Lionesses are an 'inspiration' says former Loughborough Lightning Assistant manager
Sarah Richardson guided the Football Club to promotion this season
The Lionesses are back in action, as they take on Sweden for a spot in the final four of the 2025 Euros.
The defending champions played the same opponents in the last edition of the competition, beating them 4-0 on home soil at Bramall Lane in 2022.
The match kicks off at 8:00pm GMT at the Stadion Letzigrund- a 24,000 seater stadium in Zurich, Switzerland.
If they win the quarter-final tie, they play Italy- who beat Norway 2-1 on Wednesday night (16/07) thanks to a 90th minute equaliser.
The other semi finals will see the winner of Spain vs hosts Switzerland (18/07) face the winner of France vs Germany (19/07).
England forward Beth Mead heaped praise on "unbelievable" team-mate Ella Toone after she helped propel the team into the knock-out rounds with a goal and two assists in their final group stage game; a 6-1 victory over Wales in St Gallen.
Thanks to a 4-0 win over the Netherland previously, but hindered by a 2-1 loss to France in their opening game- England finished second in Group D, with the French claiming top spot.
Loughborough Lightning Football Club's former Assistant Manager, Sarah Richardson, guided them to promotion this season and tells us the attendance numbers for the women's game says it all:
"To see nearly half a million people attend in just the group stages alone shows that the interest in women's football isn't just growing- it's thriving.
"These numbers reflect years of hard work from players, coaches, clubs, and supporters who've consistently pushed the game forward.
"I think the momentum is there, but without consistent backing, it's hard to keep moving at the pace that this game deserves.
"Therefore, I believe sustainability and security are absolutely essential if we want to continue to build a strong future for the women's game."
Sarah added, "They've not just shown real quality on the pitch, but they've also been such powerful ambassadors for the women's game.
"Watching them perform on a stage like the Euros, under pressure, with the whole country behind them is inspiring for all of us involved in the sport."