Women's Euro 2025 qualifier: England held to 1-1 by Sweden - as it happened

Tuesday's game against Republic of Ireland is must-win. This is the group of death and it is really, really tricky. We are European champions and we need three points.

It is a massive game and the performance needs to improve but we need three points.

SMS Message: Great teams don't always stay great forever. We can't all be like the dominant '08-'12 Spanish Men's team. Give the Lionesses a break. from Shaun

Great teams don't always stay great forever. We can't all be like the dominant '08-'12 Spanish Men's team. Give the Lionesses a break.

With the Republic of Ireland it is very dangerous when someone doesn't talk about a team.

Republic of Ireland will not be taken for fools, they have a good team and they have a lot of fight - they won't sit there and be the team that everyone banks three points off.

It will be a physical game for England against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland opened their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign with a disappointing and frustrating goalless draw with Malta at Windsor Park.

Simone Magill had an effort ruled out for handball late in the first half and had a penalty appeal waved away after the restart as the hosts struggled to break down the side ranked 87th in the world.

Tanya Oxtoby's side will have to regroup before Tuesday's second qualifier in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Elsewhere this evening, Jess Fishlock inspired Wales to a 4-0 win over Croatia as their bid to qualify for a first major tournament got off to a dream start in Wrexham.

Fishlock scored within four minutes of the start of both halves and turned provider for Rachel Rowe, who added a third goal for Wales on 51 minutes.

Angharad James' volley from an acute angle rounded off the scoring on the perfect night for Wales' new boss, Rhian Wilkinson.

Scotland started their Euro 2025 qualification campaign with a lethargic 0-0 draw in Serbia as their run of winless competitive games stretched to eight.

Scotland, as top seeds, had hoped to record a first competitive win since October 2022 but will need to try again against Slovakia on Tuesday at Hampden on matchday two.

As we're waiting for further reaction to England's draw against Sweden, let's round up how the other home nations got on tonight.

The Republic of Ireland suffered a 1-0 defeat by France in their opening match of the Euro 2025 qualifiers in Metz. They are the other two sides in England's group and the Lionesses travel to Dublin on Tuesday to take on Eileen Gleeson's side.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto opened the scoring after six minutes and the visitors could not get back into the game.

England manager Sarina Wiegman talking to ITV: "It was a tough game against a very tough opponent, we knew that before the game. We want to have the ball a lot, how they press we struggled a bit, we went too much inside and short options we chose. We could have done better with our decision making on the ball but we found it hard. They defended really well. We were struggling at moments to get the high press but we had to deal with the qualities they showed.

"The goal we conceded was really unnecessary, the throw was unnecessary and we didn't press the cross enough. We were able to press that ball and take out the cross, sometimes those things happen. We were lucky after the goal because we were not able to stop the long ball. We have to do those things better. We could have scored at the end but that is how close this game was."

On Alessia Russo's goal: "It was a moment, right before we also had an opportunity. The position of Alessia was really good. She stayed far away and the preparation, cross and finish were really good."

We were very fortunate and we could have easily lost this game.

SMS Message: Disappointing evening for England. This group is so tough that we needed a win tonight and I think it's likely it will go down to goal difference anyway. Sarina has some work to do. from Abi

Disappointing evening for England. This group is so tough that we needed a win tonight and I think it's likely it will go down to goal difference anyway. Sarina has some work to do.

England took Alessia Russo off too early, she was our best player. England lost their focal point when she went off.

I wouldn't say England looked poor it was about breaking down Sweden, but Sweden defended well.

I feel with England there is that added pressure, other teams when they play against England will raise their game more than ever.

England forward Alessia Russo speaking to ITV:

"They're [Sweden] a top side, our group is tough. We're a good side too so I think it's disappointing but we've come up against a strong side. We'll reflect and learn and get ready to go again on Tuesday.

"Our standards are high, we know we can demand higher of each other. We will own that but across the board there were lower standards that we can improve on.

"They pressed us well, it's not an easy game. We struggled to figure out the problems but we did get a draw.

"Always nice to score at Wembley, home of English football. I love playing for England and playing here so nice to get on the scoresheet.

"It's massive, we know the group is result and every result and every point counts."

SMS Message: What has happened to the Lionesses? They used to be ruthless now they're on the same level as the men. The team have been nowhere near their best today. from George

What has happened to the Lionesses? They used to be ruthless now they're on the same level as the men. The team have been nowhere near their best today.

England, in the second half, didn't come out concentrating, Sweden were better than them.

If England were switched on for the goal it doesn't happen. Lucy Bronze wasn't paying attention at the back post.

Sweden were the better team in the second half.

England gave Sweden the impetus. We were very poor tonight, especially in the midfield area, where we very sloppy. We are fortunate to not lose that game.

It was always going to be a tough opener in England's defence of their European title, playing Sweden.

A draw isn't a terrible result for both teams and on balance was a fair result.

England pushed for a winner in the closing minutes but Sweden had their chances to win at Wembley too.

The Lionesses face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday and will be looking to gain all three points in Dublin.

Out of the two teams England will be the most disappointed, Sweden had a glorious chance to take all three points.

Disappointing from England in the goal they conceded, there were very basic errors in that goal.

Well, that's that.

England begin their Euro qualifying campaign with a point at home to Sweden. Alessia Russo with the goal for the Lionesses but Fridolina Rolfo's equaliser means they share the spoils.