The Lionesses were spared their blushes after Arsenal star Stina Blackstenius missed a sitter for Sweden in a 1-1 draw.
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- England had to share the spoils with Sweden
- Blackstenius could have piled misery on Sarina Weigman's troops
- Was disappointed after squandering a golden opportunity
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Despite taking the lead early in the match, Sarina Wiegman's defending European champions failed to secure a victory. It was Alessia Russo's header that gave England the lead, sparking hopes of a commanding performance. However, the Lionesses struggled to maintain their momentum, often conceding possession too easily and exposing themselves to Sweden's counter-attacking prowess.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The turning point came in the second half when Sweden's Fridolina Rolfo capitalised on a defensive lapse to level the score with a well-placed header at the back post. With the game finely poised at 1-1, Blackstenius found herself in a prime position to secure victory for Sweden. However, much to the relief of England, her strike narrowly missed the target, sparing the Lionesses from a potential defeat.
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WHAT BLACKSTEINUS SAID
Reflecting on her missed opportunity, Blackstenius expressed her disappointment: "For my part, it is a certain disappointment that I could not manage a very good position, which could have decided this match. But apart from that, a very good effort from us and a strong performance where I think there is a lot that we can take with us and an important point after all, Blackstenius analyzed for TV4 after the match. I felt that I had quite a lot of time and in that situation, I just wanted to put it in the net. But that didn't happen and it's clear that it's a frustration and a disappointment for myself. Absolutely, I could have decided the match. Can't take away that disappointment right now. But we must try to look ahead and remember that there were other things that were okay."