England vs Italy LIVE: Women's Euro 2025 semi-final latest score
It's been a nervy tournament so far for England, who came from 2-0 down at half-time to beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Build-up to this semi-final has been marred by the news that Jess Carter has been the subject of online racist abuse, with the defender announcing she would be stepping back from social media as a result.
The Lionesses have also confirmed they will no longer take the knee before matches, saying: 'It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism.'
Sarina Wiegman has a couple of selection dilemmas to deal with, including whether or not to drop Carter who struggled in the victory over Sweden.
Captain Leah Williamson came off with an ankle injury during the quarter-final and returned to training on Monday but it remains to be seen if she is fit enough to start.
Follow the Metro's LIVE blog for the latest build-up, team news and goal updates for England vs Italy:
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Daily Mirror
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
First Lioness football stars had to wear HATS playing for England 100 years ago
The very first England "Lionesses" had to play matches wearing hats when they turned out over 100 years ago - with an esteemed historian hoping the current crop will take a moment of reflection The very first 'Lionesses' who represented England played matches while wearing hats! The Mirror recently published the first ever photo of a team of women players representing England for a game against a Scottish side during WW1. Now more details of that historic game have been uncovered - including the revelation the players who took part all wore hats. The game took place at Celtic Park in 1918 in front of 15,000 England's Lionesses prepare for Sunday's huge 2025 Euros cup final respected historian Steve Bolton, whose grandmother Lizzy Ashcroft was one of England's greatest ever players, praised these women from over 100 years ago. He said: 'The players who will represent England in Sunday's game owe these women a huge debt of gratitude. They were the trailblazers. They were the ones who shattered the glass ceiling. 107 years ago these were the first ' Lionesses ' to be photographed. 'When Michelle Agyemang, Jess Carter, Lauren James and their team-mates play against Spain I hope they will take a moment to reflect on those who went before them. It's amazing to think that these skilful women players had to take to the pitch wearing hats. I certainly can't see that happening now! "They wore their natty work caps, as no respectable woman was seen out of doors without a hat, even when playing the novel game of football." This first photograph was discovered by Mr Bolton online and he paid "peanuts" for them. He said: "This England team was the forerunner of the current Lionesses I couldn't believe it when I found these two photos - they really are part of football history.' The match was between two munitions factories and it was a fund-raising effort for the war. The wartime England players were all picked from women working at the Vickers shipbuilding and munitions complex in Barrow, Cumbria. More than 1,200 women - many them teenagers - worked inside giant factories and they produced million shells for use in battle. England's star player was 16 year old Madge Dickinson who scored two goals in the famous 4 -0 win for the pioneering 'Lionesses'. There was a return game in Barrow, three weeks later where the Scottish team managed a respectable 2 v 2 draw in front of a crowd of 5,000. Vickers wore blue jerseys with black shorts, which were referred to as 'knickers' in those days. Bolton added: "The young women often worked in dirty and dangerous conditions. They worked long hours, often a 12-hour shift, and then played football afterwards. "I think that we owe a great deal of gratitude to these young women. For the last two years a wreath has been laid at the Cenotaph on November 11 to remember their sacrifices." Women's football continued to be popular after the war. Teams played friendlies for charities, often in front of large crowds, but the FA banned matches at its members' grounds in 1921 as "unsuitable for females". The ban lasted for 50 years until 1971.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Why England and Spain's unique rivalry goes beyond the Euro 2025 final
At kick-off in the Euro 2025 final, England and Spain will be rivals. But before and after, many will be friends and allies, united by a common cause. Keira Walsh is determined to win on Sunday, to become a two-time European champion as part of the first-ever England team to defend a title at a major international tournament. But Walsh also wants Spain to enjoy their moment, to make up for what was lost. Spain will undoubtedly enjoy the occasion more if they beat England to add to their World Cup triumph, but Walsh was aware of the wider meaning. England's players were hurt after their World Cup final defeat to Spain in 2023; though what followed in Sydney was the greater injustice. Spain's victory was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent during their trophy celebrations. 'I don't think, for them, there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of their players were,' Walsh said. 'It was all about the other stuff that had gone on.' Spain's stars lamented that there was not enough change in the country after winning the World Cup, now the focus is solely on them and the unique control they can bring to the pitch. 'They play incredible football and they deserve to be there,' said Walsh. 'As a human being I just want them to go out and just enjoy the game.' Walsh's two and a half years with Barcelona mean she has a deeper connection with several members of the Spain squad. When she felt homesick, the Spain captain Irene Parades would invite the midfielder to her family home for dinner. She grew close with many of their stars, such as Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. But England stood as a collective with Spain after the World Cup final, even if they had not shared a dressing room or spent time as teammates. The Lionesses felt Spain were robbed of the boost they received by winning the Euros in 2022. There is respect and admiration on both sides, in understanding that their role as players is not just what happens on the pitch but in leaving the game in a better place from where they found it. England used their platform to call for social change after winning the Euros, while Spain have made sacrifices to fight for what they deserve. Patri Guijarro sat out of the last World Cup in protest of unequal treatment. Now Spain's players have seen improvements off the pitch, Guijarro is back and has been the best holding midfielder at the Euros. Sarina Wiegman has previously spoken of the relationship between England and Spain as an example of the 'special community' in the women's game, where both sides are aware of their higher purpose. After the Rubiales scandal, Spain took a stand with Se acabo, a #MeToo movement in Spanish football and beyond. Wiegman has similarly empowered England to use their voices, as seen during the Euros by the defiant response of the team following