'You don't ever write us off' - Hampton thrilled after dramatic England comeback

Hannah Hampton said that England should never be written off after they clinched a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Sweden to book their place in the Euro 2025 semi-finals.

England had looked on the verge of an exit after falling 2-0 behind thanks to Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius, but two goals in the second half from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, which then went to penalties.

Alessia Russo scored the first, and Hampton denied Filippa Angeldahl, before the Lionesses saw three consecutive penalties saved by Jennifer Falk.

Chloe Kelly did pull England level, but Falk missed her own spot-kick to force sudden death. Both goalkeepers made another save apiece before Bronze rifled her effort into the roof of the net, with Smilla Holmberg's skied effort sending the defending champions through.

England have progressed from all four of their quarter-finals at the Euros, the best 100% ratio, while they have reached the final four in three consecutive editions for the first time.

And the Lionesses have now won all three of their penalty shootouts under Sarina Wiegman, having lost each of their previous four.

Hampton was delighted England managed to pull through despite her nerves, praising the fans behind the goal for giving her an extra push.

"It has all gone so quick, the last little bit in the penalty shootout!," she told BBC Sport.

"We're very happy. You can see the celebrations; the fans were behind us the whole game. Even when we were 2-0 down, they knew we could bring this back, and you don't ever write us off.

"It was stressful. Stressful watching, stressful playing.

"Every time I saved one, I was just thinking 'please put it in, so we have a bit of a cushion!' I'm just happy and relieved now.

"It [the fans' support] helps you get a bit of an edge and push you on, stretch a little extra for each dive and put more power in. They were definitely behind me, and I appreciate all the support."

England became the first ever team to progress from a knockout tie at the Euros, having trailed by two or more goals.

Since the start of Euro 2022, the Lionesses' substitutes, in this case Agyemang, have scored four result-altering goals (all in knockout games), more than any other nation in this period.

While Bronze had the deciding say, in what is her sixth major tournament, she praised the substitutes' impact, with Kelly taking just 63 seconds to set up the right-back's goal.

"It was a rollercoaster," she said. "Both underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time. A crazy game, as a player, and for fans too.

"Holding the team together in the first half was difficult. They had a few good chances to put the game to bed; lucky for us, we kept them out. The substitutes changed the dynamic of the game.

"On paper, Italy are ranked lower, but they've got everything to win. I thought they played well, they deserve to be in the semi-final."