Resilience, luck and subs - England's winning formula
'They do whatever is neccesary'
Wiegman's rotations arrived like clockwork in 2022 - midway through the second half, no matter the score, and always made a difference. She named the same starting XI for all six matches and backed her players to deliver the gameplan.It has been similar in Switzerland, with Wiegman's selection remaining unchanged for a third successive match and her first substitution coming in the 70th minute against Sweden.England had been carved apart by Sweden's pace in a relentless first half, and were still under pressure as goalkeeper Hampton made key saves after the break.Defender Jess Carter had struggled against Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, meaning she had to swap with Leah Williamson and become the right-sided centre-back. Sweden, flowing with confidence, were brutally persistent and their fans buoyant, singing ABBA songs as England trailed 2-0.Surely Wiegman would make changes at half-time? Surely she would react to Sweden's directness? Surely England had a Plan B?But Wiegman has rarely swayed from her plan - because it usually works.The introductions of Kelly, Beth Mead, Michelle Agyemang and Esme Morgan changed things. England were suddenly on the front foot. Kelly's deep cross was headed in at the back post by defender Lucy Bronze, and 103 seconds later, Agyemang made it 2-2.It was the third time England had scored via a substitute at Euro 2025, more than any other team."I don't know why but this team is just incredible. They stick together," said Wiegman, when asked how her side continued to respond to setbacks. "We had a disappointing game against France but how the players came together, took responsibility and stepped up... they took action to make it better. "They do whatever is necessary to turn around a result like we did today. It is so impressive and I'm just really proud to be a part of this team."
'What defines her is that resilience'
England fans may had doubt but they did not show it at Stadion Letzigrund as those behind the goal to Wiegman's right sang her name as they trailed 2-0.When things eventually started going to plan, England still relied on plenty of luck. The ball didn't quite drop for Sweden on set-pieces, and as extra time wore on, momentum felt like it was with England.But in the shootout, it was Sweden's game to win. They had two chances to seal victory with penalties of their own and managed to squander both.Sweden goalkeeper Falk wasted the first opportunity, blasting the ball over the crossbar, before Hampton dived low to save Jakobsson's spot-kick. As Sweden's senior players missed their opportunities, England's most experienced was ready to take her moment.It was fitting that 33-year-old Bronze, playing in her seventh major tournament, delivered when it mattered.Someone who epitomises England's resilience, she stepped up, took a deep breath and thumped her penalty into the roof of the net.A roar erupted from Bronze as she looked at the supporters behind the goal, ripping off tape - that she had put on herself during the match - in the process.Around half an hour earlier, she had kicked the hoardings behind the same net - a release of emotion as she kickstarted England's comeback. "Lucy was chaotic in herself, right? There was a lot going on with her. She became a physio, she became a striker, she nailed the best penalty of the day," said team-mate Mead. "I think Lucy really showed her experience in those moments. She's our most experienced England player and I think she was one of the players that very much got the determination out of us all today."Having failed to convert four penalties, Wiegman admitted she was "really concerned" that England were heading out. But it was fitting that Bronze helped carry her team over the line."She is just one of a kind. I have never seen this before in my life. I have worked with so many incredible football players but what she does and her mentality," said Wiegman."The penalty, the goal - that is not what defines her. What defines her is that resilience, that fight. The only way to get her off the pitch is in a wheelchair."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ruben Amorim says Manchester United will not let players go cheaply
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim insists the club will not sell unwanted players on the cheap and he is prepared to welcome them back into the fold if necessary. Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia were left out of the tour of the United States – Marcus Rashford subsequently went on loan to Barcelona – and the so-called 'bomb squad' have been training at the club's Carrington complex. United's transfer dealings have been widely criticised in recent seasons and Amorim said chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox would not be taken advantage of just to get rid of those surplus to requirements. 'Some players have to find a new place to have more space in the team and others clearly show they want a new challenge and want new teams,' Amorim told a press conference ahead of the the Premier League Summer Series game against West Ham on Saturday. 'We are just allowing these players to have time to think and to decide. If we reach a point where they have to join the team, they will join the team because they are our players. 'I know for a fact that these people, Omar and Jason, and the club have a number (price) for these players. If they don't reach that, they will be Manchester United players, no doubt about that. 'I understand clubs are maybe waiting for the last minute, but they can have a surprise and I'm ready. I'm ready to receive the players. 'They have more competition – if you want to play in the World Cup you need to play, so I'm really happy with that because I have more options. If they have to fight each other to play, for me it is perfect.' United have spent about £130million on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon but are still in the market for a defensive midfielder and a striker. However, previous mis-steps on transfers mean United are being more circumspect this summer. 'At the moment, our club needs to be really careful when we sign a player,' added Amorim. 'So if we have to start the season with this squad, I'm happy because all the players that are here want to be here – and that for me is the most important thing.'
