England head into the semi-finals as 2.5 favourites in bwin’s Euro 2022 winner odds, as they seek to make home advantage count.
The Lionesses will face 6.0 outsiders Sweden in the last four, while Germany are 3.4 and France 3.75 prior to meeting in the second clash.
Sarina Wiegman’s side have attracted an aggregate crowd of 157,497 to their four games so far, including a competition-record 68,871 for their opener against Austria at Old Trafford.
There were 28,994 fans present in Brighton when England came from behind to beat Spain 2-1 after extra-time in the quarter-finals.
“Every team starts the tournament wanting to end it as the European champion,” said right-back Lucy Bronze. “That would be amazing, obviously that’s been the goal.
“But, to be honest, I think the team is just very settled, we’re not focused too far ahead.
“Everyone is just enjoying the time that we’ve got and it’s probably the most relaxed we’ve been as an England team in a tournament, certainly in my time anyway.
“We know we’re the favourites and the hosts, but as a team and as a collective group, we’re very level-headed and we’re not focusing on a final or lifting a trophy just yet.”
Sweden made hard work of edging out unfancied Belgium 1-0, with Linda Sembrant only netting the decider in stoppage time.
However, the Scandinavians can’t be underestimated, as they are as high as number two in the FIFA rankings, behind only USA.
Les Bleues battle past holders
France ended Holland’s reign as European champions when Eve Perisset scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 102nd minute at Rotherham’s New York Stadium.
Les Bleues will feel victory was just reward after they created a host of chances, racking up a remarkable 33 attempts on goal, 13 of which were on target and one hit the woodwork.
Efforts were cleared off the line and Dutch goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar was one of the players of the match.
It is the first time they have reached the last four of a women’s Euros and coach Corinne Diacre said: “I’m very proud, because this team aimed at a big target.
“This team gives absolutely everything. We would like to have scored earlier but we were up against an incredible Dutch goalkeeper.”
Eight-time champions Germany remained in the hunt to add to their impressive record in the competition by beating Austria 2-0 and have still not conceded in Euro 2022.
Lina Magull opened the scoring in the 25th minute from a cleverly-crafted move and a poor late clearance from Manuela Zinsberger rebounded off captain Alexandra Popp into the back of the net.
Manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg was pleased with the display, stating: “I think we were deserved winners.
“It was a tough game, a good opponent, they played good set pieces, so we are very happy that we won this one and have progressed to the semi-finals.
“It was a great game for the fans, so respect and compliments to Austria, because they did exactly what we expected them to do.”
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