Beth Mead admits England’s performance below par in Sweden victory

Speaking to reporters, Beth Mead acknowledged England’s performance in their Euro quarter-final victory over Sweden fell short of expectations — though Sarina Wiegman’s side managed to overturn a two-goal deficit.

“Do I think it was still good enough for our standards? Probably not. But we got ourselves in the game and put them in the back of the net, even if they weren’t the prettiest goals,” Mead stated.

The Arsenal forward entered as a substitute in the 70th minute alongside Chloe Kelly — both players then provided assists for the two goals that forced the match into extra time.

Mead revealed she had to operate in multiple positions, including midfield and wing roles, to fill gaps caused by injuries and substitutions. However, she emphasized — trust in the coach’s strategy kept the team composed through difficult situations.

The Lionesses will face Italy in the semifinal on July 22.