England v Spain Match of the Day Live

believe. For all of those girls taking up full all, to win a

trophy... There is no point entering a tournament if you do not believe.

We need to fight for each other and show how much it means. It is the

only medal I have got, a silver medal. It is a proud medal, but it

is not gold. It is a dream, but hopefully, it might come true.

The waiting is almost over, England finally get the chance to show what

they can do. In half an hour, they kick-off against Spain. On the edge

of their seats, and England international trio. This is

England's first major tournament since your retirement, are you OK

sitting over there? Not really! This is great, but nothing compares to

putting on an England shirt. I had mixed emotions this morning, a bit

of nerves, excitement, loving the preparations, what they have been

going through. The match day routine. It is the proudest moment

you can ever have, to represent your country in a major tournament. You

know that it will help to make so many people proud and to move our

sport on to a new level. Visual instinct telling you? I think it

will be entertaining, I like the way Spain play, nice passing,

technically very good, every player is comfortable, and England can mix

it up, they can do both, they can also be direct and powerful. The

onus is on England to take the game to Spain. What are you looking for

from this England side? First and foremost, they have got to put a

message out to the rest of the tournament. The players should put

on a good show, we have seen what fans have done earlier on in the

day. That was them stamping their authority. England have got to do

the same. They have got the players, they have got to get off to

a quick start. Yes, the action has already started, France were the

pretournament favourites to win the group, and they played Russia. They

won 3-1, the first team to record a victory in this tournament. Russia

scored with their only shot on target. We will have the highlights

later. Now, let's head straight over to the new arena, where England will

play all three of their group games. We have the team news.

As you can probably see, squad members warming up on the pitch. I

have just been handed the team. Laura Bassett is in for Sophie

Bradley, as expected. Laura Bassett place for Birmingham City, she has

nine caps for England. Very experienced, she has played at the

World Cup, the European championship. It is two years since

she has partnered Casey Stoney in central defence, so the partnership

will come under close scrutiny tonight, not least because they have

to mark one of the best players in European football, the Spanish

captain, Robert Kerr bucket. I am not sure if she is still out there,

Kelly Smith, she has been named number 22 in the squad. It is

unlikely she will play tonight. Her name is on this list, it sends a

message to the Spanish squad. No shocks, not to us, but the

Spanish will see that Kelly Smith is not there, fitness has not been

great, how much of a loss is she? She is a massive loss, we saw her

warming up, which is positive. To have that player on the bench, she

is what England need. It will be a boost for Spain. Laura Bassett,

experience coming in, but she has not started in a major tournament.

How will that affect the dynamic smack she is very experienced.

has got nine competitive games. She came on as a substitute in 2009, but

she has got a call, level-headed, a great character, and authoritative.

Both Casey Stoney and Laura Bassett are good communicators, they like to

talk. We are in safe hands. She has worked hard over a lot of years in

that supportive role. For her to get a start and show what she can do, I

am pleased, and I hope she does well. England usually have a settled

back four, Casey Stoney and Sophie Bradley usually play together for

Lincoln, with Karen Bardsley. How disruptive can it be, going into a

massive game? It helps that she has got experience, she is not a junk

player. You like to have communication between the back four

and the goalkeeper. She will settle, because of her experience. She has

done well at club level. That will help the guys in front of them, you

have experience with Jill Scott, and if anything goes wrong, you can rely

on the midfield players to help them out. These days, more women play

football in England than men play rugby union. When the current crop

of senior players were younger, most of them did not have the option to

play in a girls team. Rachel Yankey cut off her fair and pretended to be

a boy to get a game. Casey Stoney is another who has had to battle just

mum struggled to find work in Essex. I remember her leaving the house in

the early hours to go and clean other peoples houses, she worked in

a betting shop in the, she worked in a pub in the evenings, she worked to

keep a roof over our head and give us enough money to be able to play

football and do things like that. She wanted football boots, I could

not afford them, I was putting cardboard in their shoes. I was

playing in the garden and one of her friends said, she can play. She got

sick of me breaking the pot plants and having to wash the windows! She

sent me to the local boys team because she knew I loved the game.

She has always encouraged me. always liked to play with the boys.

She was not interested in dolls. She played football with the boys, and

she said, can I join a football team? I searched, I could not find a

girls team. Trying to get a manager to take on a girl was hard, but I

found someone. They took her on, much to the disgust of the rest of

the team. She won the players player of the year. There was a guy

watching, I remember him talking to my mum, I was protective over my

mum, so I said, who is he? He put his hand out and said, I and the

Chelsea ladies manager, would you like to chain -- train with us? I

was like, yeah, I would love to play for you. He made my career from

out that day. There was not a hair on my body that had not stood up on

end, it was a great feeling. That was my daughter, my son's sister,

and the roar of the crowd when they came out, it was amazing. The

Her very proud mum, she is at the You said watching her at the

Olympics was the proudest moment of your life, so how will you feel

tonight? Proud again, amazing. Proud again to watch her walk them out, to

win, I hope. Have you spoken to her today? She is fine, she is focusing

on the game. Have you given her any advice? Me, advise my daughter about

football? No! I cannot do that. She is fully focused. She is up for the

game. Any nerves? Not this afternoon, she was trying to keep

calm. What are your nerves like? Awful! If it is your daughter making

a mistake, you feel it more than they do. We are positive. Enjoy the

match. We are counting down the so nervous! Teach you feel that she

was always going to be your natural successor? Not at the start. She

would say that as well, she has learned and bejewelled. In 2005, she

was not in the starting 11 regularly. In 2009, before I was

injured, Fara Williams and Kelly Smith would fill in. But over the

last three or four years, she has become such a leader, she has become

more of a coach herself, but she was the front runner after that. She

deserves it, and she is a good captain. She had a nightmare start

four years ago against Italy. worst part, I had to go to left

back, so the team were like, this is a nightmare! She was sent off after

half an hour. She was not happy with that, but she missed the Russia

game, and she thought herself, we could be going home. But she did

fantastic for the rest of the tournament. When the England captain

has spent the day preparing for tonight, another England player has

been showing off her silky skills to inspire the next generation of

players. So has been spending the day in the sunshine in Salford,

inspiring the next generation. cannot believe they did not show

it! Oh, I scored! It is fantastic, they have different roadshows around

the country, it is an opportunity for girls to meet their role models.

