Zlatan Ibrahimovic reached out to Smilla Holmberg after her penalty miss during the Women's Euro 2025 quarter-final against England, where Sweden initially led 2-0 before losing 3-2 in penalties. The match featured nine missed spot-kicks, and Holmberg was visibly upset after blasting her shot over the bar. Her father noted that she received considerable support from her team, supporters, and loved ones, including a text from Ibrahimovic. The match marked England's second instance of overcoming a two-goal deficit in the Euros and was the second penalty shoot-out between these teams at the tournament after the 1984 final.
It was a sad daughter I held in my arms about an hour after the game. She is strong and she has received a lot of support from both the team, supporters, friends and relatives.
There were nine missed spot-kicks in total in an astonishing shoot-out, which England won 3-2, with Holmberg blasting her effort over the bar before being pictured in tears.
The game marked just the second time England have avoided defeat at the Euros when trailing by two or more goals, having done so to defeat Russia 3-2 in the 2009 group stage.
This fixture has gone to penalties at the Euros for the second time, after the 1984 final, which Sweden won 4-3 in the shoot-out on that occasion.
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