Wednesday's briefing: Lionesses do it the hard way while Rangers start with win
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace took their Europa League fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Lionesses leave it late
WE'RE IN THE #WEURO2025 FINAL! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/aAIey9IVPE
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 22, 2025
England produced another remarkable comeback to scrape into the final of Euro 2025.
The Lionesses, who came from two goals down to defeat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals, were on the brink of elimination against Italy before 19-year-old striker Michelle Agyemang equalised in the sixth minute of added time.
With a minute remaining in extra time, fellow substitute Chloe Kelly sent Sarina Wiegman's side through by finishing on the rebound after her penalty was saved by goalkeeper Laura Giuliani.
England, who trailed to Barbara Bonansea's 33rd-minute opener, will face Spain or Germany in Sunday's final in Basel.
Football mourns Jones and Fallon
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Joey Jones, aged 70.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 22, 2025
Tributes were paid to former Liverpool and Wales defender Joey Jones and ex-Celtic goalkeeper John Fallon.
Jones, who died at the age of 70, was capped 72 times by Wales and won two European Cups, a UEFA Cup and a league title at Anfield, in addition to representing Wrexham, Chelsea and Huddersfield.
Celtic later announced the death of Fallon – the 12th Lisbon Lion – at the age of 84.
He was the club's sole substitute when Jock Stein's side beat Inter Milan 2-1 in the Portuguese capital to win the European Cup in 1967.
Martin makes winning start
Ibrox roared as Russell Martin's first competitive game as Rangers boss brought an encouraging 2-0 win over 10-man Panathinaikos.
Maiden goals for the Scottish club from 19-year-old winger Findlay Curtis and debutant Djeidi Gassama settled the first leg of the Champions League second round qualifier.
Former Southampton boss Martin, who became the permanent successor to Philippe Clement in early June, could easily have seen his new side fall behind as the Greek visitors bossed most of the first half.
But Curtis fired Rangers into a 52nd-minute lead before his replacement Gassama – signed last week from Sheffield Wednesday – added a thunderous second following the dismissal of Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis for a second yellow card.
Palace await their European fate
Crystal Palace will learn no later than August 11 which European competition they will play in next season after submitting an appeal to the CAS.
The south London club, who won last season's FA Cup, were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after falling foul of UEFA's rules governing multi-club ownership.
European football's governing body determined that as of March 1, American businessman John Textor had control or influence in both Palace and French club Lyon.
Where one or more club are found to have shared ownership, they cannot play in the same competition. Lyon held on to the Europa League spot by virtue of their higher league position, while Palace's place was taken by Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.
What's on today
England will discover their Euro 2025 final opponents when world champions Spain take on Euro 2022 runners-up Germany in Zurich.
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North Wales Chronicle
27 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Lauren James will be fit for England's Euro 2025 final with Spain
The forward was forced off at half-time of the Lionesses' extra-time semi-final comeback over Italy with an ankle issue, but trained with the team in Zurich on Saturday morning before Sunday's title decider. James, like the other members of Wiegman's full 23-player squad who trained, still needs to come through recovery, but her boss is optimistic the she will be available to take on the World Cup holders. Appreciating the 23 ❤️@leahcwilliamson reflects on her #Lionesses journey and the power of the whole squad on #ThatLionessesPodcast connected by @EE. — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2025 Wiegman said: 'We had 23 players on the pitch today and everyone came through, so if everyone recovers well then we have 23 players available for tomorrow. 'I think we have many players that can impact, and we know that (James) can have an impact too, so that will be nice.' Captain Leah Williamson added: 'I think we have a team of talented players. Lauren brings something slightly different, just like the others, so obviously having that available is best-case scenario for us.' Williamson survived her own injury scare in Switzerland when she rolled her ankle in extra time of their spectacular quarter-final, penalty-shootout comeback against Sweden, but returned for their semi-final. She said: 'I can speak for every single member of the squad when I say we will play as long as we get the green light, we would play through absolutely anything to be involved at this stage. 'My ankle is great. My mum actually rolled her ankle a couple of days ago, so she's taken all the attention away from me now. 'But no, I had a scare. Obviously I want to be involved, and I want to be available to help the team any way they need me. But obviously played that game, the semi-final and ready to go tomorrow.' Williamson missed out on the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in April 2023, and was forced to watch their loss to Spain – in England's first final at a global showpiece – from the stands. 'It was awful,' she admitted. 'I think once you're part of a team, being on the outside, and I know how tired you are when you get to that stage, how much a tournament takes out of you, and to be completely useless, that probably bothered me the most. 'But to sit with the families, knowing what they go through, that actually makes me reflect on this tournament, and we haven't been very kind to them at all. 'But I think that feels like a really long time ago, which is probably a benefit for the whole squad. 'Anybody would give anything to be part of their team when they're going through moments like that. 'It was tough. The only plus was sitting next to Jill (Scott) I suppose, and sharing it with somebody who knew what it felt like.' Asked about the importance of having her skipper free to face Spain, Wiegman added: 'Of course, I'm very happy with that, as I am very happy that we have 23 players available tomorrow. 'And yeah, Leah has a big role in the team, so it's really nice to have her on the pitch.'
