British Lion Jess Carter admitted she was “reassured” when some of her white teammates missed their spotkick in the country’s Euro 2025 Final victory over Sweden last month, as it could have saved Lauren James from being racist abuse. In the shootout, they saw nine players eventually missed the penalty, and after England scored a victory in the final, they beat Spain in the final.
England had a 2-2 draw with Sweden at Stadion Letzgrund in Zurich as Lucy Bronze and Michel Aggieman scored in the final 11 minutes of normal time and cancelled a first half strike from Kosovare Aslani and Stina Blackstenius. The match was an extra time and eventually settled on a penalty shootout.
James stepped up to score the Lioness’ second spot kick after England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved Philippa Angeldahl’s efforts. However, James saw her shot being contested by Swedish keeper Jennifer Faulk.
Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood and Grace Clinton saw their efforts be saved. Fork proved to be an inspired form between the posts despite missing from 12 yards when he was given the opportunity to win a winner in a shootout when he stepped up to take Sweden’s fifth penalty.
The Bronze eventually slashed England’s seventh penalty into the roof of the net, leading her country to 3-2 in a shootout. And when Smira Holmberg burned Sweden’s seventh spot kick to the crossbar, the UK secured their position in the semi-finals that overcame Italy.
Discussing the penalty shootout in an interview with ITV News, Carter explained: “It’s scary to say, but when Black misses the penalty, it’s almost like a relief.
“It’s not because they want to fail… It’s about knowing what it will be for us (the black English players) if we missed it.”
Carter was the subject of racist abuse in Euro 2025, which resulted in the end of using social media in Switzerland.
The Lioness then decided not to kneel ahead of the semi-final showdown with Italy, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he was “deeply saddened” by the abuse.
Carter then added:
“It makes you do everything you do a second time – it’s not a good place. It doesn’t make me feel confident that I’ll return to the pitch. My family has also been so devastated by it and so sad.
“They obviously want to be there to support me being in Switzerland, but they couldn’t be there the whole time, and I think how it affects the people around you is even worse than it affects you.
“The message started with things like, “She’s not enough,” “shouldn’t play for England,” or “should be ashamed of her performance.” And that’s what started.
“I’m not going to go into detail, but from the moment I stepped onto the pitch from a French match, it was a fierce and aggressive racism.”
