Izzy Christiansen
England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Bramall Lane

Image source, Reuters

I have been at two of Sweden's games at Euro 2022 and they haven't blown me away. But I just think there is always something to be aware of with Sweden and that's their tournament history of semi-finals and finals.

England are perched on the branch of something very, very special. The players won't be thinking about history - it's all about the performance tonight.

The players just need to go out and perform. I've got every faith that if they do that, they will be greeting a load of fans at Wembley on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Want to know just how Sweden could hurt England in tonight's semi-final at Bramall Lane?

BBC Sport's Emma Sanders has been speaking to Arsenal's Swedish boss Jonas Eidevall for his thoughts on how the teams match up.

Here is a little taster: "We have been spoiled by this Swedish team with great results over a long period of time so the expectations on this team are huge.

"So far, people back home have been pretty critical and want to see more. But they are in the semi-finals and I think they have reached this stage in a way they deserved to and in a controlled way - which is a strength.

"The players and staff know they have another level to their game and if they find that against England then they have a good chance of going through.

"When Sweden are playing their best they are a really good team on the counter-attack and are good at set-pieces. They would be the two main concerns playing against them.

"England are also absolutely capable of beating Sweden. It's a coin toss between them. It's 50-50 which team is going to advance."

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

For all of their pedigree and ranking, Sweden have not quite hit the giddy heights in their performances this tournament.

They topped Group C, edging the Netherlands into second place on goal difference thanks mainly to a 5-0 win over Portugal in their final game.

In the last eight, it took a 92nd-minute winner from Linda Sembrant - coming from their 33rd and final shot of the game - to finally break Belgium's resistance.

Their struggles in that game belies a group of extremely talented attacking players, which includes Kosovare Asllani, Stina Blackstenius and Fridolina Rolfo.

Make no mistake, they can hurt England.

Izzy Christiansen
England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Bramall Lane

Image source, Reuters

I've driven over from Manchester and just seeing England fans in abundance walking down the road to Bramall Lane, it's got something special about it.

There were fans taking their seats one hour and 45 minutes before kick-off and they are very excited to see the players.

Let's get some practical details out the way.

You have three options for following tonight's game on the BBC.

You can stick purely with my written stuff, you can watch it on the telly or can listen on the radio. All three will be available via this webpage, with the TV and radio coverage accessible via the relevant play buttons at the top.

Build-up to the 20:00 BST kick-off starts at 19:00 on BBC Radio 5 Live, with BBC One's TV coverage starting at 19:25.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

The fan park was filling up a good four hours before kick-off. There are two main stages, beer trucks, merchandise selling points and plenty of food.

They might need to ramp up the noise to compete with the Swedes a few hundred yards away though...

Image source, BBC Sport

Woeful recordpublished at 18:09 British Summer Time 26 July 2022

18:09 BST 26 July 2022

England v Sweden (20:00 BST)

England and Sweden have faced each other 26 times, but the Lionesses have won just three of those fixtures and been beaten 15 times. Only against Germany (21) have they suffered more defeats.

The two sides have met seven times previously in the Euros, but England have triumphed on only one occasion.

That 1-0 victory came in the second leg of the inaugural final in 1984, but you can guess what happened from there - England were beaten on penalties.

That was the only time Sweden have lifted the trophy. They were beaten finalists in 1987 - when they were looking to defend the title - and again in 1995 and 2001.

Everything about the Lionesses under Sarina Wiegman screams fresh start, though. This is a new England. Time to start righting some wrongs!

You do not reach the final of a major tournament without going through the wringer.

Having seen off the pre-tournament favourites in Spain, Sarina Wiegman's side now take on the one ranked number two in the world and top-ranked at the Euros in Sweden.

So how have the Lionesses fared against the Scandinavians in the past, you ask? Well, I'm you brought it up. You might want to sit down for this...

It has been a rollercoaster ride so far for this England team and their fans.

Much of it has involved soaring highs - that demolition of Norway, the smashing of Northern Ireland. There has also been a nerve-shredding dip ahead of an exhilarating rise in the last-eight encounter with Spain, when substitute Ella Toone volleyed them back from the brink before Georgia Stanway fired them through.

Image source, Getty Images

The history of the England women's national football team has a fair few major tournament semi-finals scattered within it. However, not many of them have proven to be successful ones.

Seven times the Lionesses have reached the last four of a World Cup or European Championships, but only twice have they won.

In fact, in each of the last three major tournaments - in 2015, 2017 and 2019 - they have fallen at this exact stage.

This, though, does not appear to be like other England teams. Forget the past, it's time to start building a brighter future.