Michelle Agyemang's journey from ball girl to England hero with 'world at her feet'
It's become a familiar pattern for England at this summer's European Championship - trail for long periods before completing an escape Harry Houdini would envy. Facing Sweden in the quarter-final, the Lionesses were trailing by two in the closing stages, while against Italy in the last four they were 90 seconds from elimination.
Somehow, Sarina Wiegman's side emerged from both of those ties victorious and now stand on the brink of history. And of all the England heroes in Switzerland, it's Michelle Agyemang, with two dramatic strikes, that can take most credit for their rollercoaster passage to Sunday's final.
At just 19, Agyemang is the youngest member of Wiegman's squad, having made just one appearance for the senior side prior to the tournament. She had featured alongside her new team-mates four years previous though, standing on the sidelines as ball girl during a 4-0 win over Northern Ireland at Wembley.
An injury to Arsenal team-mate Alessia Russo earlier this year gave her the chance to step beyond the white lines, having progressed through the youth ranks. She took that opportunity with both hands, scoring a stunning volley just 41 seconds after coming off the bench.
Agyemang spent the 2024/25 season on loan with Brighton, with her manager Dario Vidosic predicting she would be a huge name by the time the summer was over. He said: "She's got a beautiful strike, she knows how to hit a ball, she's dangerous, she possesses a lot of weapons and she'll be, no doubt, a household name sooner rather than later.'
Even Vidosic couldn't have predicted just how quickly it would happen, though. Back-to-back goals in the knockout stages, including Tuesday night's 95th minute equaliser mean she is the new star of the side, with plenty of focus on her.
Chloe Kelly, who netted the historic winner in the Euro 2022 final, also scored the decisive goal vs Italy, but she reserved special praise for the player that changed the game. "She's an unbelievable player. She's got the world at her feet, she's a young player with a bright future and I'm absolutely buzzing for her.'
Lucy Bronze will bring up her 140th cap against Spain or Germany this weekend added: "What a great player, what a bright future she's got.'
Agymang admitted she was still getting to know some of her international colleagues, although clearly had no issue with making her presence felt in training alongside more established names. Bronze revealed: "I think she had a few comments early on, not from players but from the outside where they said she's quite aggressive [in training] but I love it.
"What a great player to train against every single day in training. And you see it when she comes on, like defenders are petrified of her, coming up against her.'
Wiegman has resisted the temptation to start Agyemang, or fellow sub Kelly, although calls for changes continue after their impact from the bench. "She's not forcing me [to start]. She is very grateful that she gets minutes," Wiegman said after her latest batch of heroics.
It means that in all likelihood, just as she did at Wembley in Wiegman's third game in charge, Agyemang will start Sunday watching on from the sidelines. Unlike four years ago however, the teenager will expect to have the decisive impact in making England European champions again.
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South Wales Argus
18 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Sarina Wiegman to keep on dancing after ‘chaotic and ridiculous' Euro 2025 win
Substitute Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time winner at Wembley secured the Lionesses their first major trophy three summers ago, was once again the hero, coolly converting in the shootout with the World Cup holders following a 1-1 extra-time stalemate. Wiegman has now led teams – first the Netherlands, now England – to the trophy at the last three European Championships, though none, admitted the Dutchwoman, was more 'chaotic' and 'ridiculous' as this. "England are crowned queens of European football again!" 😍 Re-live it all! 👇🍿 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 'I'm very happy,' said Wiegman. 'I actually can't believe it myself. It was like, 'how can it happen?' but it happened. I am so incredibly proud of the team and the staff.' Wiegman was spotted busting a move after Kelly once again rose to the highest occasion, and plans to keep letting loose – perhaps to the chagrin of her phone, which twice reminded the England boss during her post-match press conference that she was due a workout. 'I'll do some more dancing,' said Wiegman. 'And I'll have a drink, but I don't think I will drink as much as the players.' Though the Lionesses insisted they had moved on, Sunday's triumph also avenged the 2023 World Cup final, where England were beaten by Spain 1-0 in Sydney in their first global showpiece final. Spain were first-time finalists in this competition but the favourites, and came one step closer to the title when Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey nodded home a 25th-minute opener. But Kelly teed up Russo for a header of her own and 57th-minute equaliser, while two spectacular saves by Hannah Hampton in the shootout opened the door for Kelly to write more history as the Lionesses became the first senior English football team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil. England's Chloe Kelly celebrates with the trophy (Nick Potts/PA) 'I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' Wiegman added. 'Every time we could come back, in the quarter-final and the semi-final and the final, we came from behind. Of course we have players that have talents, and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back. 'The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.' England's title defence was hanging by a thread following their 2-1 opening defeat to France, but group stage victories over the Netherlands then Wales kept their title defence alive. Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scored late in their Sweden quarter-final, ultimately setting up a chaotic, error-strewn shootout, won by Bronze with England's seventh try. It took Kelly's extra-time winner from off the bench in their Italy semi-final to book their place in the Spain showdown – after 19-year-old standout Michelle Agyemang had netted another incredible equaliser. England manager Sarina Wiegman collects her medal (Peter Byrne/PA) Even before her heroics in Basel, Kelly, at these Euros, had come in with the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament since Opta started analysing major women's tournaments in 2011. And while Wiegman conceded there had been moments in this campaign – and particularly the Sweden and Italy matches – Sunday's comeback was never in doubt. Asked if there was a moment her belief had wavered, Wiegman replied: 'To be honest, tonight, I didn't.'