They had a lot of WSL players there. The top goal-scorer in the league

was there, Kim Little was there, it is an opportunity to see their role

models and say, I want to be like them. Such a small target to aim

for! That is what it was!There is a crowd gathering to watch to night's

game, they are not the only ones willing on the team. There is a bar

out there as well! Good luck to you. I would play, but

I am terrible at football. I just want to wish the England team the

best of luck, go and get them, girl power and all that. You can win it,

I want to shout out to Rachel Yankey, congratulations on breaking

the appearances record. You are my favourite! I want to shout out to

the England women's football team. Go and do your thing. I want to

advise you, kick it in the net and score. Good luck, we will be rooting

for you and we will be following it all. Good luck, do it for England!

He should have done the team talk! A quarter of an hour until kick-off, I

wonder what is going on inside the England dressing room. What happens

in the dressing room, you have got one player who is responsible for

the music, it is always too loud... Bite and selecting a good song to

get everybody dancing. I find it hard to be sitting still, I like to

be dancing and energetic before the controls that, and a couple of the

girls will dance and sing and joke around. We did a music video. We

were just literally all dancing and I think it brings the team closer

together, that team cohesion, and it relaxes everyone a bit. We have some

characters on our team, like Jill Scott, and she will get up and dance

and say silly things. If she kept me laughing, I am in a good and happy

spirits and I can't take that into the game. I leave them to their own

devices until a moment when I decide to come back and it is business.

spoke to Jill Scott the other day about this kind of thing and what

happens and 2-D are, and she counted Casey Stoney, listening to songs on

her iPod. Yes, a lot of people get pumped up with things. Smack was

songs. Casey has got her -- pumped up with songs. Casey has got her

love music. Before the days of the iPod, eight cd would go in. You did

not get closed the second time around. The disc was out and it was

left with the lads and they knew what they were doing. What about

Spain? They are the first group see a penance for England, followed by

Russia and France. -- group C group for England. I think the group stage

will be challenging. We have drawn with Spain a few times. We could

potentially be out of a European championship. Technically, the

Spanish are very, very good. They are very similar to the man in terms

of technique and how they play. They have some good players, some rising

stars, I would say look stop a lot of talk about the Spanish,

certainly. I think it was 2010, lots of those players are now at the war

front of their senior team. -- forefront. We are expecting a

difficult proposition in the Spanish. It will be tough and we

will have to perform if we want to win the game. It could so easily

have been England against Scotland rather than Spain, because of the

very last kick of the playoff, Boquete scored. That was absolutely

Boquete scored. That was absolutely hard braking for Scotland. We were

all disappointed for Scotland because they have got fantastic

players. They should be playing on the big stage. The last kick of the

game, how disappointing was that? It was such a big game up until then.

was such a big game up until then. Boquete, fantastic player.

played against She scored against us once when I played against her. She

has improved since then, having gone out to Sweden. She is so much more

professional compared to what they would do at their clubs in Spain.

She is certainly the player they will look to. She scored 11 goals in

ten qualifying games, and she links up very well with Bermudez. I think

she might be employed up very well out on the right. Very tricky, very

direct. A natural goal scorer. are very much a passing and moving

side. How do you play against that? There are two ways. You can be

patient and wait till they get around their area, the goal area,

and then press them, get them into little pockets and try to press the

ball there. But I would like to see England get high up the field and

close them up very quickly, not let them settle on the ball. Of course

they will pass around very quickly. Steph Houghton became something of a

household name last summer, with three goals for Team GB at the

Olympics, including the winner in the opening game against New

Zealand. She has been talking about making an impact in an England

shirt. Steph Houghton scores!How did things change for you out at the

Olympics? It was massive, to be honest. It was an unreal ornament.

Everybody wanted to be part of it than to go play in front of such a

big crowd. -- and unreal ornament. The whole country was behind us.

Especially against Brazil at Wembley, that was something that I

cannot really put into words how it felt. Your name is forever in words

as a goal scorer. That must be incredible. Yes. It was from a

corner as well. I do not actually know why I stayed in the box. I

should have been at the back to defend. It was one of those

moments, there are 20 mins where -- the art games, but they do not come

much bigger than Wembley. Steph Houghton has made her name as a

goal-scoring right foot and -- writes with his left back. She plays

for Arsenal. This season, playing midfield for Arsenal, and my career

at England, it is left back. To be honest, I just want to play for my

club and my country as much as I can. If that means playing left back

then I will do that. If it means playing centre half I will do that

as well. I have always been told to work as hard as you possibly can.

Does it help that there are so many other Arsenal players here? Yes. You

get a connection with them when you play with them week in and week

out. Everybody knows the game inside and out and that helps when we go on

the page. We have been working hard, especially attacking, and where

everybody is going to move, and the passes that will play to people's

strengths. That will be crucial for us. Steph Houghton is a versatile

player. You think she only scores goals when she is on television.

Always. No pressure on her today. She has got the FA Cup final. They

played Lincoln on the television, an absolute cracker in the top corner.

