Distraught Belgium players sought out family and friends standing on the other side of the advertising hoardings and slumped into their arms. The tears that flowed after the final whistle were understandable, the consoling embraces thoroughly deserved. They put everything into their country’s first appearance in a Euros quarter-final but it was not enough. Sweden left it late to secure a semi-final date with England at Bramall Lane on Tuesday.
The highest ranked team in the tournament needed a 92nd-minute winner scrambled home from a corner to overcome the lowest ranked side left in the competition. Linda Sembrant pounced after the Belgium goalkeeper and star of the show Nicky Evrard denied Sweden once again, saving Nathalie Björn’s shot at close range following a Kosovare Asllani corner, only for the defender to find the roof of her net with the rebound.