Reuters
23 minutes ago
- Reuters
Spain's Bonmati keen to add Euro crown to glittering medal haul
LAUSANNE, Switzerland July 25 (Reuters) - Aitana Bonmati is hoping to add another piece of silverware to her bulging trophy cabinet when Spain play their first Women's Euro final, taking on holders England in Basel on Sunday. The 27-year-old playmaker has won six league titles and three Champions League crowns with Barcelona and taken home the Ballon d-Or Feminin in 2023 and 2024, as well as a World Cup and Nations League title with Spain. "It would close the circle a little bit -- this, together with the Olympic Games," she told reporters at the team's base in Lausanne on Friday. "We want to add the only tournaments that we are missing. For me personally, it would be very nice in the future to have the memory of having won the great tournaments at the highest level in football." Spain's best finish to date in the Euros came in 1997 when they came third, and their only appearance in the Olympic tournament led to an agonising fourth-place finish at the Paris Games in 2024, where they lost the bronze-medal match to Germany. Sunday's final -- a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final -- promises to be a tight affair, with six of the last seven games between the two sides decided by a single goal and the seventh a scoreless draw. "The game on Sunday is unique, very one-on-one, where things are decided by the smallest margins. Anything can happen, no matter how experienced or knowledgeable you are," Bonmati explained. "They have it too, they have lived through many finals. It is going to be a very equal match in that respect." Bonmati and her teammates are very conscious of where the game will be won and lost. "When we talk about our game, we talk about a possession game, and we, in the vast majority of games, have had possession. So if we don't have it, something bad will happen, so I hope we have it more than England," she said.
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Sky Sports forced to apologise after Ben Stokes is smacked in privates with ball leaving fans wincing
SKY SPORTS were forced to apologise to viewers after Ben Stokes took a smack to his privates bits against India. Fans were left clutching their own crown jewels after the England star was whacked with a cricket ball during Friday's Fourth Test. 3 Joe Root hit a magnificent hundred on day three of the Fourth Test between England's 2-1 lead on India at Old Trafford. Root's 38th Test century bumped him up to second on the all-time leading run-scorers list in Test cricket. But it was Stokes, 34, that hit the headlines after the ball caught him in his genitals. Stokes was batting when a ferocious shot rocketed between his bat and, well, found its mark. Cameras zoomed on Stokes writhing in pain, leading to a wave of sympathetic groans from viewers at home. The commentator said: "Oh! Movement, pain. He's been hit in the midships again." While Prakash Wakankar on comms joked about what the physio could do about it. The British commentator then added: "Sorry if you heard any expletives there, but perhaps you can understand why." Fans took to social media to joke about the incident, with one writing: "X marks the spot 🤣". While another said: "Should have protection there." India star carried off Old Trafford pitch in ambulance cart after horror injury in Test match against England A third added: "That's got to hurt." Stokes, ever the warrior, eventually picked himself up, though with a noticeable limp to remain not out as England went 544-7 after the first Innings. England lead India by 186 runs with three wickets remaining. Meanwhile, Root pushed past Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting while scoring 150. It's now only Sachin Tendulkar keeping him off the summit. The Yorkshireman, 34, has a way to go to eclipse The Little Master's tally of 15,921. He needs a further 2,513 runs to become No 1 - but at the relatively young age of 34, Tendulkar's record seems achievable. 3