No pressure, but you are on the television. We are expecting a storm

or today. The teams are in the tunnel. Before they emerge, a few

final thoughts from three of the members of the team. I have been

fortunate enough to win so many medals and trophies. It would be

unbelievable. When I get out, I have got my game face on. The player I am

up against will not get the better of me. In terms of strength, we are

at the best we will be. You cannot go into a game thinking he will not

win it. League-macro I think of all of those girls who are -- I think of

all of those girls who are up taking up football now. We have to lift up

the trophy. It is England against Spain. We can speak to our

commentators. Good evening. This is England's home for all three of

their group games, and maybe a quarterfinal as well. It is a

brand-new stadium. It is compact and smart. Tonight it has a fair few

England supporters wriggled around as well. A lovely evening for it. --

sprinkled around. Your concern was the fact that it was a brand-new

stadium with a brand-new playing surface. It was not up to scratch

last year. It looks like it was only done last week. My point from that

is, these girls are used to playing on pitches that are not perfect, so

I do not think it will have that much effect on the England girls.

is a patchwork built effect. It did pour down with rain two days ago

here. UEFA were concerned about the page. They had to walk around. The

England players are used to it and they have been uploaded onto the

page Swedish style. Not too many of them, it seems, because either --

everybody was handed either a everybody was handed either a

Spanish or Swedish flag on arrival. We will stand the match for the

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Some relaxed, some nervous. This is what the vast majority of the team

have been preparing for ever since the Olympics were done and dusted

has been a warm day. Lots -- it is a cool and bright evening. You may

have seen the England side reported. So the Bradley was injured last

week. An experienced side. Three have ever 100 caps. Alex Scott gets

her 99th tonight. Most know what's toward a men's football is all

about. -- most know what torn ornament the ornament football is

all about. The referee is from the She is one of the key players for

Spain. Arguably the key player. 11 goals from ten games in the

Not quite as well versed to games of this magnitude at England is. It

looks pretty impressive. The key three, undoubtedly the front

players, then --, Bermudez, they are also -- undoubtedly the front

players, Boquete, we meet as, they a number, number five, so the

Bradley. Not considered for this game. Hopefully she will return for

of the team since 1988. During his time in charge, there has been an

increase from 6000 registered players in the country 228,000. --

to 28,000. It is developing rapidly. Here we go. England are looking to

press on Spain, I am sure. Spanish will be technically very

good and they will be able to pass it. The ball was just a little

awkward for Stoney but she dealt with it. She will have to deal with

Boquete now. Adriana Martin. Met team in Europe. England will not

underestimate them. They will have been watching the progress that they

have made. They will be wary of the attacking players in particular.

is unheard-of to talk about the Spanish team is emerging, but they

are getting better and better all football in Sweden. She is more of a

midfielder Dan her fellow player pharaonic bucket, who also plays in

bit of nerves to start. England did not get rid of it as they should.

The Spanish game plan is to put pressure on England and make the

most of being the perceived underdogs. A sign of how Spain are

progressing, in their fifth game in qualifying, they came back from 2-0

down to draw 2-0 with Germany. Germany do not surrender a lead

lightly. It is odd to be the best result they have ever had. It is all

about developing and progressing, and they will see that as a

progression. They will try to cause a shock in this game. England have

prominent player, a centre back who plays the Kaiserslautern.

Spanish front for our engaging the back four of England. They have got

to deal with that. Steph Houghton and Alex Scott are attacking

fullbacks. They have got to put themselves on top, to try and attack

goal. Spain are in front, less than four-minute have been played, and it

is the girl who gets their goals, by and large, Veronica Boquete.

Veronica Boquete has done a lot of talking about how big a game it is

for her. She has talked the talk, she has proved she can walk the

walk. Casey Stoney took a step forward, she left the gap behind

for Veronica Boquete to get into. It is great movement. She sticks it in

the bottom corner. Karen Bardsley will be disappointed. She is a

confident forward, she had a look. Just off the end of the boot. The

coach says, do not get carried away. Hope Powell will not get carried

away either. This has happened before, in qualifying for the last

World Cup, Spain were 2-0 up against England, and they came back to draw

2-2. In the qualifying for the last European Championships, the same

It is not, but they will have to trust themselves. They just have to

stick to the game plan and impose their game on Spain. We talked about

how Spain play, passing it around, technically very good, that was

pretty much a couple of passes through the middle. They will not be

afraid to pass the ball forward, longer, because they know what temp

much better than the England players. England are a little bit

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out of their stride. Casey Stoney run of 11 games unbeaten. That

stretched back to last March. They did take the lead in that game,

through Ellen White, and they have scored in their last 13 games. You

think they would get a goal or two of this one progresses. Spain are

seven games unbeaten, but have not played the same number of games

England have. Brilliantly taken! The goals flying game. 1-1, that one was

finished just as well as Veronica Boquete's. There you go, the first

bit of possession that England have got. Hope Powell will be pleased

with that. Any ties and he came through, a great through ball by

Jill Scott. Any other Luke Haakon puts it past the goalkeeper.

should have been cut out. Missed it. Eniola Aluko was never going to

miss. That may have calm the nerves way! Eniola Aluko's 15 international

goal, the 17th -- her 71st cap. She says her form for the biggest stage.

She scored three goals at the last European Championships, she got two

in the quarterfinal against Finland, arguably her best England

performance. She is experienced, she has played in tournaments like this,

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she is quick. She can finish. Ellen made to take it from the right ways.

When England settle into this game, set plays will be key, both

defending and attacking. Physically, a of players than the Spanish, to

impose that on the game. There was a feeling against Sweden that England

were outmuscled. The feeling was turned around into, they have got to

do that against Spain. You have got to use what you have got to win

these games. England can keep the ball well, but physically, they will

again. She is pretty cool here, Eniola Aluko. She knew what he was

-- what she was going to be. Four wide for England. She has got pace

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Williams have that going in. Definitely, she shaped as if she was

going to have a go with her left foot. She can do either. A trademark

shot, dealt with well by the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper is a

little small, so you will look for that gap. Typical of her game, she

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gets the ball on the edge of the not be afraid to keep the ball. You

could see the pressure that Steph ball. Eniola Aluko would have been

in. It was similar to the build-up for England's goal. Could not quite

changed around, left and right. I do not know if it was a problem,

dealing with Veronica Boquete. Scott and Steph Houghton have done

as well. I think that is just after a set piece, they have not had time

A little warning for England. Spain are not afraid to have a go. It was

well wide. She White is asking a little bit too much of Aluko.

