Sweden vs Belgium LIVE: Result and reaction as Sweden dramatically set up semi-final against England

Defender Linda Sembrant fired a stoppage-time winner to give Sweden a 1-0 win over Belgium and set up a Euro 2022 semi-final against hosts England next Tuesday.

The Swedes kept Belgium pinned back for most of the first half and should have taken the lead when Stina Blackstenius slotted the ball home in the 25th minute. However, a VAR review showed that she was just offside when Kosovare Asllani passed her the ball and the goal was chalked off.

The second half was almost identical with the Swedes pouring forward and the Belgium defence standing resolute, and goalkeeper Nicky Evrard pulled off a brilliant reflex save to deny Blackstenius in the 73rd minute.

The game looked to be heading for extra time when the Swedes won a corner in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, and Sembrant reacted quickest to rifle the ball home to send the Swedes through to the last four.

Follow all the reaction from the Euro 2022 quarter-final as Sweden join England and Germany in the next round:

Sweden vs Belgium

• Last-gasp winner sends Sweden into Euro 2022 semi-finals to face England

• FULL-TIME! Sweden 1-0 Belgium

• 90+2’ - GOAL! Sembrant lashes home late winner! (Swe 1-0 Bel)

• HALF-TIME! Sweden 0-0 Belgium

• 26’ - NO GOAL! Blackstenius’s cool finish chalked off by VAR for offside (Swe 0-0 Bel)

• Winner will face England in Tuesday’s semi-final

• Sweden topped group C with Belgium second in Group D

Sweden clinch last minute winner to sink Belgium and reach semi-finals

22:00 , Michael Jones

Your heart goes out for the Belgium players especially Nicky Evrard who was exceptional in goal. They defended so ferociously all night but conceded in the very last minute of the game.

It’s a heartbreaking way to get knocked out of the tournament.

Sweden clinch last minute winner to sink Belgium and reach semi-finals

21:56 , Michael Jones

Full-time: Sweden 1-0 Belgium

21:53 , Michael Jones

90+3 mins: There’s hardly time for a restart and Sweden are through!

They’ll face England at Bramall Lane on Tuesday for a place in the Euro 2022 final.

GOAL! Sweden 1-0 Belgium (90+2’, Sembrant)⚽️

21:49 , Michael Jones

90+2 mins: Sweden have done it! Asllani swings a corner kick into the box from the right side and puts it right into the six yard area. It bounces down to Amanda Ilestedt whose shot gets deflected into the path of Linda Sembrant.

The centre-back does no wrong and lifts it over the goalkeeper to smash it into the back of the net and put Sweden into the semi-finals!

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:47 , Michael Jones

90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play. Three minutes for someone to get a winner or else this is heading into extra-time.

Dhont fizzes a cross in from the right but puts it straight into the hands of Hedvig Lindahl.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:44 , Michael Jones

88 mins: A goal for either side now would surely seal a spot in the semi-finals however the game does have the feel of a 0-0 after extra-time, let’s decide it with penalties.

Sweden very dominant but can’t score, Belgium compact and their goalkeeper is having a blinder.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:42 , Michael Jones

85 mins: A deflected cross from Nilden drops for Rolfo who stops the ball dead then scuffs her left-footed shot well wide of goal.

Filippa Angeldal is taken off with Hanna Bennison replacing her.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:39 , Michael Jones

82 mins: Chance! Belgium come as close as they have all night to scoring. A chipped pass from midfield sees Dhont sweep down the right side before drilling one at goal from just inside the penalty area.

She strikes it well but the ball just curves away and lands in the side-netting.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:36 , Michael Jones

79 mins: Lovely play from Sweden see them work the ball up to Rolfo who flicks it back to Asllani. She shoots but her effort deflected out to Nilden who wins another corner.

Nothing comes from this one either.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:33 , Michael Jones

76 mins: De Neve blocks another cross out behind and Sweden win yet another corner. Can they create something from this one as well?

It gets curled into the box and flicked on to Bjorn. She tries to take her first time and scuffs the attempted volley wide of the post.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:30 , Michael Jones

73 mins: Save! A Swedish free kick is swung into the box and the initial ball is cleared. Sweden recycle it and pick out Blackstenius in the six-yard area. The forward heads it towards goal and from point blank range Evrard dives to her right and pushes it wide!

