England saviour Michelle Agyemang ‘something special' says Sarina Wiegman
But just as she did in their quarter-final against Sweden, the youngest Lioness in Switzerland came off the bench and levelled late in the second-half. clipping the crossbar in extra-time before fellow replacement Chloe Kelly emphatically buried the rebound from her own saved penalty late in the second period.
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The 42
a day ago
- The 42
The Arsenal super subs who have kept England's back to back Euros dream alive
AFTER ENGLAND'S LAST-GASP semi-final win over Italy on Tuesday, Michelle Agyemang dropped to the ground and lay flat on her back. What must she have been thinking? The 19-year-old has been the Lionesses' breakout star at Euro 2025, twice keeping their back to back dreams alive with late, great goals. Her 96th-minute equaliser against Italy was her third goal on just her fourth senior cap. The coolness. The calmness. The composure. Agyemang almost hit the winner deep in extra-time, but the crossbar denied her audacious lob. In the 119th minute, Chloe Kelly completed the turnaround with a rebounded penalty to send England into their third consecutive major final. The super substitutes, or 'finishers' as Sarina Wiegman prefers to call them, shared a lovely moment after the final whistle. As Agyemang lay on the turf, catching her breath, literally and metaphorically, trying to make sense of the whirlwind she is living, Kelly spotted her young team-mate amidst her own celebrations and ran towards her. She sat on top of her and they high-fived, the joy palpable as other English players in and helped the teenage sensation to her feet. Advertisement While Sweet Caroline rang out around Stade de Genève, captain Leah Williamson willed Agyemang to the front of the celebrations to soak up the moment. Kelly is no stranger to the acclaim, having scored the extra-time winner in the Euro 2022 final from the bench. She was a game-changer at that tournament, alongside Alessia Russo and Ella Toone. Agyemang is the star born in Switzerland. Her surname incredibly translates as 'saviour of the nation' in the Akan language of her parents' native country, Ghana. Agyemang after scoring for England. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Agyemang was the bolter in this England squad. She was first called up in April, as injury cover for Russo, having just helped the Under-19s qualify for their own European Championships finals. Two days later, she scored 41 seconds into her senior debut with her second touch. It was a cracker at that, and in that camp, she showed enough to secure her seat on the plane. (And piano in the kit man's van: she had it brought to Switzerland, and listens to gospel music before games to calm her mind.) It has been a remarkable rise, emphasised by the fact she was a ball girl for Wiegman's first game at Wembley Stadium four years ago. The Essex-born forward missed the U19 Euros due to her senior commitments, and her international career has effectively taken off before her club career. A life-long Arsenal fan, Agyemang has been at the North London club since the age of six. She has long been tipped to reach the top, excelling in the famed academy. Her goal-scoring prowess, physicality and game intelligence was striking from early doors. She made her senior debut and scored her first goal aged 16, and committed to signing a professional contract at the Gunners when she turned 18. But loan spells at Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion have been stop-start due to injury and limited minutes, as she balances football with her business management studies at King's College London. While England and the small matter of tomorrow's Euro 2025 final against Spain is taking precedence, Agyemang now finds herself at a similar Arsenal crossroads to Chloe Kelly seven years ago. Questions are swirling about whether she should stay at the Champions League winners and compete for a starting spot, or leave on another WSL loan. Kelly — also an academy product — found game time hard to come by as she tried to break into a star-studded Arsenal team, and after two loan spells at Everton, she signed for the Toffees permanently in 2018. Chloe Kelly on the ball for England. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Her star rose there and at Manchester City, but Kelly made a sensational return to Arsenal in January. She forced a loan move on transfer deadline day, having shared a scathing social media post about City, where she was overlooked for game-time. She has since spoken about almost quitting football, and how the Arsenal move restored her love for football and reinvigorated her career. Kelly is now a Champions League winner, having signed a permanent deal, and finds herself back in a European Championship final, the stage she lit up in 2022. If their form is anything to go off, she and Agyemang will do so again tomorrow. Will it be from the bench again, or might they start? That's one of the big questions ahead of a blockbuster final in Basel.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Fans only just realising what Lionesses' Euro 2025 hero Michelle Agyemang's name means and say ‘that's just incredible'