England have got a little bit more of a grip on it in midfield. It is

important for England that sacred -- get a grip on the midfield. They

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need to stay as compact as possible Spain had yet to win. The men have

Spain at the moment and is played well. What they do in the

development of the players is working. The last two or three years

they have been tying to ensure that the Spain of Mac -- that Spain's

women's team excels. The coach is an interesting one. He has played a

brilliant part in developing football in Spain for women. He says

that he just gets on with his work unnoticed in his little order of the

pink ones. You are worried about colour clashes in the thick of the

Scott. Scott is trying to join down the right. Aluko tried to split one

back out to Scott. She might have been better served having another go

herself. It was a good run by Alex Stoney had an advantage on Boquete.

That is a really good safe from Bardsley. Just worked enough space

in the end. Such a great effort. pick out the players to watch, and

she is living up to the billing that we gave her. Boquete is being a bit

of a nuisance in front of Karen Bardsley there. She used to play her

football right here. She joined LinkedIn last November after a one

year stay at Sweden. -- Lincoln. It looked to me as if she had an unfair

Williams for England. Asante. Yankey. She is looking for Ellen

White. Just about got the better of Garcia. She puts her arm in the air

the minute Yankey got possession. She just saw the end of Ellen White.

She is good in the air physically. The technique is very good.

scored the solitary goal last week. She has scored five out of seven

games for her country. She puts in a lot of work, Allen White. She gets

the goals. -- Ellen White. She is a tough number nine. She had a spell

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The game has settled. England really have settled now. They have got into

the rhythm of the pattern of keeping the ball. Very difficult to stay

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with players as they move as Spain are key for England. It is important

that they do not find themselves on the outside of this game. They stay

tucked in. That is another part of the compact disc that Spain need to

deal with. Scott, great work. White. players. Those of you who followed

the women's Superleague might be surprised to know that Bristol's two

stars are not in the squad. They had a fallout with the coach. I would

have liked to have seen that argument! They are neither the sort

flag is up. The referee seemed reluctant to give it. Lucky she gave

anything. She put her flight up after the ball had been picked up.

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looking unfounded at the moment. You can hardly see a piece of turf out

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of place. Holden to Yankey. -- are happy for them to have it. Scott

has the head start. Not the best from Bardsley. Boquete. Aluko. In

goes a Boquete. I think we have already seen why she is generally

rated as Spain's best player. full of confidence. You can tell she

is full of confidence. The way she gets on the ball. She did an

interview beforehand and was spouting quite a lot about how Spain

were ready for England and knew everything about them. It is

interesting to see doubt -- how they have started. There is that feeling

that England has been running so close in the last five meetings that

this is their turn and that they are owed one. They have baby got won

there in the form of that free kick. -- they have maybe got one there in

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Bassett's pass. An untimely slip from Meseguer. Not taking advantage

of by Fara Williams. -- night to been in one tonight. She spends a

lot time overlapping. She gets the gold from that position. It is a

real battle to get on top. Shock -- she gets the gold from that

have pushed their wide players to engage Alex Scott and Steph

Houghton. It is working pretty well. We have seen them get forward once

chance, but at the moment, they do not want to take that chance,

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because Spain have attacked was meant as a cross. England will

not mind if Spain are reduced to trying their luck from that sort of

five games played in this tournament, it came earlier today,

France beating Russia 3-1. That has gone with form. It shows the

competitiveness of the women's game in Europe. Nobody to be battered

5-0. The gap is closing all around. Four matches drawn before today. The

one that stood out, the goalless draw between Germany and Holland.

They cannot just turn up and take Nagore Calderon. The referee

sprinted so quickly, she could not get her yellow card out quick

enough. It is great skill from Rachel Yankey. Just down the back of

her Achilles. A pull-back on the left arm and a break down the right

leg. No wonder the referee was quick. Fara Williams has been

clattered. A terrible challenge. It is OK, she is tough. Just a free

kick. Was it a leading arm? It looked like it was a forearm.

not great. It is not in the back of her head. It should have warranted a

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booking for Ruth Garcia, but England Kelly Smith's absence. Her first

touch is immaculate, she can pass and shoot with both feet, a key

Casey Stoney made sure. The threat that they impose when Veronica

Boquete is allowed to break down the They broke quickly. She manages to

occupy both centre halves, just from her run. She is so busy and strong,

she holds the ball up well. Laura Bassett did well. It clipped the

frame of the goal, but it was the back frame. To be fair to the centre

halves, she cannot win the ball, you have got to hold it up, and that is

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Bauer, they have had some tough England point of view, Jennifer

Hermoso came into the tournament with a couple of mocks, England have

a couple of players who have been injured. They play so much football,

sometimes it is an advantage to have a rest before a big tournament.

Steph Houghton has played in the Champions League, Casey Stoney plays

all the time, but to give your body a rest can work in your favour.

Karen Carney has just come back. is on the bench. She picked up and

ankle injury against Canada in between and around the England

centre halves. She is not the strongest in the air. We mentioned

Karen Carney's injury, a name we have not mentioned much is Kelly

Smith. She is in the squad. She is wearing number 22, that says that

she is carrying a shin injury. It is a gamble. We do not expect to see

her tonight, but you never know, as the tournament goes on, not a bad

option to have. She has the quality and experience. She has been

renowned as being one of the best ways in the world. To have that on

your bench is an advantage. That is good defending. She saw the chance,

it is the sort of chance she puts away. Not naturally left footed, but

she can put the ball in the area. A good enough touch, but great

defending. Just managed to put a foot on it. An excellent first

touch, just could not steer it Houghton, another for England.

England need to put a bit more pressure on the goalkeeper. They

knew where it was going, just get a bit closer to her. You can compete

Disappointing for Spain. A great counter attack from a corner. You

cannot be offside there, you have got to look along the line. Who is

minute of the first 45. That is good goalkeeping, she knows her

limitations and her abilities. has coped well under pressure. The

ball put under the per bar, see how she deals with it. She has done well

with the crosses, by and large. An excellent tip over the top from Fara

Williams's effort. What is the assessment for England? So far, so

good after a horrible opening five minutes? Absolutely, you are the

last two teams to start the tournament, they will come into the

tournament full of confidence, Spain, nothing to prove. The way it

has gone so far, the tournament is open, only France have shown what

they are about, so you never know what will happen. England have coped

well after conceding a goal, scored a great call themselves, and they

have settled into the game. The mood in the England camp is excellent, so

relaxed, so ready. Different from other years. The hotel gives them

the opportunity to wonder about and go into the town centre. That helps

very early on. Veronica Boquete, England knew about her, she scored

with less than four minutes played. Back came England, less than four

minutes later, Eniola Aluko with a nervous start, but they pulled it

back pretty quickly. It was a frantic start, we went a goal down,

then we equalised, then we had some chances, but then it calmed down.