ITV News
27 minutes ago
- ITV News
Lauren James will be fit final against Spain, Sarina Wiegman confirms
England forward Lauren James will be available for the Euro 2025 final with Spain in Basel, manager Sarina Wiegman has confirmed. The forward was forced off at half-time of the Lionesses' extra-time semi-final comeback over Italy with an ankle issue, but trained with the team in Zurich on Saturday morning before Sunday's title decider. Wiegman said: 'We had 23 players on the pitch today and everyone came through, so if everyone recovers well, then we have 23 players available for tomorrow. 'I think we have many players that can impact, and we know that (James) can have an impact too, so that will be nice.' Captain Leah Williamson added: 'I think we have a team of talented players. Lauren brings something slightly different, just like the others, so obviously having that available is best-case scenario for us.' Williamson survived her own injury scare in Switzerland when she rolled her ankle in extra time of their spectacular quarter-final, penalty-shootout comeback against Sweden, but returned for their semi-final. She said: 'I can speak for every single member of the squad when I say we will play as long as we get the green light, we would play through absolutely anything to be involved at this stage. 'My ankle is great. My mum actually rolled her ankle a couple of days ago, so she's taken all the attention away from me now. 'But no, I had a scare. Obviously, I want to be involved, and I want to be available to help the team any way they need me. But obviously played that game, the semi-final and ready to go tomorrow.' Williamson missed out on the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in April 2023, and was forced to watch their loss to Spain – in England's first final at a global showpiece – from the stands. 'It was awful,' she admitted. 'I think once you're part of a team, being on the outside, and I know how tired you are when you get to that stage, how much a tournament takes out of you, and to be completely useless, that probably bothered me the most. 'But to sit with the families, knowing what they go through, that actually makes me reflect on this tournament, and we haven't been very kind to them at all. 'But I think that feels like a really long time ago, which is probably a benefit for the whole squad. 'Anybody would give anything to be part of their team when they're going through moments like that. 'It was tough. The only plus was sitting next to Jill (Scott) I suppose, and sharing it with somebody who knew what it felt like.' Asked about the importance of having her skipper free to face Spain, Wiegman added: 'Of course, I'm very happy with that, as I am very happy that we have 23 players available tomorrow. 'And yeah, Leah has a big role in the team, so it's really nice to have her on the pitch.'
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Leah Williamson hopes England show they are no ‘flash in the pan' in Euros final
England captain Leah Williamson challenged the defending champions to prove they are no 'flash in the pan' when they take on World Cup holders Spain in Sunday's Euro 2025 final in Basel. The Lionesses forever transformed women's football in England when they lifted their first major trophy at their home European Championship in 2022, and now hope to become the nation's first senior football side to win one away from home. Williamson is adamant everyone in camp is 'connected to what it means', but insisted the Lionesses remain unburdened by the weight of the nation's hopes. 'The landscape keeps changing and we're trying to change with it,' said Williamson, when asked what she hoped their legacy would be after this tournament. 'I think that's a really hard thing to do and I think that proves the investment and the quality of the game in England is continuing to rise. 'You don't just want to be sort of a flash in the pan, like a memory and I think that when we spoke before 2022, we said it was the start of something. 'And I think we're still trying to play our role in that as well. So being here and being on this stage, we know how powerful that is and I hope that just continues to grow. 'The respect for the women's game, the respect for women and women's sport in general continues, and we can try our best to continue to elevate that.' Williamson disagreed with England being branded as underdogs to Spain, who beat them in the 2023 World Cup final – England's first – and have played a flawless campaign so far. The Lionesses, in contrast, suffered an opening defeat to France and required back-to-back late comebacks in the knockouts. Sarina Wiegman's side, who beat Italy on Tuesday night, are coming into the contest with an statistically-favourable extra day's rest and hope to have a full squad at their disposal after Lauren James trained on Saturday morning. Williamson admitted she would never take England's Wembley triumph three summers ago for granted. But, she said: 'I think the beautiful thing about 2022 was that I'm not sure if any of us will ever be part of anything like that again, in terms of the change, in terms of the story, the journey, everything, but being away from home is special in a different way. 'You go out, you represent your country somewhere else and I think the weight of that is important to consider, because it sometimes adds a little extra.' England, Williamson insisted, were staying measured, even under considerable pressure to make more history. 'I think we're very connected to what it means to the nation,' Williamson added. 'In that sense, we are connected as we can be, being away from home. 'I think the opportunity of tomorrow and what is on offer is the best thing in football. We came to the tournament, we wanted to be here, we wanted to be in it until the end and have a chance to fight for that trophy. 'You can't do that until you get in the final. I think we don't necessarily carry the weight of it, how much it means to people, but we're aware of it because it means the same to us. 'You have a squad of excited, focused players. We recognise the opportunity and we will do everything we can to take it.'
