A surprising turn occurred in the group stage of the Women's European Football Championship, when the English national team received an extremely favorable draw after finishing second in the group.
Initial expectations were that finishing in second place would be unfavorable, but the analysis shows exactly the opposite. The rivalry between France and the Netherlands in the last round of the group stage created unexpected prerequisites for the English team.
France's 5:2 victory over the Netherlands finally determined the positions, leaving the English team to avoid a match with leading teams Germany and Spain. Experts are already defining this as a strategic opportunity for advancement.
Former footballer Toni Dugan categorically stated that second place is "definitely better", emphasizing the advantages of the current draw. The upcoming quarter-final match against Sweden is shaping up to be an extremely intriguing match.
Statistical data shows that Sweden's chances of tournament victory are significantly lower compared to the German team - only 6% versus 14% for the German national team.
Historical results between the two teams are extremely interesting. England won the memorable Euro 2022 semi-final with an impressive 4:0, but recent matches in the Nations League ended in a draw.
An additional intriguing moment is that with a potential success against Sweden, the English team will face a team outside the top 10 in the world - Italy or Norway, which further increases their chances of reaching the final.
Coach Sarina Wiegman will need to mobilize her team to the maximum, considering that they have a shorter recovery period - they will play on Thursday instead of Saturday.
The Scandinavian team demonstrated exceptional form in the group stage, convincingly defeating Germany 4:1 and winning all three of their matches without conceding more than one goal.
Former footballer Fran Kirby noted that Sweden has an extremely experienced squad and that the upcoming match will be extremely contested.
Historical data shows that both teams are among the most consistent in European women's football, having reached semi-finals in the last three major championships.
Regardless of the final result, this match promises to be one of the most attractive sporting events in the women's football calendar this year.