Success a 'constant driver' for England and Williamson

England have a "constant drive" for success as they aim to push on for Euro 2025 glory, so says captain Leah Williamson.

The Lionesses, who are reigning European champions following their triumph over Germany at Wembley in 2022, take on Sweden in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

England lost their Euro 2025 opener, going down 2-1 to France, but responded by thrashing the Netherlands 4-0 and hammering Wales 6-1 to book their place in the last eight.

And Arsenal star Williamson, who captained Sarina Wiegman's side to glory three years ago but missed England's run to the 2023 World Cup final due to injury, is desperate for more silverware.

"I think it drives us because of the mentality of the team and we're all in the same boat," Williamson said, as quoted by ESPN.

"I think that's what drives me. The team in 2022 was special to go on that journey with and I'll be forever proud to have been part of that squad, but we don't want it to be the only one. So naturally, [success] is a constant driver."

Instilling the winning mentality pic.twitter.com/qo6g12VO3e
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 15, 2025

No team recorded a higher expected goals figure than both England and Sweden (both 9.34 xG) across the group stage, while only Spain (14) scored more goals than the Lionesses (11 – level with France).

Eight different players netted for England in the group stage, with the Lionesses only having more players net in a single major tournament (World Cup/Euros) at Euro 2022 (nine).

Williamson added: "You want to do more, you always want to do more. I'd like to say that on that day [in the final against Germany] I felt as happy as I ever felt and that probably would've been enough for me. But it creeps around and everybody wants more all the time.

"I wasn't in Australia either and I think that level of being so close and constantly feeling like we have the potential and trying to get it out of ourselves.

"I think that's why we always say about how we'll work as hard as we can and we'll do everything we can to keep our dreams sort of up there."

Sweden have won all three of their games at Euro 2025, but have never won four in a row in the competition before. They have actually won six of their last seven games in the competition, with the exception being their 4-0 loss to England in the semi-finals of Euro 2022.

England, meanwhile, have progressed from each of their five quarter-final ties at major tournaments since the 2015 Women’s World Cup. It is the longest such run by a European nation, and Opta's supercomputer makes them the favourites, with a 49.4% chance of progressing to the last four.