manager Sarina Wiegman] tells me. I americium successful nan positions that use nan team.

"Yeah, I for illustration to attack, but I besides for illustration to defend. We cognize nan threat Sweden has successful a batch of those wide positions, but astatine nan aforesaid clip we're a bully team.

"We don't want to alteration excessively overmuch because we want to attraction connected our strengths and what we tin bring to nan game."