Beth Mead Ties Women's Euros Record As England Thrash Sweden In Semi-Final

Beth Mead tied the record for most goals scored at a Women's European Championship as England beat Sweden 4-0 to reach the final of Euro 2022.
Arsenal forward Mead gave England the lead at Bramall Lane with her sixth goal of the tournament - which equaled the tally recorded by Germany's Inka Grings in 2009.
Mead then set up Lucy Bronze to score the game's second goal before Alessia Russo put the result beyond doubt with a clever back-heeled finish.
Fran Kirby completed the rout to send England to the final high on confidence.
Highlights: England 4-0 Sweden - Watch All The Goals Including Alessia Russo Stunner

5 - Three players have registered 5+ goal involvements so far at #WEURO2022, with all of them playing for @Lionesses - Beth Mead (6 goals, 4 assists), Alessia Russo (4 goals, 1 assist) and Fran Kirby (2 goals, 3 assists). Trio. #ENGSWE
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 26, 2022
The biggest EVER. ⚽⚽⚽⚽#WEURO2022 #BBCEuros #ENGSWE pic.twitter.com/xJcnEpqRZA
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 26, 2022
England head coach Sarina Wiegman named the same starting XI as in the previous four matches.
But Sweden looked more organized in the early exchanges and almost scored in the opening 60 seconds when Sofia Jakobsson forced Mary Earps into a sharp save.
Sweden then struck the crossbar on 10 minutes via a Stina Blackstenius header from a corner kick.
After surviving the early storm, England began to control possession and create some chances of their own.
England took the lead on 34 minutes when Bronze crossed for Mead, who controlled the ball on the half-turn before pinging a volley into the net to score her sixth goal of Euro 2022.
BETH MEAD GETS HER SIXTH GOAL OF @WEURO2022 TO PUT ENGLAND AHEAD. 😤
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) July 26, 2022
🎥: @TUDNUSA pic.twitter.com/9gsigSDR5L
Six goals in six games.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 26, 2022
Beth Mead equals the record for most goals at a single women's Euros 💥 pic.twitter.com/BLmGhPoC8v
The roles were reversed for England's second goal, which arrived two minutes into the second half.
Mead's deep corner was met by Bronze, who planted a precise header back across the six-yard box and inside the far post.
LUCY BRONZE MAKES IT TWO FOR ENGLAND. 🏴
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) July 26, 2022
🎥: @TUDNUSA pic.twitter.com/A9bhQJiOsc
GOAL #ENGSWE!
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 26, 2022
After a lengthy VAR check, Lucy Bronze's header is confirmed onside, giving England their second goal of the night. #WEURO2022 #ENG 2-0 #SWE pic.twitter.com/pJnWJQPADu
England should have made it 3-0 just before the hour-mark when substitute Russo fed Lauren Hemp, but the Manchester City starlet was unable to find the target from three yards.
But that miss did not cost England because Russo had something special up her sleeve.
With 22 minutes left on the clock, the Manchester United ace saw her initial effort saved by Hedvig Lindahl before catching the keeper by surprise with a cheeky follow-up.
BACKHEEL. 😳
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) July 26, 2022
NUTMEG. 🥜
ALESSIA RUSSO WITH THE GOAL OF THE @WEURO2022 TOURNAMENT. 🤯
🎥: @TUDNUSA pic.twitter.com/XzAMgCX9xF
Russo appeared to have missed her chance but she got to the rebound and managed to improvise a shot which squeezed through Lindahl's legs.
Lindahl's night got even worse on 77 minutes when she got her hands to a lobbed shot from Kirby but failed to keep it out.
FRAN KIRBY PUTS IT ON ICE FOR ENGLAND. 😤
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) July 26, 2022
🎥: @TUDNUSApic.twitter.com/LWDEd45e7q
"It's coming home", chanted England fans inside Bramall Lane. The Lionesses now need just one more victory to make that dream a reality.
England will meet either France or Germany at a sold-out Wembley Stadium on Sunday.