England Under-23s Claim European Glory with Dominant Win Over Sweden
England Women Under-23s celebrated a significant achievement by securing silverware with a 3-0 victory over Sweden in the European Competition friendly finals. Goals from Isobel Goodwin of London City Lionesses, Hannah Silcock from Birmingham City, and Olivia McLoughlin of Leicester City ensured a comfortable win against their Scandinavian rivals. This tournament, now in its second season, features the 12 leading teams in Europe. After a rocky start, where they suffered a 5-0 defeat against Germany in October, England rebounded with a draw against Portugal followed by four consecutive 1-0 wins to reach the final, including a victory over the Netherlands in Tuesday's semi-final. England took control early with two goals in the opening nine minutes against Sweden. The victory was secured when Lenna Gunning-Williams of Tottenham assisted McLoughlin shortly after half-time. Seventeen-year-old Chloe Sarwie from Chelsea also stood out, following her assist against the Dutch with a performance that shone throughout the match. This victory marks a dream start for Lydia Bedford, who was appointed as the head coach of England Under-23s just last month. It reinforces that the young Lionesses, on the brink of Sarina Wiegman's senior squad, continue to be among the best in Europe.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-17