Latest news with #WomenEuropeanChampionship
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Arab News
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 semifinal 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 defense only to see her deft lob toward 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. 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 equalizer, 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.'
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: Tears for Italy and hope for the future after emotional semifinals loss to England
GENEVA (AP) — Tears, distress and disbelief. Italy captain Cristiana Girelli and defender Lucia Di Guglielmo cried as they walked around the field after an emotional semifinal loss — 2-1 after extra time to England on Tuesday — each with one arm around the other's waist. They waved goodbye to fans and their shared Women's European Championship title hopes inside Stade de Genève, which had been a joyous second home for them in Switzerland. Less than hour earlier, Italy had been little more than one minute away from advancing to a final few had imagined. "I feel that something has ended that we didn't want to end, because I still don't believe it's over," the 35-year-old Girelli said, in tears again in the player interview area. 'Probably fate has been a little cruel to us.' Goalkeeper's grief Goalkeeper Laura Guilani had been alone with her emotions after fulltime, face down on the turf in midfield. It would have been Italy's first trip to the Women's Euros title match since 1997. No Italian team had won a knockout game at the tournament in 28 years until Girelli's 90th-minute winning goal against Norway last Wednesday in the same stadium. In a heartbreaking end to the semis for Italy, England teenager Michelle Agyemang first took victory away with a game-tying goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the end of the regulation. Then, just as a penalty shootout loomed, England clinched the victory with Chloe Kelly's goal in the 119th to send the defending champion to Sunday's final. Adding to Italy's sense of unfairness, Kelly scored by swooping on a rebound after Guiliani had saved her penalty kick. Minute details 'We were one minute away from the final,' Italy coach Andrea Soncin said at a post-game news conference. 'The players have deserved a different end, but unfortunately it happens sometimes you don't get what you deserve,' he said in translated comments. The Italian team was ecstatic in the 33rd when Barbara Bonansea lashed a volleyed shot rising into the England net. For the fifth straight game Italy scored first, adding England to that list of opponents that includes World Cup champion Spain. Bonansea ran toward the Italy bench with her tongue sticking out, with a broad smile, to be embraced by her teammates. The team's emotions were evident and powerful even before kickoff. The national anthem had been sung with gusto, concluding with a yelled crescendo that had some players bent over with the effort. Protecting their lead from England attacks in the second half, center backs Elena Linari and Cecilia Salvai were defiant and Di Guglielmo had made a key header by the goalpost to clear imminent danger. Di Guglielmo's emotional post-game walk to salute Italy supporters was made wearing the jersey of their nemesis — Kelly's No. 18 — they had exchanged after the game. World Cup next Soncin acknowledged women's soccer in Italy was playing catch-up to nations which had more established programs, like England. 'It's another step we have to make to better manage these situations." In two years there will be a World Cup in Brazil where Italy, if it qualifies, will have a reputation and new-found respect to defend. With Girelli also? 'We achieved something great, something stratospheric, but we'll see,' the storied veteran said of her chances of playing on until then. 'These emotions are too beautiful to not want to relive them.' ___ Associated Press writer Felipe Rocha contributed to this report ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Euro 2025: Tears for Italy and hope for the future after emotional semifinals loss to England
GENEVA (AP) — Tears, distress and disbelief. Italy captain Cristiana Girelli and defender Lucia Di Guglielmo cried as they walked around the field after an emotional semifinal loss — 2-1 after extra time to England on Tuesday — each with one arm around the other's waist. They waved goodbye to fans and their shared Women's European Championship title hopes inside Stade de Genève, which had been a joyous second home for them in Switzerland. Less than hour earlier, Italy had been little more than one minute away from advancing to a final few had imagined. 'I feel that something has ended that we didn't want to end, because I still don't believe it's over,' the 35-year-old Girelli said, in tears again in the player interview area. 'Probably fate has been a little cruel to us.' Goalkeeper's grief Goalkeeper Laura Guilani had been alone with her emotions after fulltime, face down on the turf in midfield. It would have been Italy's first trip to the Women's Euros title match since 1997. No Italian team had won a knockout game at the tournament in 28 years until Girelli's 90th-minute winning goal against Norway last Wednesday in the same stadium. In a heartbreaking end to the semis for Italy, England teenager Michelle Agyemang first took victory away with a game-tying goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the end of the regulation. Then, just as a penalty shootout loomed, England clinched the victory with Chloe Kelly's goal in the 119th to send the defending champion to Sunday's final. Adding to Italy's sense of unfairness, Kelly scored by swooping on a rebound after Guiliani had saved her penalty kick. Minute details 'We were one minute away from the final,' Italy coach Andrea Soncin said at a post-game news conference. 'The players have deserved a different end, but unfortunately it happens sometimes you don't get what you deserve,' he said in translated comments. The Italian team was ecstatic in the 33rd when Barbara Bonansea lashed a volleyed shot rising into the England net. For the fifth straight game Italy scored first, adding England to that list of opponents that includes World Cup champion Spain. Bonansea ran toward the Italy bench with her tongue sticking out, with a broad smile, to be embraced by her teammates. The team's emotions were evident and powerful even before kickoff. The national anthem had been sung with gusto, concluding with a yelled crescendo that had some players bent over with the effort. Protecting their lead from England attacks in the second half, center backs Elena Linari and Cecilia Salvai were defiant and Di Guglielmo had made a key header by the goalpost to clear imminent danger. Di Guglielmo's emotional post-game walk to salute Italy supporters was made wearing the jersey of their nemesis — Kelly's No. 18 — they had exchanged after the game. World Cup next Soncin acknowledged women's soccer in Italy was playing catch-up to nations which had more established programs, like England. 'It's another step we have to make to better manage these situations.' In two years there will be a World Cup in Brazil where Italy, if it qualifies, will have a reputation and new-found respect to defend. With Girelli also? 'We achieved something great, something stratospheric, but we'll see,' the storied veteran said of her chances of playing on until then. 'These emotions are too beautiful to not want to relive them.' ___ Associated Press writer Felipe Rocha contributed to this report ___ AP soccer:
ABC News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
England beats Italy 2-1 to reach Women's Euro 2025 final
Chloe Kelly has 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 and reach the Women's European Championship final. England fell behind in the first half and did not hit back until Michelle Agyemang's equaliser 6 minutes into second-half stoppage time to send the game to extra 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 against Spain or Germany. "We're going to make a movie some day. Well, this is a movie," England manager Sarina Wigeman said. "My goodness, it's unbelievable. Here we are again, it's really, really special." With the Italians riding a wave of confidence after a last-minute winner against Norway in their quarterfinal, they defended brilliantly and attacked incisively on the break. Their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute of a gritty semifinal 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. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ 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 extra time, out-sprinting and out-muscling the Italian defence only to see her deft lob towards goal bounce back off the crossbar. Sensing they could avoid a repeat of their quarterfinal penalty shootout against Sweden, England poured forward and reaped the reward when Mead was fouled in the box, but there was one more twist in the tale. Kelly took her usual prancing run-up, but Italian goalkeeper 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. Reuters
CNA
11 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
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. 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 extra time, 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. 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.