Fantastic stop from the goalkeeper.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:27 , Michael Jones

70 mins: Belgium look increasingly more tired but Sweden are lacking creativity. A corner is swung over everyone’s heads before Bjorn jogs out to collect it. She flicks a cross back over to the far post where Asllani pops up and heads it wide.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:26 , Michael Jones

67 mins: Belgium have a good chance to create something from a counter attack as substitute Elena Dhont drives down the right side. She brings the ball into the box then looks lost trying to decide whether to pass or shoot. She does neither and Sweden manage to get back and dispossess her.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:22 , Michael Jones

64 mins: Sweden have done everything but score in this second half. Belgium have been properly penned into their own half and it seems like a matter of time before they concede.

The Swedes win a corner that Asllani swings straight into the side-netting of the goal.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:18 , Michael Jones

60 mins: Close! Linda Sembrant knocks the ball up to Kosovare Asllani who lays it off to Filippa Angeldal. Angeldal carries the ball a couple of steps closer to the penalty area before belting another long ranged effort.

She hits it well and gets a hint of dip but the effort skims the top of the crossbar and goes over.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:15 , Michael Jones

56 mins: Sweden have an attack break down as Asllani fails to get a shot away before committing a foul trying to recover the ball. At the other end of the pitch Belgium try to pick out Tessa Wullaert but the winger looks a bit tired which isn’t good news for the Red Flames, she’s been their most threatening player.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:10 , Michael Jones

53 mins: Janice Cayman’s cross from the right is too easy for Hedvig Lindahl to pluck out of the air. The Swedish keeper has kept her head tonight, she’s not had much to do so far but has remained switched on whenever Belgium get close to her box.

Contrast that to Nicky Evrard who’s had to make four or five decent saves already for the Red Flames. Both goalkeepers are enjoying strong performances for different reasons.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:06 , Michael Jones

50 mins: Off the bar!

Kosovare Asllani is seeing more of the ball in this half and is already causing trouble up the pitch. She chests down a forward pass before dinking it over to Amanda Ilestedt who whips a head onto the ball and rattles it into the crossbar!

The offside flag goes up though so it wouldn’t have counted even if the ball snuck in.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:04 , Michael Jones

48 mins: Chance! Sweden have started quickly in the second half. Amanda Nilden flies down the left wing and tries to square it across to Kosovare Asllani. The pass is blocked but bounces kindly to Fridolina Rolfo who belts a shot straight into the arms of Nicky Evrard.

Second half: Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:02 , Michael Jones

Kick off: It’s Belgium who get the match restarted. There’s no changes from either manager as play resumes. The Red Flames boot it long and Sweden get the ball under control.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

21:00 , Michael Jones

Here’s a look at the disallowed goal. Onside or offside?

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:51 , Michael Jones

Stina Blackstenius thought she had scored the opener but the VAR call went against her. The game is still goalless at the break.

Half-time: Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:47 , Michael Jones

45+1 mins: So the third quarter-final of the Women’s Euro 2022 heads into half-time with the teams on level terms.

Sweden will wonder how they aren’t in front, especially when they watch replays of the disallowed goal. The offside call was very close.

Belgium have been more reserved but on the few occasions that they got up the pitch they proved capable of threatening the Swedes.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:45 , Michael Jones

42 mins: Sweden may need to get to the break and reset. They’ve thrown wave after wave at Belgium and only scored once but that was ruled out.

It’s properly pouring down now as well which makes it tricky to account for the bounce of the ball as it skips off the turf.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:40 , Michael Jones

38 mins: Close! Tessa Wullaert has arguably been Belgium best player, she’s certainly been their biggest threat out on the left side. She receives the ball and carries it up to the penalty area before cutting inside onto her right foot.

Wullaert then lifts the ball over to the back post where Janice Cayman is arriving. Hedvig Lindahl decides to come out and punch the ball clear, taking it off the nose of Cayman to get it away.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:37 , Michael Jones

35 mins: Davina Philtjens collects a yellow and will miss the semi-final if Belgium make it through.

The free kick is pumped long into the box. There’s a wild shot that hits a Swedish player who knocks the ball back towards goal. De Caigny is back to head it away but Blackstenius collects and fizzes over another cross that ends up crossing the byline.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:32 , Michael Jones

32 mins: Chance! Belgium work the ball up the left side before playing it to the edge of the box for Tine De Caigny. She lays it off to Justine Vanhaevermaet who takes a touch to set herself before driving a shot wide of the far post.

It only just goes wide too. Sweden will need to be aware of that the next time Belgium have space near the box.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:30 , Michael Jones

29 mins: Sweden have been the more aggressive team and that disallowed goal has just spurred them on. Nathalie Bjorn drives into the left side of the box and gives the ball to Fridolina Rolfo.

