England’s replacements inspired once again to implement an incredible turn against Italy and book their place in a third consecutive larger final on euro 2025.
Lioness suffered another early setback when Barbara Bonansea punished slurked defense in the first half, and Le Azzurre held on until the 96th minute in Geneva.
A positive response in the second half after Sarina Wiegman screamed on her side to “wake up!”, Lauren Hemp Miscue twice before Wiegman sent Beth Mead, Michelle Agyemang, Chloe Kelly and Aggie Beever-Jones in a desperate attempt to find an equalization.
But just like their luck seemed to be running out, a chaotic penalty area scramble agyemang struck with a smooth, low finish to force extra time.
The game looked like sanctions, with Agyemang’s scandalous lob that came out of the bar in what looked like the last big chance of winning it in open game.
It was until Beth Mead was pulled down to win England a late punishment where rebound, where Chloe Kelly was able to convert in the 119th minute, with Wiegman’s side that did it the hard way again to take their European title defense to the last day.
Here’s how the English players rated from their 2-1 semi-final win in Geneva:
Hannah Hampton, 7
England’s new # 1 did her job when she was asked, with the appropriate collection of crosses as Italy tried to threaten while she also went out of her back with precision.
A little bit she could do for the goal, which was more blamed for her back four – but still not a good look to admit your first shot at the goal.
Dove out to collect a defense -saving cross in the first minutes of the second period before he stuck to spare Morgan’s redness. Then a huge double rescue produced at death to keep England in competition – a crucial intervention it proved.
Lucy Bronze, 5
A little warm and heavy to start and fly up the field to try to put pressure on the Italian defense, but falling to dive in on a few occasions – maybe lucky to escape an early caution.
Nevertheless, she enjoyed the freedom to move on to the right and connect with James and Walsh when she can. But it is the back where there is much to be desired to the goal, fails to read the delivery correctly and let the ball pass her and reach Bonansea who does not need another invitation to smash home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Not much improved after the break, with attacking contributions that often turn out to be wasting – a heavy touch in the box after connecting with Mead with particularly frustrating. Despite a poor performance, she became almost the hero as she locks herself on a corner at the back post – but her headline was cleared from the line.
Her experience came through for extra time when England turned it around.
Leah Williamson, 5
Helped to prevent Italy from getting a touch in the England box in the first half an hour – but is also a significant blame for the target, completely wrong reading of the cross and steps too far up so it can pass between her and Hampton and into Bonansea’s feet.
Fighted the tooth and nail to hunt Cantore down after Morgan was caught, putting the Italian under pressure to force an imperfect shot. Still a little shaking as the game continued. Subbed.
Esme Morgan, 6
In the team instead of Carter, she quickly looked to prove her worth. She used her pace to get over to cover to Walsh and showed a burst of speed missing from this England back four this tournament.
However, she has finished one-two for the target, caught out of position after Greenwood was beaten too easily from the thrown. Later, her redness was spared her keeper after allowing Sofia Cantore to run into goal. Booked in the second half stopping time.
Alex Greenwood, 5
Was targeted by Italy as Le Azzurre grew into the game and was too easily beaten down the left in the structure of their opener. Too close to her opponent who quickly moves past her and suddenly gives the Italians a numeric advantage.
Previously, by dealing with an awkward jump in the area on the brink of half -time, but a wild attempt from the edge of the box drives a decent option shortly after restarting. Subbed.
Ella Toone, 7
Began the desire and looking to link defense to attack when England began to threaten. Impact, as it did with the whole midfield, disappeared after Italy took the lead, but she took up a little after the break, with a wonderful looping junction that found an unmarked hemp at the back post – only for the man city to go over.
Almost helped force its own goal for extra time, deliver against Beever-Jones and almost see the resulting ricochet from an Italian Shinrawl across the line. A lot of races from the Manchester United star – she gave it all.
Keira Walsh, 6
She tried to bend one in from the edge of the box and looking to produce a moment of magic to smooth things out after being anything but absent to the opening half. Distribution had a hell of a lot to want in the first 45, but was significantly better after reboot – went on a dazzling race through the Italian core and fired equally wide of the position as she became the heart of England’s attempt at fightback. However, it started to tire as the game entered its dying stages. Subbed.
Georgia Stanway, 5
Exceeded and bypassed by a stronger Italy midfield in the first half. Slightly improved after reboot, but the least influential of the three. Finds a place from 25 meters out with England entering the squeaky -pum – we know how good she can be from reach – but burns wildly over. Subbed.
Lauren James, 5
Had the first shot at the target of the game as she locked in on a hemp – just down the throat of Italy, Laura Giuliani stops – but often involved in structure from deeper down the right. Then a huge opportunity to beat England level had just minutes after falling afterwards, but her efforts from central lack of conviction as she tried to bend it around Italy, easily pared away.
A real lack of clinical finishing when it matters. Subbed, reappeared after half -time with ice around her ankle.
Alessia Russo, 5
The first big chance of the evening fell at her feet as she twisted Italy’s defense from the inside out with a nice half-turn in the box before she fired just wide. It was a solid early attempt, but her influence was drastically declined as Italy grew in confidence.
She was constantly surrounded by two or three green shirts, desperate defense of their lead, and that meant her influence grew non-existent. Subbed.
Lauren Hamp, 7
A useful outlets down the left early when England started desire. Whipped in a teasing cross for James, who managed to direct an in -depth effort target for what was the first half -department of the game. Associated with the Chelsea wing once again after her team fell afterwards and slid James backwards with a brilliant pass – all that was missing was the finish.
But when she took the role of post -therapist early in the second half, she failed to find her shooting boots – who directed a simple header on the roof of the net when she was unmarked at the back post before he dawdling over the ball as it fell to her in a dangerous position.
It looked like her shortcomings in front of the target could prove to be harmful to England – but when she delivered a dangerous cross to trouble the keeper at stopping time, she triggered Agyemang’s miraculous equalization. A huge contribution to keeping England in the tournament.
Substituts
Beth Mead, 6 (45 ‘): Her introduction offered something other than James down to the right – to bring a poacher and take weight away from the pace. But she remained pretty much on the fringes for the whole hour plus como … at least until she won the 117th minute punishment!
Chloe Kelly, 8 (78 ‘): Huge reception of the introduction of England’s Super-Sub, but was it too late from Wiegman? It seemed, with the Arsenal star, who was unable to have her trademark influence against this elastic Italy’s defense – at least at the normal time. But she had 30 minutes to make an impact thanks to a particular teenage hero, and it had to be her, didn’t. She missed her punishment, but was there to save rebound with seconds with extra time to go.
Michelle Agnemang, 9 (84 ‘): Teenage Sensation, sent on to deliver England a miracle. And she does! In the sixth minute of seven added, she finds the prevalence to shoot past Giuliani – Elation for the Lionesses, absolutely pain for Italy. Became a problem for Le Azzurre through extra time and came in inches from bringing around one of the great England moments. She chases a ball over the top and tried a scandalous lob on volley from a tight angle, only to see her efforts come back from the bar. That would have been some winner. A sublime como from the Breakout Star.
Aggie Beever-Jones, 7 (84 ‘): A living wire in the future she could have won it at death with an effort that flies equally wide by Giuliani’s goal as the late substrates threatened to steal the show. Almost forced its own goal for extra time.
Grace Clinton, 6 (106 ‘): brought to try to make the difference. Part of the team that turned it out in the end.
Jess Carter (120+1 ‘): Great moment.