The initial start was like, this will be, three, four, five goals.

Yes, we were expecting a high tempo from England, they got caught out

with the long ball down the left hand side, and that is where the

goal came from. We knew that Spain were going to get the ball down and

pass it around, and it is about nerves and experience. The

experienced players made the mistakes. The front three, Veronica

Boquete, Sonia Bermudez and a drummer Martin, they are good with

the ball, and they are a threat. More analysis coming up, plus

news update on Three. Hundreds of people lined the streets of Bury for

the funeral of Fusilier Lee Rigby. The Prime Minister and Mayor of

London were there. The soldier was stabbed to death in Woolwich in May.

A plane fire at Heathrow. No passengers were on board the

Ethiopian Airlines jet. The same Boeing Dreamliner was grounded

earlier this year over safety fears. The government has abandoned minimum

alcohol pricing in England and Wales. Plans for plain cigarette

packaging in England have been shelved.

Health campaigners are angry. Controversy at the third day of the

first Ashes test against Australia. The umpire failed to spot Stuart

Broad was caught off a thick edge. England ended the day 326 for six.

And it was a glamourous return to the red carpet for Catherine

Zeta-Jones. She joined Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and her other co-stars

for the LA premier of Red two. The action comedy's out in August. More

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60 seconds later - back to Jacqui nervous in the studio at all! We

were not worried when England went a goal down early! It is a player we

highlighted, Veronica Boquete. she has got talent, you can see

that. The front three players move around fantastically. It was an

error from Jill Scott, she went to close down the goalkeeper, but she

went on her own, and the rest of the England players sat back. That is

where it started. This is what you want, you want your players closing

down, but she has left a big gap. Alex Scott loses her player, and you

see the movement. That is a terrific finish, great movement from Veronica

Boquete. Going down early is not what you want. It is not the centre

halves that England normally have playing together. They have

experience, but they have been caught out. Alex Scott allowed Sonia

Bermudez to get the wrong side of her, then she looks to address the

player on the ball and allows Veronica Boquete to run off her back

shoulder. Steph Houghton is not going to be able to cover. They are

too big errors with players in the backline, so early on, maybe a bit

of nerves, not making quick decisions quick enough. Anything to

do with the fact that Casey Stoney has been injured recently? She did

not know if she would make the tournament. I just think it was a

bit of nerves, the first couple of minutes, you are feeling your way

into the game. The way that Sonia Bermudez came infield, it was a

fantastic ball, and Veronica Boquete, you would think she might

have missed it, but she is such a calm finish, a nice goal. I think

she was worried about the pace. I think she has tried to close the

ball down, but she should have kept the position. But it was not too

long before England equalised. A few nerves settled on the pitch, Jill

Scott with the ball for Eniola Aluko. We spoke about the Spanish

movement, it showed that England can do it. Eniola Aluko has been

threatening to be a fantastic player, this tournament could be her

tournament. What a pinpoint pass from Jill Scott. In between the

centre halves, and Eniola Aluko, perfect. She scores, where you want

the ball to go. It is good to see her getting into

those positions to score. I do think the back line of Spain are not as

good as their front-line in a way, and we can play through them if they

do just what they did in that do just what they did in that

sequence of play. And her little brother will be playing next season.

Fara Williams, a midfielder we have seen so many times. Is she going to

use the left foot or the right? can use both. She really likes to be

on the ball and be the playmaker in the field. She needs a backlist on

the pass. On the see her switch feet and draw the defender in and bring

it on to the other foot and just keep it into the top corner. She

looked at getting involved. She was trying to support Ellen White and

get the ball off of the defence a couple of times. You see her running

through here. A great first touch through here. A great first touch

for Ellen It comes off the defender. It is good, quick, lively playing in

between the defenders. You want the fullback overlapping. The fact that

Houghton has got on there, with a lovely first touch from Ellen White.

A fantastic interception. They can pass, they can pass. It is easy to

know it is coming but it is not so easy to know what to do about it.

They are so confident on the ball. They are not frightened to have

players around them. They feel comfortable. We talk about Spain's

front of three players. They have got an eye for a pass and they have

got great movement. The movement that they have got around the 18

yard area of England. They pick up the ball here, and Sonia just picks

it up. It is an angle where you would not really see a shot but she

gets that shots and pulled off a good save. The other two teams in

group C alongside... This is just Boquete going through. Andrea Martin

puts in a great pass. The understanding is so good up front.

It is the relationship between them. It is difficult for defenders to

Mark, isn't it? You just get used to one player. Then a different one

comes in. We spoke to Jim a little before. A very similar kind of play.

Do you know what to do when you come against them? The other two teams in

group C alongside England and Spain are Russia and France. They met a

get us under way. Quarterfinalists four years ago. A decent effort.

This is a clear opportunity! She has taken it. Friends are in front after

21 minutes. You have to say, that has been coming. -- France are in

front. The remix coring. -- for France. It has been total

domination. Already there is clear daylight between France and Russia.

Beautifully worked. Clinically finished. One touch. It was in the

back of the net. Good ball. Right goalkeeper misjudged it. She amended

her error. That is the lack -- last action of a very one-sided

The final pass. Now it is 34 France. That has settled it once and for

scale. It was a really fantastic chance here for a consolation? There

is. From nowhere, a goal for Russia. The only mistake of the day as far

as expected. It is 1-0 at the moment between England and Spain. Sally

Nugent is pitch side for us at a special guest. -- with a special

guest. Yes, I am here with Sir Trevor booking, you has been

watching the first half. Not a bad performance from England? Spain, you

performance from England? Spain, you can see how they have been working

Really skillful players. I think we competed well and closed it down. It

is important to get the equalizer. For the first 45 minutes, probably

as good a 45 minutes of the tour so far. They frustrate you and you must

not give it away. The last 15 minutes, when we got a little

bit... We gave it away. I think we have created chances and done well.

