Summary

  • Groenen with low finish for Netherlands in extra-time

  • Both sides hit woodwork in normal time

  • Euro champions Netherlands will face World Cup holders USA in the final

  1. Postpublished at 19:54 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Out come the teams!

  2. Postpublished at 19:53 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Dion Dublin
    Former England striker on BBC One

    Having played at centre-half and centre forward, I'd hate to play against Stina Blackstenius. She doesn't go away, she's quick, she can go down the left and right.

    She works hard and creates chances from nowhere. One of her biggest attributes is when she gets these chances, she calms down and never rushes.

  3. Postpublished at 19:52 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    There has been a late change from Sweden as Nathalie Bjorn appears to have picked up an injury.

    She's replaced by Elin Rubensson in the starting XI.

  4. Postpublished at 19:50 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Caroline Chapman
    BBC Sport in Lyon

    There's 10 minutes to go until kick-off but it's pretty sparse inside the Stade de Lyon compared to last night's USA v England epic, which brought in 53,512.

    The fans are scattered about around the 57,900 capacity stadium. It's colourful but nowhere near full...yet.

  5. A love of Dutch footballpublished at 19:49 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Sweden manager Peter Gerhardsson says he studied in Rotterdam and considers the Netherlands "one of my favourite countries when it comes to football".

    "I could talk at length about Holland. In 1974, when I was 15 and I watched Holland v West Germany [in the men's World Cup final], that was one of the greatest footballing experiences of my life.

    "And from that World Cup final I have always been incredibly fascinated by Dutch football - Johan Cruyff and everyone.

    "I was there throughout Euro 2017 and seeing that final between the Netherlands and Denmark, that was amazing because the football that was played in that final was very close to our ideal.

    "It is going to be an incredibly cool semi-final and it's going to be fun to see if we can beat one of my favourite countries when it comes to football."

    .Image source, BBC Sport
  6. Postpublished at 19:47 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Dion Dublin
    Former England striker on BBC One

    The Netherlands are patient. They use the ball well. They make the pitch as wide as possible. They’re melodic. Nothing they’ve done has surprised me so far.

  7. Going around the globepublished at 19:46 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    This is the Netherlands' best-ever run at a Women's World Cup. It's the first time they have gone beyond the quarter-finals.

    From Cameroon, New Zealand and Japan to Canada and Italy, the Dutch have come against a range of nationalities and cultures.

    In fact, they are the first nation to beat a team from five different confederations at a single tournament.

    They will face another team from Europe or Central America in their final match.

    .Image source, BBC Sport
  8. Lionesses on tourpublished at 19:44 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Caroline Chapman
    BBC Sport in Lyon

    They've travelled for 4,000 miles across more than 10 cities and spent nearly £3000 of their hard-earned money - all for the love of the game.

    England and Arsenal women fans Poppy and Jaz from Oxford started their Lionesses road trip, in a 2006 Renault, on 5 June and they're still going strong a month later.

    So far they've taken in all of England's games and have also adopted the Netherlands as their second team.

    Poppy said: "I'm glad the Netherlands are here after last night. I think I'd be fretting a bit otherwise."

    "Don't ask about the state of the car. The engine light keeps coming on, but if you open the windows then it's fine," said student Jaz.

    "We've camped the whole way and we aren't sick of each other yet which is a good sign."

    England fans Poppy and JazImage source, BBC Sport
  9. 'We like attractive football'published at 19:42 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Alex Scott
    Ex-England international and Arsenal player on BBC One

    On the Dutch Arsenal links

    We like attractive football at Arsenal. The Netherlands are potent in their attack. The Dutch, you have to praise them. They've come from having their first World Cup in 2015 to winning Euro 2017 to reaching these semi-finals. They’ve been working for this moment.

  10. Arsenal's Dutch linkspublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    One of the Netherlands' main advantages is that some of their key players were working together week-in-week-out at the same club last season.

    The spine of striker Vivianne Miedema, midfielder Danielle van de Donk, centre-back Dominique Bloodworth and goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal all played at Arsenal.

    "Obviously it is really easy because we have been playing together for two years," said Miedema.

    "We play as goalie, centre-back, number 10 and me and it is the same at Arsenal so you get to know each other a lot better.

    "I just need to look at Dominique and I know where she is going to play the ball. It is the same with DVD - we just have that connection. It helps me a lot and it helps our team a lot, and I am happy that we have got that."

    .Image source, Getty Images
  11. 'Best defensive team'published at 19:39 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Hope Solo
    Former US goalkeeper and World Cup winner on BBC One

    Sweden have been a team on the rise for quite some time. They changed tactics under their new manager. The shackles are removed, they play through the midfield but still have the pace up front. They might be the best defensive team in the tournament.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:38 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    #bbcfootball

    Who would you like to see face off against the USA in Sunday's final? Let me know using #bbcfootball on Twitter.

  13. 'We have been complaining'published at 19:36 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema said the Netherlands "did not expect" to be in the semi-finals of the World Cup.

    "We have done amazing and we can be really proud. We have been complaining a lot that we have not played the best football but in the end we are in the semis."

    .Image source, Getty Images
  14. Battle of the number ninespublished at 19:34 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Both numbers nines have had a good tournament for the Netherlands and Sweden.

    Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema has taken her tally to 61 international goals during the tournament to become her country's all-time top scorer. She has netted three goals in France and played 447 minutes.

    She scored 31 goals in 28 games in all competitions last season and collected the PFA Player of the Year award as Arsenal won the Women's Super League title for the first time in seven years.

    Sweden striker Kosovare Asllani has been in good form too. The attacking midfielder has 34 goals for her country, including two in this World Cup.

    She's also picked up an assist and was top scorer in qualifying with four goals.

    .Image source, BBC Sport
  15. Dangerous in the airpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Don't let them cross!!!

    Six of the Netherlands’ last eight World Cup goals have come from set pieces. They have actually scored 20% of all headed goals in France (five out of 25).

    .Image source, BBC Sport
  16. Playing in Nice or Lyon?published at 19:29 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    The winner of this match will stay in Lyon to take on the USA in Sunday's blockbuster final. That match kicks off at 16:00 BST.

    The unlucky losers will have to travel to Nice, where a third-fourth play-off match against England awaits on Saturday. That match also kicks off at 16:00 BST.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  17. Postpublished at 19:27 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    BBC One

    You can watch this match live on BBC One from 19:30 BST. Lovely stuff!

  18. Beating the old enemypublished at 19:25 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Sweden may have suffered defeat to Germany in the final in 2003 but they got their own back with a memorable 2-1 victory in the quarter-finals, here in France.

    Germany had gone ahead through Lina Magull's acrobatic finish but Sweden responded when Sofia Jakobsson ran clear on goal and coolly finished.

    Stina Blackstenius then poked in from close range early in the second half and they managed to hold on to their lead.

  19. Third time luckypublished at 19:22 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius is looking to become the first player for her country to score in three consecutive knockout appearances at the Women’s World Cup.

    She netted in the last 16 victory over Canada and in the quarter-finals against Germany.

    .Image source, BBC Sport
  20. Heading into the last fourpublished at 19:20 British Summer Time 3 July 2019

    Netherlands v Sweden (20:00 BST)

    The Netherlands reached the semi-finals for the first time thanks to two second-half headers against Italy in Valenciennes.

    Vivianne Miedema netted her 61st international goal with a glancing header from Sherida Spitse's free-kick.

    And Stefanie van der Gragt powered home another Spitse free-kick to seal their place in the last four.