England should “demand greater” from one another, striker Alessia Russo has mentioned after an underwhelming begin to their Euro 2025 qualifying marketing campaign.
Sarina Wiegman’s defending European champions took the lead at Wembley Stadium on Friday because of Russo’s header however have been removed from their flowing greatest, freely giving possession too simply and searching weak to Sweden’s counter-attacking menace.
They switched off within the second half, permitting Sweden again into the sport when Fridolina Rolfo nodded in on the again publish to make it 1-1.
Drawn in a tricky group with Sweden, France and the Republic of Eire, who England face subsequent in Dublin on Tuesday, this felt like a missed alternative to capitalise in entrance of a house crowd.
Russo, who was one among England’s brightest gamers earlier than being substituted within the second half, admitted to frustrations with the efficiency.
“Sweden are a prime facet, our group is hard. We’re a very good facet too so I believe it is disappointing however we have come up in opposition to a powerful facet,” she advised ITV.
“Our requirements are excessive, we all know we are able to demand greater of one another. We’ll personal that, however throughout the board, there have been decrease requirements that we are able to enhance on.
“We struggled to determine the issues however we did get a draw. Each outcome and each level counts.”
It was a considerably flat environment at Wembley after a giant build-up earlier than kick-off with followers throwing paper aeroplanes within the second half, earlier than getting out their telephone digital camera lights as England’s efficiency dipped.
Sweden, ranked sixth on this planet, know what the Lionesses are able to having fallen to a heavy semi-final defeat at Euro 2022 on the way in which to Sarina Wiegman’s facet lifting the trophy.
However as Wiegman mentioned, this was a much more even encounter.
“This group is basically robust. In fact I am disenchanted – as a result of we all the time need to win,” she mentioned.
“On the finish of the sport, when you watch it again, we have been very near scoring a objective. Total it was a reasonably equal sport. We had extra possession of the ball however you’ll be able to see additionally how harmful their counter-attacks have been. I believe the draw displays how the sport was.”
England can even face France, ranked third on this planet, in qualifying. Solely the highest two groups from their group qualify robotically for subsequent summer season’s Euros in Switzerland, with the opposite two sides getting into the play-offs.
And former England midfielder Karen Carney mentioned the Lionesses wanted to enhance their focus for the remaining fixtures, including that Sweden have been the higher crew within the second half.
“If England have been switched on, Sweden’s objective does not occur. Lucy Bronze wasn’t paying consideration on the again publish,” she added.
“Sweden have been the higher crew within the second half. Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the Republic of Eire is a must-win. That is the group of demise and it’s actually, actually difficult.
“We’re European champions and we want three factors. It’s a large sport and the efficiency wants to enhance however we want three factors.”
Former England worldwide Ian Wright added: “England gave Sweden the impetus. We have been very poor tonight, particularly within the midfield space, the place we have been very sloppy. We’re lucky to not lose that sport.”