She carries on to the byline and looks for the cross but belts her effort straight out of play.

NO GOAL! Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:28 , Michael Jones

26 mins: Reprieve for the Red Flames! The goal was sent for a VAR check and Stina Blackstenius’s goal has been ruled out for offside!

It’s an incredibly close call and Belgium have got away with one.

GOAL! Sweden 1-0 Belgium (25’ Blackstenius)⚽️

20:25 , Michael Jones

25 mins: Sweden take the lead! Belgium have the ball deep in the Swedish half but it gets cleared out to Kosovare Asllani who threads a perfect pass between the lines to send Stina Blackstenius in behind.

Blackstenius has a lot of work to do yet, but drives into the box and side-foots her finish past Nicky Evrard.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:24 , Michael Jones

21 mins: Julie Biesmans tracks Johanna Rytting Kaneryd into the right side of the Belgium box and manages to nick the ball off her before turning it behind.

The ball goes out off the Swedish winger but the referee awards a corner.

The set piece is swung over to Nathalie Bjorn who nods the ball dwon before lifting a shot over the crossbar.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:18 , Michael Jones

18 mins: Sweden’s intensity is causing problems for Belgium. The Red Flames have had a lot of defending to do in these opening 20 minutes or so and they seem a touch off the pace when in possession.

It’s hard work for them at the minute.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:15 , Michael Jones

15 mins: Oh my, that was close.

A cross comes into the Belgium box picking out Amanda Ilestedt on the right side after the defender pushes up for the first time in the match.

Ilestedt whips a header at Nicky Evrard who palms the ball away but only into the path of Stina Blackstenius. The forward tries to get the ball under control but fumbles over it and the goalkeeper dives across and safely smothers the ball.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:12 , Michael Jones

12 mins: Chance! Belgium are caught in possession deep in their own half and the ball rolls out to Stina Blackstenius. She brings it into the box before pulling it back to Filippa Angeldal who side-foots her first time effort over the crossbar.

That’s three good chances for Angeldal now and she’s only found the target with one.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:10 , Michael Jones

9 mins: Angeldal has another shy at goal meeting a cleared ball on the volley and smashing it high and wide.

Belgium work the ball to the other end of the pitch and win themselves a corner. It’s curled over to the far side of the penalty area where it bounces through to Johanna Rytting Kaneryd who clears the Swedish lines.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:07 , Michael Jones

6 mins: Save! Nicky Evrard is called into action early on after Belgium fall away from Filippa Angeldal’s driving run through midfield.

Space opens up in front of her and she smokes a fine effort at goal forcing the goalkeeper to leap to her left and palm it wide of the post.

Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:04 , Michael Jones

3 mins: Nearly! Davina Philtjens is given the ball on the left side of the pitch and sends it forward to Marie Minnaert. Linda Sembrant intercepts but Minnaert closes her down and recovers the ball.

She brings it to the edge of the box before running into trouble and turning back. A pass to Tine De Caigney keeps the move alive and Minnaert heads out wide to provide a crossing option.

She fizzes a good cross into the middle but can’t pick out a team mate. Solid early pressure from Belgium.

Kick off: Sweden 0-0 Belgium

20:01 , Michael Jones

Sweden kick off the first half. They are the overwhelming favourites to win this game but Belgium won’t make it easy for them. This is the first time the two sides have met in a major tourament and both will feel as though they have the skills to win.

Sweden vs Belgium

19:56 , Michael Jones

The national anthems are sung, the players are ready. Who will make it through to the next round and set up a semi-final with England?

Let’s find out...

Sweden vs Belgium

19:54 , Michael Jones

The players are ready in the tunnel. There’s a lot of determined looking faces on both sides.

Sweden lead the way out onto the pitch.

Pre-match thoughts of Belgium boss

19:48 , Michael Jones

Belgium manager, Ives Serneels, says that his team did not get this far just to throw away their chance at reaching the Euros semi-finals and have a fighting mentality to go as far into the tournament as possible.

“We’ve already secured our first objective, which was qualifying for the quarter-finals.” he said, “But that does not mean that now we will not have a fighting mentality. We did not come this far to give it away.

“It’s hard to say what kind of game we will have. We are ready and everybody is fit in team Belgium, so I’ll bring the strongest team. But we’ll see how it goes.”

Sweden vs Belgium

19:45 , Michael Jones

The Belgium team have completed their warm-ups. They are ready for the quarter-final.

Pre-match thoughts of Sweden boss

19:42 , Michael Jones

“Belgium are a well organised team both defensively and offensively.” said Peter Gerhardsson, Sweden’s head coach.

