Italy v Wales rearranged due to Pope's funeral
Speaking before the decision was made, Wales vice-captain Keira Bevan said the squad was preparing as normal.She said: "There's nothing we can do right now apart from prepare as if the game is going ahead this weekend."We can't think about whether the game is not going ahead or we could get caught out. We are preparing as normal."
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Times
13 minutes ago
- Times
Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang rescued England — keep them on bench
Just as it appeared that Sarina Wiegman had found her best XI, last Thursday's Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden has thrust the head coach's line-up back into flux. That game was transformed once Wiegman made four substitutions in the closing stages, helping the Lionesses to recover from 2-0 down before winning on penalties. By the second half of extra time, England had six substitutes on the pitch. So England should start Tuesday's semi-final against Italy with the same XI that finished the quarter-final, right? Of course, it's not that simple. Implementing wholesale changes could result in an unfamiliar style that England cannot execute, and may fail to recognise how Italy pose a different challenge to Sweden. Furthermore, England's substitutes — the self-proclaimed 'positive clicks' — seem relatively content in their impact roles. But after starting so poorly last Thursday, Wiegman surely has to make adjustments. What should change, and where must she preserve the status quo? Defence: the Carter dilemma and persisting with Greenwood Jess Carter struggled against Sweden's pace and power. She and Leah Williamson swapped centre-back positions to take Carter away from Sweden's dangerous right-sided attackers, before the Gotham FC defender was substituted in the 70th minute. Carter also floundered at left back in England's tournament-opener defeat by France, and Italy may pinpoint her as a weakness. Yet Carter's on-pitch capabilities are merely part of Wiegman's dilemma. The 27-year-old revealed on Sunday that she had been subjected to racist abuse on social media, and England will stop taking a knee before matches as a result. Wiegman must deduce whether any improvements to the team from dropping Carter outweigh the potential psychological ramifications of the decision. Esme Morgan would be a solid replacement. The Washington Spirit defender, 24, is taller and more mobile than Carter, meaning she is better at dealing with one-on-one situations and passes over the top. Carter is better on the ball but Italy's press is among the most conservative in the tournament, so Morgan's limitations in this area should be mitigated. By the end of the Sweden game, Niamh Charles was playing left back and, given she has been derided for defensive mishaps this year, played well. However, whether she has 90 (or 120) minutes of good defending in her is uncertain. Consequently, Alex Greenwood should continue at left back. Greenwood's aerial presence — she plays centre back for Manchester City — could neutralise Italy's penchant for long, diagonal passes. The big caveat is Williamson's ankle injury, even though Morgan said England were 'very optimistic' that the captain would recover for Tuesday. If this verdict proves misleading, then the most in-form back four would be Lucy Bronze, Morgan, Greenwood, Charles. Midfield: not the time for panic England's starting midfield was also poor during the Sweden game, but the trio of Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone clicked nicely in the previous two matches against Wales and the Netherlands. Sticking with this midfield feels prudent, partly because the alternatives are not hugely appealing. That there are no natural replacements for Walsh or Stanway is a long-term concern for Wiegman, but not one to be addressed in the final week of a major tournament. Further forward, removing Toone and restoring Lauren James in a free-roaming No10 role would risk resurrecting the midfield troubles of the France game. Switching to a back three could also leave the midfield overwhelmed, as it was against France. With the exception of a friendly featuring a heavily rotated XI against Switzerland last December, England have not used this system since the 2023 World Cup. A midfield of Walsh and James helped England come back last Thursday, but the frantic state of the game created unique circumstances. For Tuesday, the more balanced midfield of Walsh, Stanway and Toone makes sense. Attack: keep holding back the game-changers While Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang were pivotal against Sweden, both may profit from staying on the bench for now. Kelly is an ideal impact substitute. As she displayed on Thursday, in contributing two assists before scoring a penalty in the shoot-out, she has the direct style to beat tiring defenders and relishes the role of England's saviour. Her forceful out-of-possession work is useful from the start when the opponent has control of the game, but England should have more of the ball than Italy. Meanwhile, starting Agyemang would probably mean playing alongside Alessia Russo, and both forwards are keen to drift away from the No9 position and play with their back to goal. Russo and Agyemang as a striker duo is a fascinating concept but, considering they are not natural foils for one another, perhaps best left as an experiment after the Euros. The 19-year-old Agyemang, like Kelly, is a brilliant option off the bench. If England are to make a change up front, perhaps Beth Mead for Lauren Hemp is the choice. Mead possesses the subtle passing and movement to break down a stubborn Italy, and Hemp had an uncharacteristically quiet game against Sweden.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Football Daily Women's Euros: Penalty drama & Jess Carter subjected to racist abuse
Ben Haines, England women's record goal scorer Ellen White and The Guardian's Tom Garry react to Jess Carter revealing she has received racist abuse throughout the tournament. The Lionesses have said they will stop taking the knee before matches as football needs to find another way to tackle racism. Jess Carter has also said she will be stepping back from social media. Katie Smith has been speaking with Alex Greenwood about how Jess is and conversations within the team about the abuse. On the pitch Ellen and Tom give their insight into some dramatic football in the quarter-finals, how England will go into their semi-final against Italy and what is going on with penalties at this tournament! Timecodes: 02:32 Statements on Jess Carter racist abuse 12:00 Alex Greenwood with Katie Smith 22:10 Ellen on Sweden game 31:10 Italian threat 36:15 Ann-Katrin Berger 42:11 Penalties!
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Morgan claims England 'never beaten' as subs remain vital for Wiegman
While Morgan's was not the switch that caught the headlines, her introduction for Jess Carter instigated a system change that saw England move to a back five. It is indicative of the precision and impact Wiegman seeks to have with her substitutes and proved game-changing as the Lionesses scored two quickfire goals to take Sweden to extra-time in Zurich. For Morgan, the deficit proved freeing in her major tournament debut as she looked to haul England back from the precipice of an exit after entering in the 70th minute. 'I was really excited to be able to come on and have the mindset with [Beth] Meado and Mich [Agyemang] that we have nothing to lose. Just try to make an impact,' she said. 'Not long after that Chloe [Kelly] came on and served up two brilliant crosses for us to come back. That was just such a thrill and then you've got the adrenaline going. 'When extra-time comes you know you've got another 30 minutes of football, so you've got to re-regulate, bring yourself back down level and focus. 'We managed to battle through that and hang on even with people going down and then penalties came and that was just ridiculous really.' Morgan looked completely at home in the new-look back three despite playing her first European Championship minutes in one of the most intense encounters of the competition so far. Having missed Euro 2022 through injury and remained an unused substitute during the 2023 World Cup, it was particularly emotional for her family, who were there in support and watched on through a nerve-wracking 14 penalties. 'It was really, really special. Apparently, my mum was sobbing when I came on, bless her! It doesn't take much to set her off watching the football,' said Morgan. 'She was crying as well after we won on penalties, so a lot of tears were shed. 'I was just really excited to get the opportunity. I've been working hard throughout the tournament to stay prepared if I was called upon so I felt really ready when that happened to be able to make an impact and a good contribution to the team. 'Being able to turn it around and get the win in the end was such a joyous moment.' England's is a bench that has consistently caught headlines as Morgan and her peers have big shoes to fill. Whether for the impact of Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo three years ago at Euro 2022, or for their 'snapping' celebration after Beth Mead's goal against Wales the Lionesses' bench has remained impactful. Against Sweden, it proved no different. Kelly's impact, in particular, was remarkable. She was instrumental in both of England's open play goals before going on to score a decisive penalty in the shootout. 'She's an incredible player. She seems to thrive on these moments when the team needs her to pull a performance out of the bag,' Morgan reflected. 'She was getting in great positions in the wide areas and Chloe is a brilliant crosser of the ball so when I saw her cut in, I just knew she was going to land it on somebody's head. Thankfully, people were there ready to finish it off. 'Obviously she had a decisive penalty as well and under that pressure, there is no one I would rather have in that position. 'She's so reliable and just so composed and calm. She said afterwards that she made eye contact with the 'keeper and she was smirking at her, so she just started laughing. 'I just think the composure in that moment to just be so free and at ease to be able to laugh just shows what a brilliant player she is at stepping up.' Another player who entered the field alongside Morgan also proved vital in England's efforts to turn around the two-goal deficit. Michelle Agyemang, at just 19 years old, came on to score the equaliser and turn in a brilliant display as a second striker that had Morgan singing her praises. 'I'm so proud of the impact she has been able to make,' she said of the forward. 'At the end of the game I just said, 'Mich, you are clutch,' because that's twice now she's stepped up in pressured situations to come off the bench and make an incredible impact. 'She's someone we know we can turn to in stressful situations to be a presence, holding the ball up, linking play, making runs in behind. 'She's an incredibly hard worker and has an incredible sense of the positions she should take up in the box to get on the end of chances.' It is a strength in depth that has bailed England out on several occasions and a group that Wiegman clearly trusts to turn to when the pressure is on. As the manager often reinforces the 'togetherness' in the team, it is often those off the pitch that embody that mentally the most. And as the Lionesses progress to a semi-final against Italy, there is no doubt that Wiegman will once more turn to Morgan and her fellow 'finishers' to see England through regardless of the game state. 'On the bench we're always encouraging each other to spread belief to those on the pitch, but also to stay ready and make an impact,' added Morgan. 'That was what we spoke about when all of us were sat on the bench at the start of the second half, and all of us were. 'I'm really proud of everyone. We've just got such amazing character and grit and determination in the group that we're never beaten.'
