Topics: UEFA Women's Euro 2022, England, Sweden, Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, Fran Kirby
The Lionesses turned up in style and run riot to secure their third-ever final appearance in the tournament's history.

England completely battered Sweden, the highest-ranked team in Europe, to secure its first major championship final appearance since 2009. The host of the 2022 UEFA Women's Euros secured an emphatic 4-0 win in Tuesday night's semi-final encounter to make history inside Sheffield's Bramall Lane. 

Ahead of the encounter, England had not reached a major final since their 6-2 defeat by Germany in Helsinki at Euro 2009, but were poised to make a replicate the experience. Having already seen off Spain in the quarter-finals, Sarah Weigman's side entered their penultimate test as favorites, eventually doing enough to secure a final date at Wembley. In retrospect, Sweden were the better team for half an hour but could not translate their advances into a goal that could spur them on to victory.

The inefficency of the Swedes was subsequently punished, with Beth Mead scoring a record-equalling sixth goal of the tournament to put England ahead before the break. It was a one-way traffic in the second half as it only took three minutes into the second half for Lucy Bronze to double the Lionesses' advantage. Substitute Alessia Russo then scored a sensational goal with her backheel in the 68th minute before Fran Kirby grabbed the fourth goal of the night in the 76th minute.

The result mean that the semi-final hoodoo is finally over for England who last feated in the final of the competition back in September 2009. The Lionesses will now face either Germany or France in the final at Wembley on Sunday