Sheffield, July 26 (BUS): On the eve of the match, striker Kozovari Aslani said Sweden will not be afraid that hosts England will be backed by passionate fans at Bramall Lane, Sheffield in the semi-finals of the European Women’s Championship.
Currently ranked second in the world, the Swedes have reached the semi-finals in several major tournaments, but failed to get past the penultimate hurdle, which includes the 2019 World Cup and Euro 2013, Reuters reports.
Sweden faces England, who won every game at home, receiving one goal and scoring 16 goals, and Aslani expects a “strong match” between two teams physically.
“It will be two teams who want to play football,” she said on Monday. “We’ve seen England play great football so far in the tournament but we think it’s a match for us.”
“We are Sweden, we love to run and that is what we will do tomorrow. Obviously England have backing at home, but we have done that before. We played against Brazil in the Maracana in 2016, with only Brazilian fans. Expect a stadium full of English fans.”
Sweden also has history on its side with England beating them only once in seven competitive matches.
“I think it will be an even match,” Aslani added. “We have our game plan and we are very excited about it.”
Sweden’s Hannah Glass and Emma Kohlberg are available again after they tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the tournament, but fellow defender Jonah Anderson missed the tournament.
Skipper and midfielder Caroline Seeger, who has not played the last two games due to injury, will be present.