BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | Womens Euro 2001

England 0-4 Sweden

England's chances of reaching the women's Euro 2001 semi-finals were dealt a crushing blow by Sweden in Jena, Germany.

Hope Powell's side were simply no match for the Swedes, who produced some top quality attacking football as they bounced back from their opening game defeat.

A goal in the second minute by Jane Tornqvist set Sweden on their way.

And from then on, a shell-shocked England failed to get any grip on the game.

Kristin Bengtsson scored a superb individual goal, while Hanna Ljungberg and Sofia Eriksson completed the rout.

England can take heart from the fact that they managed to keep the scoreline down to 4-0.

But they will be under no illusions that they face a mammouth task if they are to beat tournament favourites Germany on Saturday.

Uncertainty

Powell's decision to play a 4-5-1 formation to combat the Swedes' pace up front left the England players looking out of sorts.

And the Swedes capitalised on their uncertainty.

England got off to the worst possible start when they conceded a corner in the opening minutes.

Tornqvist was left unmarked in the England area and made no mistake with her header to give Sweden the lead.

Sweden maintained their early pressure and England could do nothing to stop the flow of their opponents' attacks.

Sweden's Malin Mostroem fights for the ball with England's Rachel Unitt
England unable to contain Sweden

Tina Nordlund was a constant threat down the right, with her pace and crosses causing the England defence numerous problems.

It was her cross that led to Sweden's second, with Bengtsson taking one touch to control the ball and then unleashing an unstoppable shot.

Angela Banks, left alone up front, failed to make her usual impact on the game and was limited to a single half-chance in the first 45 minutes.

Superior

Matters did not improve for England after the interval as Sweden ran them ragged.

The Scandanavians' superior technique and fitness levels were clear to see.

Elin Flyborg could have put the game beyond any doubt early in the second half, but fired her shot straight at Pauline Cope.

Substitute Victoria Svensson also missed a gilt-edged opportunity to seal victory for Sweden in the 59th minute, blazing over the cross bar from 10 yards out.

Powell threw on Rachel Yankey, Kelly Smith and Marieanne Spacey to bolster a flagging England attack

But the substitutions proved fruitless as Sweden extended their lead with the move of the match.

Ljungberg started and finished a superb attack, netting a well-deserved goal on 74 minutes.

It was then Eriksson's turn as she scored direct from a corner with 10 minutes left.

Cope pulled off a brilliant save to deny Ljungberg her second in added time - one of the few highlights of an otherwise disappointing England performance.

But England can have no complaints about the result which could have been a lot worse.

And they can only hope that Germany, who thrashed Russia 5-0 in the day's other game to book themselves a semi-final spot, take their foot off the pedal - completely.

England: Cope, Murphy, Marley, Chapman, Unitt, Burke, Easton, Britton, Proctor, Susan Smith, Banks. Subs: Hall, Brown, White, Fletcher, Exley, Kelly Smith, Spacey, Yankey.

Sweden: Jonsson, Westberg, Tornqvist, Marklund, Bengtsson, Mostrom, Nordlund, Eriksson, Andersson, Flyborg, Ljungberg. Subs: Thelin, Larsson, Svensson, Fagerstrom, Sjogran, Lundin, Ostberg, Call, Johansson.

Referee: Claudine Brohet (Belgium).


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