Millie Bright played the 90 minutes in the heart of defence, as solid as ever, and Kirby was mesmeric at times, producing her best showing of the Women’s European Championships so far and deservedly crowning it with a goal.

England had fallen at the semi-final stage at the last three major tournaments but against the highest-ranked team at this one they delivered an exceptional performance having navigated a nervy opening 20 minutes.

It means the end for our Swedish pair of Magda Eriksson, who captained as usual, and Zecira Musovic, but Kirby, Bright, Jess Carter and Bethany England have a Wembley final to look forward to. Germany or France await on Sunday.

In front of a capacity crowd in South Yorkshire tonight, ex-Blue Sofia Jakobsson was denied inside 20 seconds by a fine Mary Earps save with an outstretched left leg. In response, Beth Mead headed a deep cross wide and the frenetic pace continued as both teams went on the attack.

Stina Blackstenius of Arsenal was the next to find Earps on top form, only for the England keeper to misjudge the resulting corner and watch on as Blackstenius crashed a header against the crossbar. Not 10 minutes had been played and this was already shaping up to be a classic.

Kirby flitted between the lines in her customary no.10 role, while Eriksson made a couple of important headed clearances as the Lionesses worked it wide and swung crosses in. Midway through the half Kirby then displayed her defensive instincts, tracking back to brilliantly intercept a low delivery on the penalty spot.

Her efforts were rewarded when England went ahead in the 34th minute, Mead controlling a Lucy Bronze cross and finishing with aplomb for her sixth goal of the tournament. Kirby, increasingly prominent as the half wore on, curled wide from range shortly before the break.

Immediately after it, England doubled their lead, an unmarked Bronze heading through a crowd and past Hedvig Lindahl in the Sweden goal.

It should have been three on the hour when sub Alessio Russo found Lauren Hemp with her first involvement after coming on, but the Man City forward couldn’t keep her shot down from a few yards out and watched it clip the bar and fly over.

Sweden’s set-piece threat is renowned and they peppered England’s goal from a flurry of corners delivered by recently departed Blue Jonna Andersson, Earps producing a tremendous fingertip save to thwart Blackstenius with their best chance created.

England weren’t done, though, and went 3-0 up through a bit of Russo ingenuity, backheeling the ball through Lindahl’s legs. Kirby had calmly created a much easier chance for the super sub seconds before.

England’s no.14 got the goal she deserved for a fantastic showing with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, shooting through Lindahl’s grasp from the edge of the box. Kirby was taken off soon after to a standing ovation from an enraptured Bramall Lane crowd.

They had witnessed a controlled, composed and clinical display from the Lionesses, who had only beaten Sweden three times in 26 games prior to this meeting. They now have a maiden final since 2009 to look forward to, and the chance to get their hands on the trophy for the first time.