With France, I think there are three strong sides. You must be delighted

to be here in this arena tonight because you have been such a

supporter of the game. It is so good to see the ladies competing at this

level now. It is a very open tournament. I think four or five

could win it, including England. We have to hang in here the second

half. It is important, psychologically. Thank you so much

for joining us. Thank you very much. Just recently, England played

against Japan as a warm-up match before the Spain because they are

the world champions and have a very similar passing style. It was a very

similar goal the England scored similar goal the England scored

tonight. It was almost carbon copy, really, with a pass coming from this

kind of area. It was Yankey passing exactly the same way between two

players, and Aluko finished it in the same competent fashion as she

did there. She likes to be out and out. You can see that Jill passes it

to Rachel Y. This time she does not have to take a touch. -- Rachel

Yankey. She likes to play in that position. Over the last couple of

years she has really learned how to become a team player and play in

other positions on the wide and on the right and left. She wants to

come in and contribution to the goals. It'll be interesting to see

the fitness levels in the second half. They often run out of steam.

Definitely. I think there are only two of the players that have that

sort of fitness. It will be interesting to see if they can sort

of maintain the fitness throughout the second half. Well, let's get

right back to the arena for the interesting point about Spain's

fitness. There is an idea that they are sadly under prepared, having

played only three games this year. They drew against Denmark in

February, in a game that they were lucky not to win by all accounts.

They drew again against the Danes just before the tournament started.

They have been playing primal during the half-time. Asante, eating

up the ground. That is good to see. Asante is another key player for

England. She is quick, deceptively quick, and a great defender.

same happen again here with Jenny that the team has settled down. They

need to engage Spain a little bit more. They need to be confident that

they can deal with the likes of Boquete because they are good

defenders in their own right. by Garcia. A free click will be

taken. -- free kick. Elizabeth too hasty there by the array Abrams. --

a little bit too hasty there by their Abrams. They are getting

chances. The coach will know exactly what his team can be capable of. I

think they have been together for quite a long time. They know how

got something of it. It could have been catastrophic. In that position

you have just got to get something on it. You are risking putting it in

the back of your own net. A great ball in. Jenny Hermoso has seen a

lot of the balls and the second half started. -- a lot of the ball in the

The assistant referee seems sure is a great opportunity for Spain to

make it to-1. They have got to do better than that. A massive chance

that moment and know exactly what they are going to do. She did not

stay as cool as she wanted to. Boquete seems a cut above all the

other strikers on the field. Scott, back to Bardsley. Bardsley has done

her fair bit of time in the USA. She is from the USA. Her parents A long

cited challenge from Garcia. It seems to be an even game in terms of

balance on the score line. For all of the joy that a winning start can

bring... The team got to be final in 2009 despite winning the first game.

They won the first game and did not even get out of the group. Ideally

you do not want to win the opening final Elizabeth easier -- a little

bit easier. You have to build up momentum. It is a bit of a rarity,

never mind get through it. Winning the group means staying in for the

started the brighter team. Just too far in front of Jennifer Hermoso.

That is a great ball, and a good run. I thought she would keep going

for it. It was not that far away. Just a bit too far in front. You can

see the improvement in the Spanish side with every game. The only team

that failed to reach this tournament in 2009, never qualified for a World

Cup or an Olympic games, but they will be. More important is now

placed on the women's game in Spain. The club sides are getting better,

Barcelona have a significant interest, the champions for the past

second half for England. It required great Lake. When the cross came

through, Rachel Yankey connected well, but great defending from

Spain. It is a good run by Ellen White. She just put the ball into a

great area. The goalkeeper could not come out. Great need, and a good

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the Spanish flag with pride, because Spain are looking slightly more

Jennifer Hermoso. She has pushed a bit more for the forward. Shibboleth

stature -- similar stature to Jill tournaments, but she is normally

sitting on the bench. She is no mug, she is a tough defender to play

against, she has a lot of experience. She has not played that

many times for England, but she will settle in. She will be fine. This is

her 32nd cap, and that is the least of any of the players on the field.

Not that many starts amongst her caps, especially in matches like

this. Offside. It is different, this is a big tournament for England. For

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her to come in and start a centre intended to put in. Rachel Yankey is

hope Powell will look at changing the system. A bit more rigid than

has gameplay. It might need something different later in the

tournament to beat some of these teams, like France and Sweden and

Germany. You do need to have more tools in your pocket than just one

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That was close. She is not afraid to get on the ball. She just made a run

a bit too early. She did superbly well in the first half. She will

still try to get on the ball, she is a great player. She had been at

Everton for so long, she now plays the Liverpool. The big name in the

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Liverpool team that has started the flag up against Veronica Boquete.

Every time the ball goes to her, you sensed danger. She is a busy player,

full of confidence. She feels she carries the team, she is willing to

take the responsibility. A change here, Nagore Calderon is going off.

"Vicky" Losada is coming on. She placed Barcelona. She is new for the

team. She has excelled at the 19 level, 22 years old now. More of an

attack minded midfielder than the player she has replaced. It is

finely balanced, this game. A bit of brilliance could win it at some

point in the second half, or maybe a tactical change or a substitute or a

getting stretched. A great run by Alex Scott, I thought she was going

to use her as a decoy. England have not attacked the back for yet, they

are not the best at going forward, you have got to put pressure on them

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Martin. That would have been an instant impact from "Vicky" Losada.