“They are maybe the team of all the ones that we are going to meet that are most like a league [club] team, because you can see that they have spent a lot of time together.

“I hope we can continue with the things we’ve done. We have done very well defensively in all three games but the attacking play didn’t click as much until we played against Portugal. Hopefully we can keep working on that.”

Players to watch: Tine De Caigny

19:36 , Michael Jones

The 25-year-old struck the winner in the Matchday 3 success against Italy to secure only the Red Flames’ second Euros victory.

She is the only Belgian to have played every minute in both their Euro 2017 and 2022 group stage campaigns.

De Caigny was the top scorer overall in qualifying for Euro 2022, hitting 12 goals in her seven appearances, eight of them coming against Lithuania – five in a 6-0 home victory and three more away (9-0).

She has continued that form into the 2023 World Cup qualifiers, striking ten times in her eight outings including a hat-trick in a 19-0 win against Armenia on 25 November.

Players to watch: Stina Blackstenius

19:30 , Michael Jones

The 26-year-old Swede registered six attempts on target in the 2022 group stage with no player managing more.

Her goal in added time against Portugal on Matchday 3 was the Arsenal striker’s third in her five starts at the Euros.

Blackstenius struck in Sweden’s quarter-final ties at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic tournaments, and the 2019 World Cup.

The forward was the leading scorer with six goals as Sweden won the UEFA European Women’s Under-19 Championship in 2015.

Sweden vs Belgium

19:24 , Michael Jones

They come into the game as underdogs but can Belgium shock Sweden tonight and set up a semi-final with England?

Austria coach says England and Germany ‘pretty much on the same level’

19:18 , Michael Jones

Austria coach Irene Fuhmann believes there is little to choose between England and Germany at the Women’s Euro 2022.

Fuhmann’s side were beaten 2-0 by the Germans, although the result was only secured after Alexandra Popp capitalised on a 90th-minute error by goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger to add to Lina Magull’s first-half goal.

The eight-time winners are the second team into the semi-finals after hosts England but Austria’s coach cannot choose between the two as favourites.

Austria coach says England and Germany ‘pretty much on the same level’

Sweden vs Belgium

19:12 , Michael Jones

These sides have been paired together for the first time in nearly 13 years.

Sweden recorded a 4-1 away win in the last encounter, a qualifier for the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Leuven in October 2009

They had won 2-1 in Gothenburg a month earlier with current Blågult attacker Kosovare Asllani opening the scoring and Sweden have won all four meetings with the Red Flames, scoring 13 goals, conceding just three.

‘Well-coached’ Belgium could cause upset

19:06 , Michael Jones

Swedish defender, Magdalena Eriksson says that Belgium have a ‘clear ethos’ and are ‘well-coached’ which could cause some problems this evening if they are underestimated.

“Belgium seem like a very well-coached team.” she said, “They played like a team and through every third of the pitch you can see they have a clear ethos.

“Even when they played Italy, who were higher-ranked, you could see that they had their idea and they went with it. They really look like a strong group.”

Swedish fans arrive at Leigh Sports Village

19:00 , Michael Jones

I think the Sweden supporters might be up for this one tonight.

Belgium’s Euros history

18:54 , Michael Jones

Belgium made their major tournament debut at Euro 2017, finishing third in Group A behind eventual winners the Netherlands and Denmark, who would also reach the final. The Red Flames’ sole win came on Matchday 2, with Ives Serneels’ side earning a 2-0 success against Norway in Breda.

The Red Flames secured their place at only their second Euros by winning Group H in qualifying thanks to seven victories in their eight matches. The exception was a 2-1 loss to eventual runners-up Switzerland in Thun in September 2020.

Belgium have advanced to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in their history, overtaking Iceland to take second place in Group D on Matchday 3 courtesy of a 1-0 win against Italy.

The Red Flames had drawn 1-1 with Iceland in their group opener before a 2-1 defeat to section winners France.

Sweden vs Belgium: Line-ups

18:50 , Michael Jones

Sweden XI: Lindahl, Ilestedt, Sembrant, Nilden, Eriksson, Angeldal, Asllani, Bjorn, Rytting Kaneryd, Blackstenius, Rolfo

Belgium XI: Evrard, Deloose, Kees, De Neve, Philtjens, Biesmans, Vanhaevermaet, Minnaert, Cayman, De Caigny, Wullaert

Sweden’s Euros history

18:42 , Michael Jones

Sweden are searching for a first continental title since 1984 and will take on Belgium for the first time at a major tournament in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Euro 2022.

