But Stuart Pearce's men were made to sweat as they threw away a three-goal interval lead in Gothenburg's Gamla Ullevi Stadium.

England looked comfortably set for the final as they still led 3-0 with just 22 minutes remaining but the hosts staged a remarkable fight-back scoring three times in the final quarter of the match.

Fraizer Campbell was sent off in extra-time but the 10 men held on for penalties. James Milner missed the first kick but England recovered to overcome their spot-kick hoodoo and reach the final against Germany or Italy.

However they will be without goalkeeper Joe Hart and strikers Campbell and Gabriel Agbonlahor through suspension.

England got off to a flying start taking the lead after just 53 seconds thanks to a goal from Portsmouth defender Martin Cranie.

James Milner's right-wing corner was glanced on by Micah Richards to Cranie, who took a touch with his chest before volleying home with the help of Agbonlahor jumping over the ball in front of Sweden goalkeeper Johan Dahlin.

It has been quite a tournament for Cranie who has not yet scored a club goal in his career.

He may not even have played in the opening group match against Finland if Nedum Onuoha had been fit but his performances since have kept Michael Mancienne out of the team.

Another Milner corner set up the second on 27 minutes when Manchester City's Onuoha was allowed to take a touch close to the six-yard area. He turned Rasmus Bengtsson and fired into the bottom corner.

England effectively sealed their place in the final 11 minutes later when Mattias Bjarsmyr sliced into his own net from six yards as he tried to clear Lee Cattermole's header from Theo Walcott's cross.

Cranie almost got a second but saw his well-directed header kicked off the line by Guillermo Molins on 65 minutes.

Two minutes later Sweden reduced the arrears when Marcus Berg was left free 10 yards out and swept home his sixth goal in four matches following a good pull-back from Molins on the right.

England were made to sweat when Ola Toivonen made it 3-2 with 15 minutes on the clock, curling a superb 22-yard free-kick over the wall and just inside the right post.

And with nine minutes remaining Berg hooked home his seventh goal of the tournament to give the hosts an astonishing equaliser. Molins crossed from the right again, Rasmus Elm back-heeled from beyond the far post and the unmarked Berg applied a clinical finish from eight yards to force an additional 30 minutes.

England's misery increased when Fraizer Campbell was sent off for a second bookable offence a minute before half-time in extra-time following a reckless lunge.

Pearce's men had a let-off nine minutes from time when Berg was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork as his looping header stuck the bar with Joe Hart beaten.

But they hung on with 10 men to earn a penalty shoot-out, evoking memories of the previous tournament when they were beaten on spot-kicks by hosts Holland.

However they buried that ghost with a thrilling 5-4 win, despite missing the first kick. Milner slipped as he struck the ball, slicing horribly wide.

In-form striker Berg though missed Sweden's first kick, shooting low down the middle and seeing his shot saved by the legs of Hart who took England's next kick himself and slammed into the roof of the net.

Elm fired bottom left to bring the Swedes level before Lee Cattermole sent Johan Dahlin the wrong way. Bjarsmyr again gave the hosts parity but Adam Johnson stroked bottom right to restore the advantage.

Hart was booked, his second yellow of the competition ruling him out of the final in Malmo. Lustig made it 3-3 but Theo Walcott fired England in front once more before Rasmus Bengtsson levelled on his birthday.

That sent the shoot-out to sudden death. Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs made it 5-4 and Molins hit the base of the left post to hand England victory and a place in Monday's final.

There they will be without three players through suspension. Campbell's red card will rule him out along with Hart and Gabriel Agbonlahor who received his second booking of the competition when he led with his arm while challenging Bjarsmyr.