the racist abuse suffered by Jess Carter. England have supported Spain even as they have emerged as the dominant force and their battles on the pitch have grown. After the World Cup, Spain learnt their talent was not enough to stop what happened to them with Rubiales, but the changes within the Spanish Football Federation mean there is now nothing to hold them back from expressing their joyful, flowing passing. It is on the pitch and in their respective playing styles where there is the clearest contrast between Spain and England, who embraced 'proper England' for the first time in a rugged, disciplined 1-0 win at Wembley in February – the last time the world champions lost a match. The blueprint Arsenal used to dethrone Barcelona in May's Champions League final in Lisbon is one that England may need to replicate. Arsenal were organised off the ball and committed to frustrating the world's best players, while they took their chance when it came. There was also a bit of needle in the heat of the moment, with Chloe Kelly involved as she pushed Alexia Putellas off the ball. Barcelona's stars will also remember that pain, with Bonmati particularly devastated after the defeat. There will be many of the same players involved in Basel, with the links between England and Spain also illustrated by the success of Arsenal and Barcelona in growing the game domestically and across Europe. Arsenal and Barcelona have become the two best-supported women's teams in the world, and in Switzerland during Euro 2025 there have been as many 'Williamson' and 'Russo' or 'Aitana' and 'Alexia' club shirts as some national sides. There may as well be two other teams in the Euro 2025 final, to go along with England and Spain. Within that, there is also the connecting influence of Caldentey, who swapped Barcelona for Arsenal last summer and ended up taking the Champions League with her from Catalonia to north London. Caldentey's winning mentality, forged at Barcelona, influenced an Arsenal team who had consistently failed to win the biggest prizes. It was said Caldentey brought a 'contagious' mindset that 'moved the culture forward' - that feeling is still fresh in the England squad, through its sizable Arsenal contingent. Walsh and Lucy Bronze, meanwhile, can bring insight into the opposition after their time at Barcelona. When playing in midfield with Bonmati and Putellas, Walsh was expected to play short passes all the time, to the extent that she experienced something of a reverse culture shock when she returned to England and signed for Chelsea in January. She admitted she had 'lost' her ability to play long but it has returned at the Euros, where most of England's success has come when they have mixed it up and gone direct. The Lionesses are technical and can play too - but not like Spain, no one can. Instead, England have taken pride in their resilience throughout the Euros, in knowing they are never beaten. 'They can do the same,' Walsh said, after Spain also came through extra time in their semi-final to beat Germany. It is another reason for England to admire Spain, as well as another hurdle to overcome when they meet as rivals on Sunday.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Keira Walsh wants more protection for players from online abuse
Keira Walsh has called for more protection against online abuse after her England team-mate Jess Carter was the target of racist vitriol on social media at Euro 2025. Carter announced she would be stepping away from the platforms for the remainder of the tournament ahead of England's dramatic 2-1 semi-final comeback against Italy to set up Sunday's final showdown with Spain. Walsh came off social media after the 2019 World Cup, when reading negative comments contributed to the midfielder genuinely entertaining the thought of quitting football. 'I think it's just a personal preference,' said Walsh, who did return to the networks, but has – bar a single post – been inactive on X since 2020. Lately, her Instagram account has solely been comprised of tagged posts by the Lionesses, or her respective current and former clubs Chelsea and Barcelona. 'I haven't had social media for the best part of four or five months, and I feel a lot better most of the time,' said Walsh. 'I don't really know what's going on outside of camp. I think at the time, with what's going on, probably more people have come off it, but I can only speak for myself. 'I think obviously the girls are smart enough to know what they should and shouldn't be looking at, and I'm sure they'll know what is going to put them in a good headspace and what isn't. 'Do I think there's enough protection on social media? No, I don't, but I'm not going to be able to change that. That's not up to me, but I think just in general, people can be more protected on social media, and I think we can do more to stop that from happening.' England defender Lucy Bronze has warned companies that athletes can 'thrive' without their services, but the reality remains that in the women's game – where new Arsenal recruit Olivia Smith just became the first £1 million player – brand-building on social media can be a lucrative tool for players earning nowhere near their male equivalents. Carter's case has now been referred to UK police, and, in a statement released Sunday, Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham vowed his organisation will 'ensure those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice'. One feature of the Online Safety Act, which received royal assent in October 2023, places a greater onus on social media companies to protect users from illegal content. Companies can be fined up to £18 million, or 10 per cent of their global revenue, if they fail to comply with their duties, but Ofcom – which is implementing the act in a phased approach – has only been able to enforce against the Illegal Harms Codes since March 17, 2025. 'I think we would have liked it to have been stronger in some cases,' said Bullingham. 'There's a real risk that if we're not firm in how the act is implemented, it won't be as strong as we hope. 'I think now it's incumbent on Ofcom to make sure they really do bring those responsible for running social media platforms to account and I haven't seen huge progress in the last couple of years. We would like to see it now.' Foreign social media companies operating within the UK are still beholden to the act, but prosecuting individuals living outside the country responsible for abusive content – which is not uncommon – remains a huge hinderance to justice. Bullingham added: 'If you look at the prosecution, obviously we can only work with the UK police, generally. There are, when we work with some of the companies that support us, there are occasions where you can prosecute outside the UK, but it's really hard and generally really expensive.' The FA chief said his organisation has engaged in productive conversations with FIFA and UEFA, encouraging them to put pressure on social media companies to prevent harmful content from appearing in the first place. He added: 'But where there are occasions, make sure we can prosecute. And we do think that people who perpetrate these hate crimes should be prosecuted wherever they are in the world.'
