Latest news with #WashingtonSpirit
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Euro 2025: England defender Jess Carter not in starting lineup to face Italy in semifinals
GENEVA (AP) — England defender Jess Carter was not in the starting lineup to face Italy in the semifinals Tuesday at the Women's European Championship. Esme Morgan, who plays for Washington Spirit in the United States, was selected to partner England captain Leah Williamson in the center of defense. Carter revealed on Sunday she has been the target of racist abuse online during the tournament, and the English soccer federation reported the abuse to police at home. Carter, who is Black, had started in all four of England's games so far at Euro 2025 and she was praised by coach Sarina Wiegman on the eve of the game for being ready to play. 'The decision is based on the tactical challenges we have, and we think that in this game, it is best to put Esme in,' Wiegman told ITV on Tuesday. "Jess is good. Of course a lot of things going on, but she's good, she trained well, she is ready to compete and ready to play.'
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Euro 2025: England defender Jess Carter not in starting lineup to face Italy in semifinals
GENEVA (AP) — England defender Jess Carter was not in the starting lineup to face Italy in the semifinals Tuesday at the Women's European Championship. Esme Morgan, who plays for Washington Spirit in the United States, was selected to partner England captain Leah Williamson in the center of defense. Carter revealed on Sunday she has been the target of racist abuse online during the tournament, and the English soccer federation reported the abuse to police at home. England's Jess Carter vies for the ball with Sweden's Stina Blackstenius, background, during the Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinals soccer match between Sweden and England at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Carter, who is Black, had started in all four of England's games so far at Euro 2025 and she was praised by coach Sarina Wiegman on the eve of the game for being ready to play. 'The decision is based on the tactical challenges we have, and we think that in this game, it is best to put Esme in,' Wiegman told ITV on Tuesday. 'Jess is good. Of course a lot of things going on, but she's good, she trained well, she is ready to compete and ready to play.' Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Mike McIntyre | On Sports Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. ___ AP soccer:
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
England 'Very Optimistic' Captain Leah Williamson Will Be Ready For Semis vs. Italy
The England team is "very optimistic" that captain Leah Williamson will be ready to face Italy in the semifinals of the Women's European Championship on Tuesday. Williamson had to come off during extra time of England's dramatic quarterfinal victory over Sweden on Thursday and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches, with coach Sarina Wiegman saying it was too early to tell how bad the injury was. Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan filled in for Williamson during extra time when England was forced to reshuffle its defense and could make her first start if her captain fails to recover in time. "We're very optimistic that Leah will be available," Morgan said Saturday. "She seemed in very high spirits this morning and I want what's best for the team and that's absolutely having our captain on the pitch for us. "So I'm the same as every single game: be prepared to play if I'm needed, I'll know the role and just be absolutely ready, train at high level over the next few days, but we're very optimistic that Leah'll be fine," she added. Morgan was brought on in the 70th minute against Sweden, for her major tournament debut, with England 2-0 down. The Lionesses then came roaring back, with two goals in as many minutes to force extra time. England then won a chaotic — or "ridiculous" as Morgan termed it — penalty shootout, that saw only five of 14 spotkicks converted. Bronze an 'incredible leader' Defender Lucy Bronze powerfully dispatched what turned out to be the winning penalty, as Sweden teenager Smilla Holmberg missed the last one. Bronze, who scored the goal that got England back into the game, had played with strapping around her right leg during the match but ripped it off to take her spotkick. "She is such an incredible leader in this team, we are all inspired by her mentality," Morgan said. "She's a freak really in that she just has so much passion, energy, fight and she infects everyone else with it. "She's just incredible how she was taping herself up and then whipped it off to take her penalty. She is hilarious but she's just brilliant and we all love her and are very grateful that we get to play alongside her." Morgan admitted, however, that she thought England was going home a long time before the penalty shootout. "There was a moment at the end of the first half where I thought 'I've not packed anything,'" Morgan said with a laugh. "But I really had a sense throughout the game even when we were down that it wasn't our time to go. "And I think sometimes you just have a sense of calm which, you can't explain why it's there but just a belief really that we're not going to let this happen and so I always had faith that we were going to be able to turn it round and thankfully that happened." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! Get more from the UEFA Women's EURO Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
England optimistic captain Leah Williamson will recover for Euro 2025 semifinal vs. Italy