The offending from Casey Stoney. She gives to defend the second ball. She

gave too much space. She put it over the bar. It is great to see members

of the Scotland team here. They were picked by Spain in the play-off

game. Some would say robbed. I know a few of the Scottish team. They

really feel hard done by, and if you watched it, you would know what we

are talking about. It was in the rain in Madrid in October, Spain one

with an injury time winner in extra time from Veronica Boquete, just

after she had a penalty saved. Scotland were seconds away from

winning on away goals. That would have been great. They would have

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The referee looked at her assistant to see what she thought, but she was

miles away. She might have got a little touch. England might have got

a bit lucky. Just trying to get the rest of the players going. These set

pieces are a real opportunity, they corner. She is about two foot taller

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Hermoso on Anita Asante. The Swedish crowd is tying to get

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Meseguer. Jill Scott is on the ball, millions. -- Williams. Alex Scott

has really scampered across with determination. Asante into Jill

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She couldn't get enough power on the Stoney just wants one big chance.

This is where England needs to keep Spain to push the game forward. Put

them under pressure on the edge of their own box and see how they deal

speculative effort from White. That could cause a problem for the

Spanish keeper. Two mines there. -- Scott. The sting was taken away from

the shot. It is difficult for the England players to get near her. She

is quick when she is running with the ball. When you lie and, you just

might be liable to bring her down. She is determined to score another

goal. Boquete is in again. Bassett is strong and quick and full of

Karen Carney is ready for action. The referee is a saying that Karen

Bardsley will have to take the kick in the second half. Meseguer. Marta

Torrejon turned and played it back. Boquete. Bardsley knew it was going

over the top. Boquete will not rest until she scores another goal in

this game. England failed to clear. Not to the usual standard.

Boquete plows on, this is the big moment in the match. Aluko is doing

what she is on the pitch to do. Karen Carney is coming on. She is

fit and ready to go. She is coming back from injury. Her colleagues are

thinking she could do 20 minutes or so. She will be full of energy and

enthusiasm. Key players he came to the nation's attention nine years

ago. -- who came to the nation's attention. Karen Carney has scored

an injury time winner against Denmark. That was a great moment for

her. She has established herself as a top player. She has developed

really well. I thought the ball said nine. There would have been gasps

all around. It is eight, -- it is eight. Putellas is going to take the

place of Sonia. She has run out of steam. She made her debut against

Denmark in the one and only warm-up game that Spain played for this

England pay for that? What a chance for the Vicky Losada. Spain should

be in front. Karen Bardsley's parts can return to normal levels again.

She completely misjudged it. She tried to fire it up hard as she

could instead of just putting it in there. It really kicked off there.

You have just got to put that in, haven't you? She tried to fire it

in. That is a massive let down for England. Huge moment. Asante. A free

kick for England now, much to Spain's annoyance. The yellow card

will not help either for Paredes. am not sure that was a yellow card.

Both players went in as hard as each other. She does catch Asante. Caught

a bit of the ball first. A continued lunch. Could not stop herself. The

neutrals in the crowd had just turned in the favour of Spain. --

have just turned. They were not happy with that yellow card. They

are not neutrals. The flag is not get the hype on it. -- the

height on it. Yankey is under pressure. The talus. -- Putellas. It

is a let off for England but it might just inspire Spanish

competence for the rest of the match by that. Karen Bardsley is a really

tall keeper and it is not often that happens to her. That was a huge

of Spain booming out. Paredes with miracle. Laura Bassett is getting to

grips with it. That will be a yellow card. Laura Bassett does that for

the sake of the team, she will take that yellow card. She cannot argue

with it, can she? She knew she was going to get a yellow card. She was

kick as well. -- Putellas. Not a bad delivery. It has gone all the way

through. A faint flick from Andrea Martin. No more than that. One of

those bother you have just got to attack. Spain has to get a little

bit more on it. Just throw yourself at it. 12 very interesting minutes

left. The England assessment is, could do better, should do better.

The saved -- the Spain assessment will be, all well and good but

a chance to get into it yet. The real pressure therefrom Meseguer.

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referee is not happy with the jump think both teams think they can do

something in the last ten minutes to win this game. Both are capable.

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Williams. Too tight to get out of front of the talus. -- Putellas. A

chance for here. -- a chance for Carney here. Ellen White goes for

it! Just wide. It really was only just. That is what Karen Carney is

good at. She knows exactly what Ms. Ellen White is going to make. What a

great touch. -- she does exactly next eight minutes plus. Neither

great player Alexia Putellas looks, only 19. She gets the rebound from

her. Easy in the end, but the intent is there and the skill is there.

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Give a 19-year-old a go, you never A scream of anguish from Marta

Torrejon. I think that was a good corner. Spain looking more likely to

win. They are more lively going forward, lots of confidence, not

afraid to take players on. England have got to cope with it. Alexia

Putellas scored in a four - zero victory for Spain over England in

thumping finish from Jennifer ball at the area, they not manage

it. Steph Houghton could not get it far enough away. A great finish. It

was coming. The warning signs were there. Great cheers for Jennifer

Hermoso, she plays in Sweden. She is doing well in Swedish football, four

goals in the league. One goal at Euro 2013. Is it enough to give

Spain all three points, a winning start? England managed to equalise

four minutes after Spain's first goal, they only have four minutes to

it. It looked like she was late, it might be a free kick to Spain.

the Spanish girl ended up hitting her in her side. It is Irene

Paredes. This is the potential winning goal for Spain. Steph

Houghton swung a foot at it, she could not get enough on it. It was a

thumping finish. Jennifer Hermoso's first senior international goal.

has managed one victory for Spain over England before in nine

meetings. The time has come now, England have got to do something

different, change the shape, cause havoc in the back for, try to get

the equaliser. It cannot be the same thing in the same formation. In the

land of a famous home store, they have got to throw the kitchen sink

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at Bain. Just get the ball in there, you believe it? ! Laura Bassett

tried her luck! As earlier on in the game, Spain could not hold their

lead. This is so late in the game! Brilliant. People have questioned

it, is she good enough to do this? She has got herself a goal. The

goalkeeper was way out of position. That is worth an effort! For England

supporters, time almost stood still. You thought Ainhoa Tirapu might get

a hand on it, but it was just out of her reach. All of the action at the

start and at the end. England need to be careful that they do not

concede a game, but they sense that they can win. Spain will think, what

do they have to do to get a victory over England? They cannot hang on to

the lead. You throw the ball into the middle from a set piece, it

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causes confusion. A goal can come is not worried about the collision.

She did well, it was always going to be the goalkeeper's Veronica Boquete

is hurt. Yes, the goalkeeper has got to go for it. Winded, I think the

appearances for England, double figures in terms of goals. She got a

couple in qualifying, but she will be hard pressed to get a touch of

the ball in what remains of this. It is not over yet, there might be a

winner for either side, but what would George verdict be? Lucky

England's -- lucky England? England have shown that you should keep

going and you never know what will happen. Opening games are difficult,

I lot of nerves, they will hope to improve as they go along, and not

lose this game. They did not let it worry them. I liked the way Casey

Stoney called all of the players into a group, and there were calm

words. She pointed out that there was time left, and so it proved.

There are players here capable of getting them back in the game at any

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had the stuffing knocked out of Alexia Putellas wanted it that

little bit more! Spain have done to England what they did to Scotland in

the qualifying play-off! They have across. It was always going to be

the goalkeeper's. She did incredibly well to get herself in there. Get

anything on it. It ended up coming off Karen Bardsley, but the pressure

was there. Karen Bardsley will feel that she has had a horror moment.

There is barely time for this substitution, Sandra Vilanova, one

of the most experienced players, England a point. Spain kept on

pressing. They got the winning all, and look what it means to them. It

is a winning start for a team who has not been at a European

Championships finals since 1997. They have been growing and getting

better. They have inflicted a losing start upon England. Your final

thoughts? Really disappointed. When you get a late equaliser, you have

got to see the game out. They will watch the reaction of Spain. They

will try to win the next game. next game is against Russia, here on

Monday. They have lost in their the tournament without any points.

What did you make of that? Very poor. In the second half, they came

out, they were giving balls away too easily, and you have got to give

Spain credit, they were comfortable, they made things happen. England got

what they deserved, nothing. At one point we thought we might have got

ourselves out of jail with Laura Bassett getting an -- with Laura

Bassett's point. We were not ever fluid enough. We did not have a real

quality with our passing. We gave the ball back to sloppily to Spain.

I am really got it. We started off really well. We had patches, but

just not good enough from England. We are used to being so much better

than that. Our passing so much better. I think the girls and hope

Powell will be really, really disappointed. Let's have a look at

disappointed. Let's have a look at that goal in added time at the end

disappointed. Let's have a look at that goal in added time at It was a

Bardsley own goal at the end of it. I thought Martin was doing

brilliantly. I was shouting at the television for her to not cross it.

But for me, Karen Bardsley is not commanding enough. Not enough for a

foul. Get the block in. She just kind of runs into the area. It goes

through her hands. We have got two players back there defending, and

Martin still manages to get a cross in. England will be very difficult

-- disappointed with that. She's usually very commanding and

controlled it but was not as controlling as she should have been.

Hermoso put Spain up. This is the one that was the cross into the box.

She picks up the ball there. She has been there for five seconds before

the ball lands at her feet. It is a great finish. She's got to do

better. She is got to clear that ball. She has a trusty left foot.

She has her head down. Sloppy defending from England. I think what

the ball has been cleared initially, Houghton have to just check if

anyone is fair and has to clear that the better. You have to be aware

that danger is around. You have got to know where the forwards are. If

you are not aware of that... We cut Laura Bassett had rescued a point

for England. They really did. There were some excellent corners. Yankey

on one side and charity-macro on the other side. You can just see --

Aluko on the other side. You can just see, Laura Bassett just pokes a

lake in the right direction. It is a lovely finish. That is exactly where

she would have wanted to put it. You wonder if the goalkeeper could have

been a bit better, but it was brilliant. But it seems that is what

the players thought. I think Spain knew that they had to highlight that

we have done this to them on so many occasions. They were so up for this

game. We have given them heartbreak in not getting to the World Cup in

2011. A lot of the players were in that situation and they will be

delighted. You could see, the likes of Boquete, she ran the game. She

was one of the best players so far in this tournament in showing how

she has led her team and created problems. You are the player that

scored the goal so late on and delight -- denied them that place at

the World Cup in 2011. You can tell they played with that animation.

They had a desire. There were two players closing the ball down. They

were it England for -- they were making it difficult for England to

pass. There were some of sloppy passes. They made it hard and

difficult. I think we have enough quality to still be able to hold the

ball and hold the player off and linked a few more passes together.

How much of a do you think was down to the fact that Spain simply played

well, and how much was it that the pressure was on England to perform?

I think we saw that at the beginning I think we saw that at the beginning

of the game. Back into it. You have to look at all the players. Spain

made the substitutions at the right time. Hope Powell, that is something

that you have got to look at. The substitutions for negative and they

were late. When things are not happening for England, she made her

substitutions too late, and it did not give England an opportunity to

change things in the second half. They got that one opportunity in the

second half but it was all about Spain for me. We stopped the talus,

fantastic performance when she came onto the field. -- Putellas.

looked as if the Spanish verb retiring. I think they were a bit

more physical. -- the Spanish were retiring. We just did not play

today. What will you say to the team today? Chins up. There are more

games to play and we have got to win those two games. We have to see

where we go from there. How do you lift them? They will lift

themselves. We will be very, very positive. They will have to learn

from the areas and do better next time. Thank you. How do they regroup

after this? This is where the experienced players have got to talk

to the younger players and say, in 2009 this happened, we got beat by

Italy and we went through to the family -- the final. They have got

another two games to put things right. They need to see where they

can improve. Russia is the next game and they have got to focus on that.

I think they will go back and analyse it and a lot of players will

be is appointed in themselves. They will have a chat between them and

net the things that they need to put right. -- be disappointed. The BBC

coverage of the championship continues tomorrow. You can catch up

with all of the latest news on the BBC tomorrow morning at 7:40am.

Tomorrow night, it is a Nordic affair. Huge pressure for Sweden.