Ibrahimovic offers support to Holmberg after penalty heartache at Women's Euros
Smilla Holmberg had plenty of support as Sweden exited the Women's Euro 2025 to England, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic among those reaching out.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic reached out to offer his support to Smilla Holmberg after her penalty shoot-out heartache in the dramatic Women's Euro 2025 quarter-final defeat to England, her father has revealed.
Sweden looked on course for the last four when they led the Lionesses 2-0 in Zurich before goals from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang forced extra-time and penalties.
There were nine missed spot-kicks in total in an astonishing shoot-out, which England won 3-2, with Holmberg blasting her effort over the bar before being pictured in tears.
Speaking to Swedish radio in quotes reported by ESPN, her father Ola Persson said: "It was a sad daughter I held in my arms about an hour after the game.
"She is strong and she has received a lot of support from both the team, supporters, friends and relatives, she even got a text message from Zlatan here this morning."
The game marked just the second time England have avoided defeat at the Euros when trailing by two or more goals, having done so to defeat Russia 3-2 in the 2009 group stage.
It also represented the second time this fixture has gone to penalties at the Euros, after the 1984 final, which Sweden won 4-3 in the shoot-out on that occasion.