South Wales Guardian
18 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Sarina Wiegman to keep on dancing after ‘chaotic and ridiculous' Euro 2025 win
Substitute Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time winner at Wembley secured the Lionesses their first major trophy three summers ago, was once again the hero, coolly converting in the shootout with the World Cup holders following a 1-1 extra-time stalemate. Wiegman has now led teams – first the Netherlands, now England – to the trophy at the last three European Championships, though none, admitted the Dutchwoman, was more 'chaotic' and 'ridiculous' as this. "England are crowned queens of European football again!" 😍 Re-live it all! 👇🍿 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 'I'm very happy,' said Wiegman. 'I actually can't believe it myself. It was like, 'how can it happen?' but it happened. I am so incredibly proud of the team and the staff.' Wiegman was spotted busting a move after Kelly once again rose to the highest occasion, and plans to keep letting loose – perhaps to the chagrin of her phone, which twice reminded the England boss during her post-match press conference that she was due a workout. 'I'll do some more dancing,' said Wiegman. 'And I'll have a drink, but I don't think I will drink as much as the players.' Though the Lionesses insisted they had moved on, Sunday's triumph also avenged the 2023 World Cup final, where England were beaten by Spain 1-0 in Sydney in their first global showpiece final. Spain were first-time finalists in this competition but the favourites, and came one step closer to the title when Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey nodded home a 25th-minute opener. But Kelly teed up Russo for a header of her own and 57th-minute equaliser, while two spectacular saves by Hannah Hampton in the shootout opened the door for Kelly to write more history as the Lionesses became the first senior English football team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil. 'I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' Wiegman added. 'Every time we could come back, in the quarter-final and the semi-final and the final, we came from behind. Of course we have players that have talents, and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back. 'The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.' England's title defence was hanging by a thread following their 2-1 opening defeat to France, but group stage victories over the Netherlands then Wales kept their title defence alive. Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scored late in their Sweden quarter-final, ultimately setting up a chaotic, error-strewn shootout, won by Bronze with England's seventh try. It took Kelly's extra-time winner from off the bench in their Italy semi-final to book their place in the Spain showdown – after 19-year-old standout Michelle Agyemang had netted another incredible equaliser. Even before her heroics in Basel, Kelly, at these Euros, had come in with the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament since Opta started analysing major women's tournaments in 2011. And while Wiegman conceded there had been moments in this campaign – and particularly the Sweden and Italy matches – Sunday's comeback was never in doubt. Asked if there was a moment her belief had wavered, Wiegman replied: 'To be honest, tonight, I didn't.'
Powys County Times
18 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Sarina Wiegman to keep on dancing after ‘chaotic and ridiculous' Euro 2025 win
England boss Sarina Wiegman promised to 'do some more dancing' after the Lionesses completed their third successive comeback to defend their European crown with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Spain in Basel. Substitute Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time winner at Wembley secured the Lionesses their first major trophy three summers ago, was once again the hero, coolly converting in the shootout with the World Cup holders following a 1-1 extra-time stalemate. Wiegman has now led teams – first the Netherlands, now England – to the trophy at the last three European Championships, though none, admitted the Dutchwoman, was more 'chaotic' and 'ridiculous' as this. "England are crowned queens of European football again!" 😍 Re-live it all! 👇🍿 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 'I'm very happy,' said Wiegman. 'I actually can't believe it myself. It was like, 'how can it happen?' but it happened. I am so incredibly proud of the team and the staff.' Wiegman was spotted busting a move after Kelly once again rose to the highest occasion, and plans to keep letting loose – perhaps to the chagrin of her phone, which twice reminded the England boss during her post-match press conference that she was due a workout. 'I'll do some more dancing,' said Wiegman. 'And I'll have a drink, but I don't think I will drink as much as the players.' Though the Lionesses insisted they had moved on, Sunday's triumph also avenged the 2023 World Cup final, where England were beaten by Spain 1-0 in Sydney in their first global showpiece final. Spain were first-time finalists in this competition but the favourites, and came one step closer to the title when Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey nodded home a 25th-minute opener. But Kelly teed up Russo for a header of her own and 57th-minute equaliser, while two spectacular saves by Hannah Hampton in the shootout opened the door for Kelly to write more history as the Lionesses became the first senior English football team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil. 'I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' Wiegman added. 'Every time we could come back, in the quarter-final and the semi-final and the final, we came from behind. Of course we have players that have talents, and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back. 'The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.' England's title defence was hanging by a thread following their 2-1 opening defeat to France, but group stage victories over the Netherlands then Wales kept their title defence alive. Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scored late in their Sweden quarter-final, ultimately setting up a chaotic, error-strewn shootout, won by Bronze with England's seventh try. It took Kelly's extra-time winner from off the bench in their Italy semi-final to book their place in the Spain showdown – after 19-year-old standout Michelle Agyemang had netted another incredible equaliser. Even before her heroics in Basel, Kelly, at these Euros, had come in with the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament since Opta started analysing major women's tournaments in 2011. And while Wiegman conceded there had been moments in this campaign – and particularly the Sweden and Italy matches – Sunday's comeback was never in doubt. Asked if there was a moment her belief had wavered, Wiegman replied: 'To be honest, tonight, I didn't.'
