Women's Euro 2025: Lionesses qualify after draw with Sweden
Lionesses are through to Euros 2025, ITV News' Martha Fairlie reports on the match they had against Sweden
The Lionesses automatically secured their place in the Euro 2025 tournament after a 0-0 draw with Sweden.
France's shock defeat to Ireland on Tuesday evening meant any victory for England would have seem them top the group, earning a valuable seeding for the Euro 2025 finals.
The team will still defend their European crown in Switzerland next year, but the stalemate meant England landed a second-place finish in Group A3.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, the team's only real chances came from Georgia Stanway and Lucy Bronze.
The result came after England manager Sarina Wiegman had said in a pre-match press conference: “We never play a match to draw, we play a match to win."
They may be the reigning European champions of the women's sport, but having kicked off their qualifying campaign in April with a 1-1 draw against Sweden at Wembley, Wiegman knew what problems their opponents posed.
“They’re a very structured team, have lots of experience, they can also play direct and want to get really behind our defence, so we have to be aware of that too,” she added.
“They’ve always been in the top level so we’re aware of that and will be prepared.”
Captain Leah Williamson admitted she was “devastated” by the England men's team's Euro 2024 final defeat but is “fully focused” on helping the Lionesses secure their qualification tonight.
Williamson skippered the women’s team to Euros glory in 2022 and believes fans have been “blessed with incredible tournaments” from England sides in recent years.
“I think what Gareth (Southgate) and his team have done over the last three, four years reaching finals and bringing that dream closer to reality, I think we’re very lucky as fans of England, men’s and women’s, to be in the position that we’re in," she said.
“We didn’t quite get over the line to a fantastic Spanish team and I know they’ll be devastated about it, it’ll take a while, I think, for them to get over it.
“But us as a country, I think we’ve been blessed with incredible tournaments and when those wins come, which I do believe they will, then they’ll be even sweeter.”
England had moved one step closer to securing a spot at next summer’s tournament in Switzerland thanks to a 2-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland on Friday.
Williamson knew direct qualification would be beneficial for the team’s preparations rather than having to take the additional step of a play-off game.
“We are reigning champions, and we want to be at the tournament first and foremost, but securing qualification means you have a year to prepare and you know where you’re going to be," she said.
“The later you leave it, the more that can be a detriment to your preparations, it’s important to us.”
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…