Sweden’s Filippa Angeldahl has had a standout Euros. The 28-year-old Real Madrid midfielder scored the winner against Denmark in Sweden’s opening group game and started in the impressive victories over Poland and Germany to set up Thursday’s quarter-final against England in Zurich.
Angeldahl is also coming off the back of an outstanding season with Real Madrid in which she played 44 games and scored five goals in all competitions after leaving Manchester City for Madrid. She will now come up against her old teammates Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp, Jess Park and Khiara Keating for a place in the semi-finals of the Euros.
Sweden are ‘Threat to Anyone’
They face England in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals
“We are a team that tends to show our best in big tournaments,” said Angeldahl, speaking exclusively to GMS. “We’ve had difficult games against Denmark, Poland and Germany, but we arrived at this tournament good form. We beat Denmark 6-1 in the Nations League and drew with England in our Euro 2025 qualifier a year ago.
“I think our strength is that we know each other so well, and love to be with each other, both on and off the pitch. We have a leader in Magdalena Eriksson, some exciting young talents like Ellen Wangerhelm and great characters like Sofia Jakobsson. The team just has strong chemistry.
“And on the field, we are a strong counter-attacking team. Our speed, and the way we work for each other, are two of our strengths. We are always trying to win the ball and then go from there. I think we are a threat against anyone.”
Angeldahl was named Player of the Match in the 1-0 victory over Denmark and revealed she felt “a mix of joy and relief” to get the opening match out of the way. Coach Peter Gerhadsson expects her to be the ‘engine room’ of the team and gives her plenty of freedom to get forward.
And it’s a similar story at Real Madrid, where Angeldahl contributed with five Liga F goals and four assists in a standout debut season.
“I have had great first season at Real Madrid and I think I have taken that into this tournament,” said Angeldahl, who has won 74 caps for Sweden. “I played a lot, and I think [now-departed coach] Alberto Toril trusted me. I felt really confident. 2024/25 was probably my best season in both club football and for the national team.
It was, and still is, an unbelievable feeling wearing the Real Madrid shirt. Every time you put it on you realise what a big club it is.
And it’s obviously special wearing the Sweden jersey as well.
“Now I am just looking to keep improving. I want to be even more aggressive, in a controlled way, and try to win more duels, and just make sure I am always smart on the ball as well as capable of winning it back quickly.”
Angeldahl grew up idolising Marta. The legendary Brazilian forward spent five years playing in Sweden for Tyreso and Rosengard between 2012 and 2017 allowing Angeldahl to see quite a few of her games as she was breaking through. She never contemplated becoming a striker like Marta, though, but she was a prolific scorer in another sport…
Angeldahl Played Bandy Growing Up
The sport is 11-a-side hockey
“I always knew I wanted to be a midfielder, but it was hard not to be impressed by Marta and all her qualities,” said Angeldahl. “But I was a striker in bandy, which is eleven-aside ice hockey. And I even won the Bandy World Championship with Sweden in 2013 and was the top scorer at that tournament!
“To be honest, I never thought about swapping the grass for the ice. Ever since I was a kid, I played football with my brother, who I always wanted to be better than, as well as my sister and dad. Becoming a professional footballer was an easy choice because it was all I could think about growing up.”
Angeldahl is now a mother, with one-year old son, Aston Björn, born last May and cheering her on at the Euros. Her partner, Megan Brakes, is also Angeldahl’s agent and the pair have managed to balance football and family pretty effectively and even avoid some sleepless nights.
“I’m lucky, because Aston has been really good, and Megan has been taking the night shifts!” said Angeldahl, who named Aston Björn after close friend and national teammate Natalie Björn. “I have nothing to complain about and have been sleeping very well.
“Being a mother puts football into perspective. Now if we lose a game, I still come home and my son and family bring me so much happiness. Hopefully, by the time he sees me at the 2027 World Cup, he’ll remember a bit more! I feel proud when I see him at games but he’s still too young to understand what’s going on!”
Angeldahl will have plenty of photos from the tournament to show her son, and will one day be able to recount to him how she also won silver with Sweden at 2020 Olympic Games before he was born.
And on current form, she could even get to parade another medal as Sweden look to beat defending champions England and get one step closer to the final.
Sweden last won the Euros in 2013 but are in sensational form, having thrashed Euro 2022 finalists Germany 4-1 last time out and conceded just one goal in the group stage. Angeldahl could now be key to a fairytale Euros with Sweden showing signs they are capable of going all the way.
“We are not thinking about getting to the final just yet,” said Angeldahl. “The mentality of the group is just to take one game at a time. We need to work hard and stay humble. Of course, we want that gold medal. But it’s really just about staying focused and showing what we’re capable of. If we do that, we can be a match for anyone at this tournament.”
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All statistics according to Transfermarkt – correct as of 16-07-25.