MK-born football star Leah Williamson featured but suffered an injury as England reached the semi-finals of Euro 2025.

The England captain started England’s quarter final against Sweden on Thursday night but was substituted during extra time after sustaining an ankle injury.

A chaotic match in Zurich saw England beat Sweden on penalties to set up a semi-final clash against Italy on Tuesday (22/07), with the Lionesses coming from 2-0 down before winning a penalty shoot-out in which they and Sweden missed a combined nine penalties.

Kosovare Asllani had put Sweden in front inside the opening two minutes before Williamson’s Arsenal colleague Stina Blackstenius put the Swedes 2-0 up after 25 minutes.

England had chances but looked like they might be frustrated in their attempts at a comeback until they scored two goals in less than three minutes to wipe out Sweden’s advantage.

Lucy Bronze made it 2-1 in the 79th minute before substitute Michelle Agyemang scrambled in an equaliser just two minutes later.

With no goals in the remainder of the 90 or in extra time, that meant penalties and a remarkable shootout with nine of the combined 14 penalties missed. England saw four separate penalties saved by Swedish goalkeeper Jennifer Falk, who herself missed a spot-kick when she put Sweden’s fifth spot kick over.

The decisive moment came when Bronze scored England’s seventh kick of the shootout before Smilla Holmberg missed the target with her spot-kick, confirming England’s progression.

The Lionesses have now reached the semi finals in three consecutive European championships, having lost the final to the Netherlands in 2017 before beating Germany at Wembley Stadium in the 2022 final.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Williamson said she found it a tough watch but she was delighted the team showed the mentality to come from 2-0 down to triumph.

She said, “I just feel really, really proud. That was awful to watch at the end but the girls, I just know that we don’t ever give up and we’ve said it before, we’re never done, we never believe that we’re ever done and the fightback, the quality to turn the game around and then stay in it mentality, just incredible.

“I said we’ve played three finals in a row, in terms of if you lose you’re going home and we have the belief, we have the proof, it’s just about turning up and doing the job, so I’m a happy girl today.”

Discussing Williamson’s injury since that game, England manager Sarina Wiegman has said that the Arsenal defender’s condition will be assessed ahead of the clash with the Italians, which takes place at 8pm on Tuesday night UK time in Geneva.

Williamson’s fellow defender Esme Morgan, who played as a substitute against Sweden, said that the team are confident Williamson will be fit in time for the semi-final.

In a press conference on Saturday (19/07) where she spoke to assembled media including the BBC, she said, “She seemed in very high spirits this morning. I want what’s best for the team, and that’s absolutely having our captain on the pitch.

“It is the same as every single game – be prepared to play if I’m needed, know the role, just be absolutely ready and train at a high level over the next few days. But we’re very optimistic that Leah will be fine.”