ZURICH (AP) — The England team is 'very optimistic' that captain Leah Williamson will be ready to face Italy in the semifinals of the Women's European Championship on Tuesday. Williamson had to come off during extra time of England's dramatic quarterfinal victory over Sweden on Thursday and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches, with coach Sarina Wiegman saying it was too early to tell how bad the injury was. Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan filled in for Williamson during extra time when England was forced to reshuffle its defense and could make her first start if her captain fails to recover in time. 'We're very optimistic that Leah will be available,' Morgan said Saturday. 'She seemed in very high spirits this morning and I want what's best for the team and that's absolutely having our captain on the pitch for us. 'So I'm the same as every single game: be prepared to play if I'm needed, I'll know the role and just be absolutely ready, train at high level over the next few days, but we're very optimistic that Leah'll be fine,' she added. Morgan was brought on in the 70th minute against Sweden, for her major tournament debut, with England 2-0 down. The Lionesses then came roaring back, with two goals in as many minutes to force extra time. England then won a chaotic — or 'ridiculous' as Morgan termed it — penalty shootout, that saw only five of 14 spotkicks converted. Bronze an 'incredible leader' Defender Lucy Bronze powerfully dispatched what turned out to be the winning penalty, as Sweden teenager Smilla Holmberg missed the last one. Bronze, who scored the goal that got England back into the game, had played with strapping around her right leg during the match but ripped it off to take her spotkick. 'She is such an incredible leader in this team, we are all inspired by her mentality,' Morgan said. 'She's a freak really in that she just has so much passion, energy, fight and she infects everyone else with it. 'She's just incredible how she was taping herself up and then whipped it off to take her penalty. She is hilarious but she's just brilliant and we all love her and are very grateful that we get to play alongside her.' Morgan admitted, however, that she thought England was going home a long time before the penalty shootout. 'There was a moment at the end of the first half where I thought 'I've not packed anything,'' Morgan said with a laugh. 'But I really had a sense throughout the game even when we were down that it wasn't our time to go. 'And I think sometimes you just have a sense of calm which, you can't explain why it's there but just a belief really that we're not going to let this happen and so I always had faith that we were going to be able to turn it round and thankfully that happened.' ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
England optimistic captain Leah Williamson will recover for Euro 2025 semifinal vs. Italy
ZURICH (AP) — The England team is 'very optimistic' that captain Leah Williamson will be ready to face Italy in the semifinals of the Women's European Championship on Tuesday. Williamson had to come off during extra time of England's dramatic quarterfinal victory over Sweden on Thursday and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches, with coach Sarina Wiegman saying it was too early to tell how bad the injury was. Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan filled in for Williamson during extra time when England was forced to reshuffle its defense and could make her first start if her captain fails to recover in time. 'We're very optimistic that Leah will be available,' Morgan said Saturday. 'She seemed in very high spirits this morning and I want what's best for the team and that's absolutely having our captain on the pitch for us. 'So I'm the same as every single game: be prepared to play if I'm needed, I'll know the role and just be absolutely ready, train at high level over the next few days, but we're very optimistic that Leah'll be fine,' she added. Morgan was brought on in the 70th minute against Sweden, for her major tournament debut, with England 2-0 down. The Lionesses then came roaring back, with two goals in as many minutes to force extra time. England then won a chaotic — or 'ridiculous' as Morgan termed it — penalty shootout, that saw only five of 14 spotkicks converted. Bronze an 'incredible leader' Defender Lucy Bronze powerfully dispatched what turned out to be the winning penalty, as Sweden teenager Smilla Holmberg missed the last one. Bronze, who scored the goal that got England back into the game, had played with strapping around her right leg during the match but ripped it off to take her spotkick. 'She is such an incredible leader in this team, we are all inspired by her mentality,' Morgan said. 'She's a freak really in that she just has so much passion, energy, fight and she infects everyone else with it. 'She's just incredible how she was taping herself up and then whipped it off to take her penalty. She is hilarious but she's just brilliant and we all love her and are very grateful that we get to play alongside her.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Morgan admitted, however, that she thought England was going home a long time before the penalty shootout. 'There was a moment at the end of the first half where I thought 'I've not packed anything,'' Morgan said with a laugh. 'But I really had a sense throughout the game even when we were down that it wasn't our time to go. 'And I think sometimes you just have a sense of calm which, you can't explain why it's there but just a belief really that we're not going to let this happen and so I always had faith that we were going to be able to turn it round and thankfully that happened.' ___ AP soccer:
