sport news England 1-1 Sweden: Defending champions held in opening Euro 2025 qualifier ... trends now England's defence of their European title got off to a disappointing start Alessia Russo put England ahead but Fridolina Rolfo equalised for Sweden Jurgen Klopp has the eye of the tiger! He hasn't seemed this confident since 2019 - Listen to the It's All Kicking Off podcast By Kathryn Batte Published: 22:01 BST, 5 April 2024 | Updated: 22:11 BST, 5 April 2024 Viewcomments If England are to defend their European title in Switzerland next summer then it will have to get better than this. At the stadium where the Lionesses lifted this trophy, they were given a stark reminder that the shine of silverware does not last forever. This was the Lionesses’ most lacklustre performance at Wembley since Sarina Wiegman’s reign began and they were lucky to escape with a point. The last time England had played Sweden was their 4-0 victory in the semi-final of Euro 2022, a game remembered for Alessia Russo’s back-heel. There was a sense of deja vu when the forward gave the hosts a first half lead, but the Swedes deserved an equaliser and got one through Fridolina Rolfo just past the hour mark. On the balance of chances, Sweden should have won this game, but Stina Blackstenius could only fire wide when clean through on goal. Alessia Russo put England ahead in the first-half against Sweden in the Euro 2025 qualifier The striker nodded in Lauren James' clever cross in the 24th minute on Friday night If England needed any proof that this qualification group for next summer’s tournament will not be easy, then this was it. The Nations League format means they have been drawn against two of the top six ranked nations in the world in Sweden and France and an improving side in the Republic of Ireland, who they face in Dublin next week. The truth is, with England in League A, it is harder not to qualify for next summer’s tournament. The top two teams progress automatically while the other two countries will face a two-legged play-off with a nation from League C. But Wiegman will be desperate to avoid the second option. England had come into this fixture after comprehensive victories over Austria and Italy during a warm-weather training camp in February but Sweden were always going to provide a sterner test. This was the Lionesses first fixture at Wembley this year but atmosphere was flat, which was not helped in part by the football for much of the first half. The one piece of quality, though, provided the opening goal. Lauren James skipped past Jonna Andersson and chipped a delightful cross into Russo, who threw herself at the ball to head past Jennifer Falk. But it was a lead that always felt slender and just past the hour mark it was relinquished. It was a well-worked goal from Sweden but poor defending by England, as Rosa Kafaji’s cross picked out an un-marked Rolfo to head home at the back-post. Blackstenius should have put Sweden in front minutes later when she was played through on goal, but the forward could only send her effort wide. England then had two chances at the other end, as Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead forced decent saves from Falk. Fridolina Rolfo equalised for the visitors in the 64th minute against England at Wembley Rolfo crept in behind Barcelona team-mate Lucy Bronze to head in at the back post Sweden's Stina Blackstenius missed a great chance to secure victory when she fired wide MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS England (4-3-3): Earps, Bronze, Wubben-Moy, Greenwood, Charles (Carter 78), Walsh, Stanway, Clinton (Toone 57), Hemp, Russo (Kelly 78), James (Mead 68) Subs not used: Hampton, Toone, Williamson, Kirby, Daly, Park, Rendell, Morgan, Turner Goals: Russo 24 Manager: Sarina Wiegman Sweden (4-3-3): Falk, Lundkvist, Sembrant, Eriksson, Andersson (Nilden 62), Angeldahl (Rubensson 75), Asllani (Kafaji 62), Olme, Rytting Kaneryd, Blackstenius (Anvegard 86), Rolfo (Janogy 86) Subs not used: Musovic, Enblom, Janogy, Vinberg, Jakobsson, Kullberg, Bennison, Rybrink Goals: Rolfo 64 Manager: Peter Gerhardsson Advertisement Lucy Bronze had said before this game that it would be a ‘next-level’ achievement to win back-to-back European championships. Before England can even think about that, they have to get there first. Friday evening proved that the road to Switzerland will not be without its bumps. Read more: Share or comment on this article: England 1-1 Sweden: Defending champions held in opening Euro 2025 qualifier as Alessia Russo's first-half header is cancelled out by Fridolina Rolfo at Wembley All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility