England face dark horses Italy
The holders are tantalisingly close to another major tournament final, with a showdown next Sunday against either Germany or world champions Spain the reward for Sarina Wiegman's team should they get the better of the Azzurre in Geneva.
The Lionesses could be forgiven for feeling that their name is on the trophy after the dramatic nature of their victory over Sweden in Zurich on Thursday.
England were 2-0 down late on but two goals in the space of three minutes forced extra time before they eventually triumphed 3-2 in a remarkable penalty shoot-out.
Now they find themselves in a sixth consecutive semi-final between Women's Euros and World Cups, and it would be a shock if they slipped up against Italy.
Ranked 13th in the world, the Italians are surprise semi-finalists while England are where they were expected to be as they look to repeat their triumph at the last Euros on home soil in 2022.
"I really had a sense throughout the game, even when we were down, that it wasn't our time to go," defender Esme Morgan told English media this weekend as she reflected on the unlikely comeback against Sweden.
"I thought about three times we were out," admitted Wiegman, who remains on course to win a third consecutive Women's Euros having guided her native Netherlands to victory on home soil in 2017 before triumphing with England three years ago.
England have been exposed against top-level opposition at this European Championship, having been defeated by France in their opening group game before being torn apart in the first half against Sweden.
But the nature of their recovery in the latter match, inspired by substitutes Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly, will give them confidence and so can their recent record against Italy.
Carter suffers racist abuse
England won 5-1 when the nations last met in a friendly in Spain in February last year, and were 2-1 victors a year earlier in the Arnold Clark Cup in Coventry.
Italy finished second in their group behind Spain but then got the better of Norway in the quarter-finals with veteran Cristiana Girelli scoring twice including a last-minute winner.
Now they are in the semis of a major tournament for the first time since the 1997 Euros.
"It's exciting because we are going to face the reigning champions," defender Martina Lenzini told AFP at the Italian team's base near Lucerne.
"Getting to the semi-finals for us is a result in itself, a bit unexpected in the eyes of others and by everyone around us, but we believed we could do this.
"We are always humble but we were aware that we could get to this stage and have the chance to face a team of this calibre."
The holders' preparations for the match were rocked by revelations that defender Jess Carter had been the victim of racist abuse which led to the English FA alerting police.
"From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racial abuse," Carter, who has 49 caps, wrote on her social media accounts.
"Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don't agree or think it's OK to target someone's appearance or race."
Meanwhile England have been hoping that captain Leah Williamson will be fit in time to feature after being forced off with an ankle injury against Sweden -- her fellow defender Morgan said over the weekend the team were "very optimistic that Leah will be fine".
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Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Kelly sends England into Euro final
Chloe Kelly got the late winner against Italy to send England into the Euro 2025 final. Photo: AFP Chloe Kelly scored a dramatic late winner in extra-time as reigning champions England came from behind to beat Italy 2-1 on Tuesday and reach the Women's Euro 2025 final. The Lionesses had been on the brink of elimination as they trailed to Barbara Bonansea's first-half strike for surprise semi-finalists Italy in Geneva. But after their remarkable comeback from two goals down to beat Sweden on penalties in last week's quarter-final, they pulled off more heroics here. Michelle Agyemang came off the bench and forced the extra period by equalising in the 96th minute, and fellow substitute Kelly completed the turnaround by following in to score the winner in the 119th minute after her penalty had been saved. Sarina Wiegman's team are through to their third consecutive major tournament final and the 2022 European champions head to Basel for Sunday's showpiece. That will be either a repeat of the 2023 Women's World Cup final, which they lost to Spain, or a repeat of the last Euro final, in which they defeated Germany at Wembley -- those sides meet in their semi on Wednesday. "Luckily I got there for the tap-in," Kelly told broadcaster ITV. "Three finals on the bounce and we want more. This team shows resilience but we fight back and hopefully we can make it easier for ourselves." It has been quite a ride for England, with this victory following their comeback against Sweden, while the nature of the defeat for Italy was cruel. Many of their players were in tears at full time, as the Azzurre — who are ranked 13th in the world and were not expected to come this far — fell short of reaching a first final since the 1997 Euros. "It hurts but we are very proud of all that we have done," said Italy coach Andrea Soncin. "We will need a few days to overcome this bitter moment but we will keep growing." Wiegman made one change from the quarter-final win against Sweden, as Esme Morgan came into the defence for Jess Carter. The latter had been the target of racial abuse which drew a backlash from Wiegman and England's players in the build-up to this game. England had the backing of the majority of the 26,539 crowd in Geneva and they had the momentum in the opening stages of the match. Subs make difference again However, Italy looked fresher and they opened the scoring on 33 minutes as Sofia Cantore reached the right byline before delivering a cross which found Bonansea at the back post. The Juventus player controlled before lashing a shot into the roof of the net from close range. Alessia Russo and Lauren James came closest for England in the first half, but Italy held their lead into the break and Wiegman then sent on Beth Mead for the second half. Lauren Hemp headed onto the roof of the net and an Alex Greenwood long-ranger was punched away by goalkeeper Laura Giuliani, who was booked for timewasting with almost 20 minutes still to play. With the clock ticking down the England coach introduced Kelly followed by Agyemang, two players who had already made a big impact off the bench against Sweden. Agyemang, the teenage Arsenal forward, replaced captain and centre-back Leah Williamson in a clear sign of desperation in the Lionesses camp. Italy could have killed the game off but Hannah Hampton made a crucial double save to deny Michela Cambiaghi and Emma Severini at a corner in the 86th minute. That proved crucial, as England equalised in the sixth of seven allotted added minutes at the end of normal time. Giuliani failed to hold an awkward cross into the box from England's right and the ball came out to Agyemang who took a touch and blasted in. Once again England faced extra time. They had the momentum, and Giuliani did well to stop a Kelly corner going straight in with 108 minutes played. The remarkable Agyemang then saw a lobbed effort beat Giuliani but come back off the crossbar with four minutes of extra time remaining. Penalties loomed, but instead it would be just one spot-kick, awarded when Mead was pushed over right in front of the Croatian referee. Kelly's effort was saved by Giuliani, but she was on hand to convert the rebound and send England into another final. "We don't do things the easy way in this tournament but we find a way to win," defender Lucy Bronze said.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
England's Kelly grateful for moments like Tuesday after rocky club season
GENEVA: After Chloe Kelly smashed in her own rebound that lifted England into the Euro 2025 final, she struck a casual pose at the corner flag, one hand on the flag, another on her hip, and smiled up at the England fans. Kelly's 119th-minute winner was the punctuation mark on a nervy come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Italy that sends the reigning champions into their third consecutive final of a major tournament. They will play either world champions Spain or Germany on Sunday. Asked where she gets her confidence, Kelly said: 'Myself.' 'The moments when in January I felt like giving up football makes you so grateful for these moments here today, and this makes you enjoy every minute of that,' said Kelly, who did her trademark prancing penalty run-up. 'I think confidence comes from within, but from around you as well. The players that we stand side by side with on the pitch, give confidence in each other.' Back in January, there were doubts the 27-year-old would be in the Euros squad because she was barely playing for Manchester City. She made a public plea to leave City to secure more playing time and improve her odds. Kelly's plea worked as she spent the rest of the season on a successful loan spell with Arsenal, and then signed a permanent deal with the London club. Sunday's final will be the fifth in a major tournament for coach Sarina Wiegman, who said the night felt like a 'movie' with 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang striking the equaliser in the 96th minute to send the game into extra time. 'It was a little bit dramatic. At the 88th minute, I thought 'We have to score now or we have a problem,'' Wiegman said, laughing. England fight back to down Italy in extra time and reach Euro 2025 final Wiegman heaped praise on Agyemang, who almost scored again with an effort deep into the second half of extra time, but clanged her shot off the crossbar. 'She's only 19 years old and she's very mature, she knows exactly what she needs to do,' Wiegman said. 'When you came into our team late, right before the Euro…but she's really mature already and brings something different, and that's what she showed today. 'That ball she hit against the crossbar - it was spectacular.' The one negative on the night was Lauren James limping off with an ankle injury to end the first half. Wiegman said James, who sat on the bench with a bag of ice on the ankle, will be reassessed on Wednesday.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
England fight back to down Italy in extra time and reach Euro 2025 final
GENEVA: Chloe Kelly fired home the rebound from her own penalty to net a 119th-minute winner as reigning champions England pulled off a stunning comeback to beat Italy 2-1 after extra time on Tuesday and reach the Women's European Championship final. England fell behind in the first half but hit back to level through Michelle Agyemang six minutes into second-half stoppage time and when Emma Severini pulled down Beth Mead in the box in extra time, Kelly grabbed the chance to decide the game. Her first effort was saved but she was quick off the mark to rifle in the rebound and send England through to the final where they will face either Spain or Germany. After a come-from-behind penalty shootout win over Sweden in the quarter-finals, England again flirted with disaster, but their late surge floored Italy, whose hopes of reaching a first final since 1997 were crushed. The win propelled England into a third successive major final after their Euro 2022 success and World Cup loss to Spain the following year. With the Italians riding a wave of confidence after a last-minute winner against Norway in their quarter-final, they defended brilliantly and attacked incisively on the break. Their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute of a gritty semi-final when a ball from the right found its way to Barbara Bonansea, who took a touch before lashing it into the roof of the net. England then dominated possession and created a slew of chances as the Italians rode their luck, but too often the English attackers unleashed shots from distance that were easily dealt with or flew harmlessly over the bar. With their hopes of defending their title slowly slipping away, 19-year-old substitute Agyemang snapped up a loose ball in the box and fired home to send the game to extra time. Agyemang almost scored again with an effort deep into the second half of the extra period, out-sprinting and out-muscling the Italian defence only to see her deft lob towards goal bounce back off the crossbar. Sensing that they could avoid a repeat of their quarter-final penalty shootout against Sweden, England poured forward and reaped their reward when Mead was fouled in the box, but there was one more twist in the tale. Germans eye England revenge in potential Women's Euro final repeat Kelly took her usual prancing run-up, but Italy keeper Laura Giuliani kept her nerve and saved, only for the England winger to score from the follow-up and seal her side's spot in Sunday's final in Basel. 'I just tried my best for the team. It wasn't supposed to go like that, that penalty, but (I was) ready for the rebound and ready for any opportunity given to me wearing an England badge,' a delighted Kelly said. England defender Lucy Bronze said they had been forced to dig deep to reach the final. 'Yeah, we don't know if it's the easy way it seems this tournament, but we find a way to win,' she said. 'I think it was the 96th minute and then the 118th minute … we just … found a way to get the goals and get the ball (in) the last minute.' For Italy, who had defended superbly until England's equaliser, the loss was a devastating blow. 'Obviously, going out like this hurts a lot. Having stood up to the champions should give us a lot of confidence for the future. There are no words to describe the emotions we have experienced on this journey,' coach Andrea Soncin said. 'This evening, for as hard as the girls fought, we definitely deserved a different ending. Many difficult situations to comment on. It's sad, but I am and we are very proud.'
