Italy 1 England 2
July 22 – With a goal deep in added time by Michelle Agyemang to level the scores, and a winner at the end of extra of time from Chloe Kelly, England pushed past Italy to secure a place in the WEuro 2025 final on Sunday in Basel.
Once again it was England’s super subs who came to the rescue on another night of high drama for the English who are making a habit of keeping their fans on edge until the very end.
It is their third major final in their last three tournaments having won Euro 2022 in England, lost in the final of the World Cup to Spain in Australia in 2023, and will now face either Germany or Spain in the Euro 2025 decider this weekend.
Italy played a full part in this encounter, having taken an unexpected lead just after the half hour with Barbara Bonasera finishing off a counter-attack. A surprise package in terms of having reached this stage of the tournaments, the Italians showed they have the mettle to compete and will surely be back for more.
Having taken the lead, the Italians then parked the bus in front of their goal and defended fiercely, and at times brilliantly, content to swat away anything England could throw at their back line.
On 90 minutes it looked like they had done enough until Agyemang broke their hearts to take the game into extra time.
Italy manager Andrea Soncin had made just one change from his starting line-up that beat Norway, swapping Martina Piemonte for Emma Severini in midfield.
Sarina Wiegman similarly made just one change from her England starting XI from their Sweden quarter final, bringing in Washington Spirit centre back Esme Morgan for Gotham FC’s Jess Carter.
Carter, who had been the subject of racial abuse on social media following the quarter final, received the largest cheer from England’s fans when she was announced as a sub as fans unveiled a banner of support. This England team have captured the hearts and minds of their fanbase that no social media troll can dislodge.
The match kicked off with the English subs showing unity on the touchline, linked arm-in-arm.
England started brightest putting immediate pressure on the Italian back five.
In the 6th minute Cecilia Salvai gave the ball away deep in Italy’s half but England were unable to capitalise on the mistake. It became the pattern for much of the half.
On 10 minutes Lauren Hemp on the left crossed low to Lauren James who neatly connected with the outside edge of her boot, but Laura Giuliani, who was set for a busy evening, gathered comfortably in Italy’s goal.
Five minutes later Alessia Russo, receiving the ball from the left, turned in the box but fired wide of Guiliani’s left post. It was the first real chance of the match.
England were now squeezing the Italian defence forcing mistakes with James increasingly coming into the game on the right and offering an attacking alternative to the threat Hemp was providing on the left.
On 24 minutes James forced a corner that Italy, with all 11 players, in the box countered from. If Italy were going to score it was only going to come from a counter-attack and on 32 minutes they did.
A sweeping move down the right-hand side saw the ball cut across from the byline to Barbara Bonasera just inside the 6-yard box who fired in right footed. It was a goal against the run of play but England could only blame themselves for not cutting out the attack earlier.
England responded with a James shot inside the box being parried away and the resulting Lucy Bronze cross bouncing off Russo’s knee and out.
The half ended with a rare spell of Italian pressure played out to the tune of jubiliant Italian support.
England hustled to the changing room with plenty of thinking to do. Italy calmly strolled in enjoying the moment.
Wiegman made one change for the second half, bringing on Beth Mead for arguably England’s most talented player Lauren James.
England continued to press with Leah Williams firing over and Hemp heading over. On 51 minutes Hemp should have scored but fired into Guiliani from inside the box. At the other end Sofia Contore hammered the ball into Hannah Hampton in England’s goal on the counter.
On 55 minutes Keira Walsh fired wide from outside the box. A minute later it was Georgia Stanway’s turn to shoot into the central defensive block of Linari and Salvai.
Italy were now defending with nine, sometimes ten players in the box. England, for all their possession, could not find the killer ball in for their forwards. Mead and Russo were not quite joining up to find a way through the massed Italian ranks.
Just after the hour mark Italy replaced their captain Christina Girelli who left in tears.
England’s response was to fire two shots in at Guiliani. The first from Alex Greenwood was punched out to Walsh who smashed the ball over the ball over the bar, again.
England were finding space down the righthand side and attacking the byline, but weren’t finding central players in the box to get on the end.
With 12 minutes to go Wiegman threw Chloe Kelly into the fray on the right. A series of England corners met England heads but failed to really trouble Guiliani or her 10 defenders. Italy still maintained a threat on the counter.
With six minutes to go Weigman threw the dice again and brought on Agyemang and Agnes Beever-Jones up front.
Italy countered and won a corner that Severini should have scored from, but could only fire into a prone Hampton.
With the clock ticking into seven minutes of added time another England corner ended up in the arms of Guiliani. England were frantically closing in on Italy’s goal and six minutes into added they equalised, just when it looked like it was all over.
Another ball into Italy’s six-yard box fell to Agyemang 4m out who made no mistake with smart footwork to slot in an equaliser that was met with an almighty roar from the English fans – 1-1 and extra time.
The restart saw Italy suddenly playing with more intent and possession in England’s half as the game took on a new life and Italy tested previously uncharted waters higher up the pitch.
Julie Piga still had to clear off the line before Giada Greggi had a shot comfortably swallowed up by Hampton.
On 97 minutes Kelly drove into the box from the right but her shot cleared the bar. In the second half of extra time Guiliani palmed over direct from a corner. Chances were now coming thick and fast.
On 116 minutes Agyemang was put through on an England counterattack but lofted the ball over the keeper on to the bar.
A minute later England had a penalty. Ariana Caruso brought down Mead in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Kelly’s penalty was saved only for her to collect the rebound and fire under Guiliani’s body – 2-1.
There was still enough time to bring on Jess Carter to another huge cheer from England’s fans, before the English could then begin their celebrations to sound of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline.
England now move on to Basel and a date with either Spain or Germany.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1753232375labto1753232375ofdlr1753232375owedi1753232375sni@n1753232375osloh1753232375cin.l1753232375uap1753232375
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