The reigning champions will have a chance to defend their title on Sunday, facing either Spain or Germany in the final in Basel
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For large parts on Tuesday, it looked like England's luck had finally ran out. Just five days after somehow completing a great escape against Sweden in the quarter-finals, the Lionesses were again on the brink of crashing out of Euro 2025, with just two minutes of added time standing between them and a 1-0 defeat to surprise package Italy. Yet, once more, they came back from it, completing arguably an even more miraculous turnaround as Michelle Agyemang's last-gasp equaliser and Chloe Kelly's winner from the spot – in the penultimate minute of extra time, no less – made England 2-1 victors and sent them into Sunday's European Championship final.
For the most part, it was a frustrating and disappointing watch for fans of the Lionesses, with few chances created either side of a thumping finish from Barbara Bonansea which broke the deadlock in Italy's favour just past the half hour mark. The Azzurre were good for their lead, too, in a performance that suggested much greater experience in this sort of high pressure moment. Were it not for a superb double save from Hannah Hampton in the dying moments of the 90, Italy's place in the final would've been cemented, too.
But England piled the pressure on, battling through adversity and plugging away without some sort of magical spark coming from somewhere, anywhere, hoping that Italy would buckle, that the ball would bounce favourably, that a chance would come and they would take it. It took almost all of the allotted time, but Agyemang was once again ready for her big moment when it arrived, rifling an effort beyond Laura Giuliani to keep the Lionesses alive – just as she had with her equaliser against Sweden.
There was still plenty for England to do, though. Sarina Wiegman had thrown the kitchen sink at Italy with her substitutions and now her strange assortment of players had to adapt, arrange themselves into something of an organised XI and try and find a breakthrough. It looked like it would have to be penalties again, as it was against Sweden, but instead it was just penalty – thanks to Emma Severini's daft challenge on Beth Mead. There was time for one more twist, as Kelly's effort from the spot was saved by Giuliani, but it was the winger, England's hero in extra time back at Euro 2022, who latched onto the rebound, to put her name in lights yet again and send the Lionesses into a third successive major tournament final.
GOAL rates England's players from Stade de Geneve…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Hannah Hampton (7/10):
Made a big double save at the death to keep England's hopes alive, which proved particularly huge after Agyemang's equaliser. It was even more impressive given the little she'd had to do until that point.
Lucy Bronze (4/10):
Lapse in concentration proved extremely costly and allowed Bonansea to creep in and break the deadlock. Quite the contrast to her quarter-final heroics.
Leah Williamson (5/10):
Best of a bad bunch in defence, though that was a low bar to clear.
Esme Morgan (4/10):
Too easily exposed in the build-up to Italy's opener, dragged all over the place by Cantore's movement. A difficult night, with the Azzurre always getting in down England's left.
Alex Greenwood (4/10):
Out of position again, Italy made sure to target her side and did so successfully. Quality of her set pieces was inconsistent.
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Keira Walsh (6/10):
A more front-footed approach than usual led to her being one of the players who really tried to spark England into life, with some good runs, incisive passes and a few efforts at goal.
Georgia Stanway (4/10):
Battled well, winning plenty of her duels, but was wasteful in possession.
Ella Toone (4/10):
Had good spells where she looked likely to make something happened, albeit not for sustained periods.
Getty ImagesAttack
Lauren James (4/10):
Looked a little leggy and flat here, with it no surprise to see her go off with a knock at half time. Had one of England's best chances of the first 45 minutes, but opted to place the shot and it was well read by Giuliani.
Alessia Russo (4/10):
Had one decent chance in the first half but couldn't quite wrap her foot around the ball to direct the shot on target. Otherwise, lacked service – again.
Lauren Hemp (5/10):
Ebbed and flowed throughout the game, starting and finishing well. Teasing cross led to the all-important equaliser.
Getty Images SportSubs & Manager
Beth Mead (7/10):
Did well to stay onside with her run towards Hemp's cross, which discombobulated Giuliani and led to Agyemang's equaliser. Showed great experience to settle centrally in a mishmash of an XI in extra time, too.
Chloe Kelly (6/10):
Honoured her defensive duties well and was good on the ball, though her final product was inconsistent. Poor penalty, but great reactions.
Michelle Agyemang (8/10):
Came to England's rescue yet again with a remarkable composed finish at the death. Was so close to winning it in extra time, too, but for the woodwork.
Aggie Beever-Jones (6/10):
Worked hard and gave Italy something else to think about as England went to two up top.
Grace Clinton (N/A):
Brought necessary energy to midfield in extra time.
Jess Carter (N/A):
On at the death to seal the win.
Sarina Wiegman (4/10):
Didn't learn her lesson from the near-miss against Sweden, where hesitancy with subs almost cost her team. The wait to react almost proved decisive again here, but her subs did come through and deliver in the end. Would be naive to believe she can be that passive in Sunday's final.
