Lionesses stars identify key Sweden danger ahead of Euro 2025 quarter-final

England star Beth Mead agrees with captain Leah Williamson about the tendency of some to underestimate Euros opponents Sweden. Williamson suggested some might have been "disrespectful" to Peter Gerhardsson's side by excluding them from pre-tournament conversations, and Mead - like her Arsenal colleague - knows the opposition very well.

Fellow Arsenal star Stina Blackstenius has been leading the line brilliantly for Sweden, while former club colleague Lina Hurtig came off the bench to score the fourth goal in Saturday's statement victory over Germany. And Mead - one of several Arsenal players in England's camp - knows what to expect.

"We know a few [of Sweden's players] personally, Stina obviously from Arsenal," Mead said on That Lionesses Podcast connected by EE. "We know what we’re in for and and hopefully we can nullify that best a team, but it’s always a tough game against Sweden, we’ve played them a lot of times in tournaments especially.

"And I think that not that people underestimate them, but they’re always successful in tournaments and people sometimes I think write them off a little bit too early, when they’re a team that just goes by their business. And they looked pretty good against Germany the other night so we know what we’ve got coming but it’s going to be tough."

Mead said she was expecting a physical contest, with the pace of the Swedes a threat. Team-mate Lotte Wubben-Moy is also wary of the threat they pose on the break, highlighting counter-attacks as a particular danger.

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Speaking on Tuesday, Williamson was asked about that Sweden victory over Germany in particular. It was 3-1 at half-time, with Carlotta Wamser sent off for the Germans, with Hurtig rounding off the scoring late on.

"I said this the other day as well, maybe disrespectful is too strong a word but I do think that they deserve a little bit more recognition," the skipper said. "Germany were most people’s favourites and still probably are, but it didn’t necessarily surprise me.

"Sweden are capable of that and having played against them it’s a hard game they’re a tough opponent. But the game changed so much with the red card so it’s tough to take from it either way."

The prospect of facing off against club colleague Blackstenius is an enticing one for England's captain, and one which Williamson has addressed directly. "It’s different because playing each other in training with restrictions, it’s rare that I get to play against Stina in this setting. I enjoy it, I like Stina," she added.

"It’s tough to remove all of that to just go at it, you don’t want to focus on it too much, there’s lots of things that come into play when you play against a teammate but I think I’ve know Stina long enough now that I know who she is and it’s time to focus on us."

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