They topped Group C with seven points, finishing first on goal difference ahead of the Netherlands. The Blågult recorded victories over Switzerland (2-1) and Portugal (5-0) after 1-1 a Matchday 1 draw with the Oranje.

Sweden’s qualification ensured they have reached at least the last eight of this tournament in all 11 of their appearances, and have won their group four times.

The Swedish team talk Belgium

18:36 , Michael Jones

Belgium are into the knockout stages of the Women’s European Championship for the first time in only their second appearance at the tournament but they face a difficult match against Sweden to progress.

"Their result against France was very impressive," Sweden midfielder Nathalie Bjorn said. "We have had trouble in the past unlocking defences that play deep so we’re going to have to see how the game develops. It’s a tough team to face and they’re very compact."

Sweden assistant coach, Magnus Wikman, added: “Belgium are relatively good at everything and maybe that will mean this match has more flow than our previous ones.”

Germany reach Euro 2022 semi-finals with hard-fought win over plucky Austria

18:30 , Michael Jones

England were the first side to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2022 after they snuck past Spain in extra-time on Wednesday night before they were joined last night by Germany.

At the end of a fierce and brutal contest, Alexandra Popp typified Germany’s fight. The striker’s goal to seal her country’s 2-0 win over Austria will not make any highlight reels at the end of Euro 2022, but her perseverance in charging down goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger represents the sort of relentless, suffocating power that could carry Germany to yet another European title this summer.

Germany rode their luck at times – with Austria hitting the post twice as well as the crossbar – and faced spells of significant pressure in Brentford.

Their response was unwavering and controlled, strangling any last fight out of Austria to advance to the semi-finals. Quite simply, after failing to reach this stage last time out, the eight-time champions are back to where they expect to be.

Germany reach Euro 2022 semi-finals with hard-fought win over plucky Austria

‘We have reached our goal but will go for it against Sweden’ says Wullaert

18:24 , Michael Jones

This has already been a good tournament for Belgium whose goal before the start of Euro 2022 was to reach the knockout stages and make it out of a group containing, Iceland, Italy and France.

They achieved their aim on the final matchday of the group stages and forward Tessa Wullaert says that the Red Flames will do their best to get further into the competition.

“We have reached our goal, but we will go for it 100% against Sweden.” sahe said, “We have had one day less than Sweden day to recover, so it is important to rest well.

“We don’t have much to lose, but we’re certainly not going to make it easy for them. We have to prove to ourselves what we can do. We’ll see where that takes us.”

Early team news for Belgium

18:18 , Michael Jones

Amber Tysiak will return - likely to the substitutes’ bench - after serving a one-match suspension.

The Red Flames may name an unchanged line-up, which would see Hannah Eurlings continue up front after making her first start of the tournament in the win over Italy.

How can I watch?

18:12 , Michael Jones

The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Friday 22nd July at Leigh Sports Village.

It will be shown live on BBC Two, with coverage starting from 7:30pm and can also be viewed on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Rolfö on Sweden’s ‘favourites’ tag

18:06 , Michael Jones

Sweden forward Fridolina Rolfö believes that her team can go far in Euro 2022 and possibly win the whole competition after they grew into the group stages to finish top of Group C.

They are the heavy favourites to win tonight’s quarter-final but Rolfö does not think that brings any added pressure to the team.

“[Being favourites is] something we have to learn how to handle.” she said, “We have come here saying that we want to go a long way and we need to show that too.

“We are expected to win this match; now we have to live up to that. We want to fight for the medals so we have to win this match and demonstrate what we can do.”

Early team news for Sweden

18:00 , Michael Jones

Sweden defenders Hanna Glas and Emma Kullberg are doubts for tonight’s Euro 2022 quarter-final against Belgium after both players tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

Veteran midfielder Caroline Seger, Sweden’s most-capped player, has been out with a heel injury, but could return for Friday’s game and Jonna Andersson missed Thursday’s training session with mild cold symptoms.

Sweden vs Belgium

17:51 , Michael Jones

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the third quarter-final from the Women’s European Championship as Sweden take on Belgium.

The match gets underway at 8pm at Leight Sports Village with Sweden the favourites to progress to the next round. Belgium have already played a vital game in this tournament though. They had to defeat Italy on the final matchday of the group stages to make it this far and will be prepared to throw everything at the Swedes this evening.

A semi-final place awaits the winner who will face Sarina Wiegman’s England on Tuesday after they progress through their own last-eight fixture with a 2-1 victory over Spain.