MICHELLE AGYEMANG is the name on everyone's lips right now... and rightly so. The TWICE rescued the Lionesses from the brink of Euro 2025 heartbreak. Advertisement 5 Michelle Agyemang was once again the Lionesses' saviour as she scored in the 96th minute vs Italy Credit: AP 5 Agyemang celebrated wildly with her team-mates following her last-gasp heroics Credit: Getty 5 Agyemang was also the hero when England left it late to beat Sweden on penalties Credit: Alamy After losing their group-stage opener to France, But twice The Gunners star - at the club since the age of SIX - climbed off the bench with 20 minutes to play of the quarter-final, with her nation down and seemingly out, trailing 2-0 to Sweden. Lucy Bronze pulled one back and, within two minutes, Agyemang - a Wembley ball-girl as recently as 2021 - levelled the match as the Advertisement READ MORE SPORT STORIES And in an enthralling semi-final against Italy, she netted an even more dramatic equaliser. Agyemang was in the perfect position to thump the ball into the back of the net as the clock ticked over into the 96TH-MINUTE of the match, with just one more minute of added time to be played. The Lionesses would go on to win and celebrate with a pizza party thanks to another Arsenal star, Chloe Kelly - as she poked home after her 119th-minute But Agyemang was the saviour. Quite literally. In fact, "Agyemang" in her family's native language, Akan, translates to "saviour of the nation". Advertisement Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS How fitting. Fans went wild after learning the fun fact, with one taking to X to write: "The fact that Agyemang can mean 'saviour of the nation' in Ghanaian Akan is just incredible." I coached Chloe Kelly as a kid and have now spent £3,000 building my own pub to watch her at Euro 2025 Another said: "WAIT SO AGYEMANG WAS DESTINED TO DO THIS??? Having a last name that means "Saviour of the Nation" AND doing this is crazy." Advertisement A third added: "How aptly named she is." And one posted: "She is literally living up to the meaning of her name." Match-winner Kelly later claimed: "She's unbelievable. She's got the world at her feet. A young player with a bright future and I'm absolutely buzzing for her." But Lionesses captain Leah Williamson perhaps summed it up best, saying: "She feels inevitable right now." Advertisement England fans will certainly hope so ahead of the all-important final on Sunday evening. 5 Agyemang has been on the books of Arsenal since she was six years old Credit: Getty 5 The forward was part of the Arsenal squad who won the Champions League last season Credit: Getty
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
England leave it late again but get Italian Job done to keep title defence alive
The 42 AS THE FINAL whistle sounded at Stade de Genève after another Euro 2025 marathon, bodies dropped to the ground and sprawled across the turf. Italian tears, English elation. The defending champions were back in the final after another great escape. Drama to the very death. England forced extra-time with a 96th minute equaliser, and won the game in the 119th minute. Chloe Kelly stepped up to take the last-gasp penalty after Emma Severini was adjudged to have fouled Beth Mead. Many will argue it was soft, VAR was not used. Euro 2022 final matchwinner Kelly smiled before dispatching her spot kick in the quarter-final shootout against Sweden last week. There were no pre-penalty smiles this time around, but the super sub looked relaxed. Kelly did her usual buck leap: left knee up, hop, run-up and fire . . . Laura Giuliani got down to her right and stopped. Time stood still. Kelly reacted quickest — along with Ella Toone — and made no mistake with her rebound. The Arsenal Champions League winner raced off in celebration, moving her hands up and down over and over as if to say, 'Calm down, we've got this'. Euro 2022 was won by super subs, and in extra-time, and similar themes have unfolded in Switzerland. England have been far from convincing, but they have found a way. Michelle Agyemang was Sarina Wiegman's other game-changer tonight, the 19-year-old keeping the Lionesses' title defence alive in the last minute of stoppage time. Indeed, she rattled the crossbar just before her Gunners team-mate landed the killer blow and broke Italian hearts. As mentioned on RTÉ, Agyemang's surname translates as 'saviour of a nation'. She levelled against Sweden, and again tonight, scoring her third goal on her fourth senior cap. 90+6, coolness personified in the box. The teenage sensation was lurking when Giuliani punched Lauren Hemp's cross clear; Agyemang took a touch with her right, set herself up and drilled home, as if she was playing in the park, to send Stade de Genève into raptures. Kelly and Agyemang celebrate at the final whistle. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The character of this English team is undeniable, and they now roll into their third successive major final on Sunday — against the side they beat for Euro 2022 glory, Germany, or the team that beat them to 2023 World Cup honours, Spain. The pain will linger for Italy, who lived up to their pre-tournament label of dark horses and contested their first Euros semi-final since 1997. A tweet from former Ireland manager Eileen Gleeson caught the eye in the aftermath. 'Heartbreak for Italy tonight,' she wrote, 'but reaping reward of investment into domestic game. Fully professional league from 2022, 21 of squad home based, competitive in Champions League, sustained performance in Nations League A, and tonight, moments from reaching the Euro 2025 final.' Advertisement In February 2024, Gleeson's Ireland drew 0-0 with the Azzuri in an international friendly in Florence. In fact, the Girls In Green went close to winning that night. Leanne Kiernan saw a second-half goal disallowed for a borderline offside call. One needs little reminder of how Ireland failed to qualify for this tournament, and the path they have since travelled. Or indeed, the issues in the Women's Premier Division. Meanwhile, Italy sent shockwaves around Euro 2025 with a quarter-final upset against Norway. 35-year-old Cristiana Girelli was their hero at the same venue last week, a 90th minute winner sending them into the last four. But they would be the victims of late drama six days later. Andrea Soncin's side continued their trend of opening the scoring — they did so in all five of their games — when Barbara Bonanseainto hit the roof of the net in the 33rd minute. England had dominated up to that point, with Lauren James and Alessia Russo among those with chances, but Italy became the latest side to expose their defensive frailties as the deadlock was broken. From a throw-in, Sofia Cantore spun off a hapless English body and tore down the right flank, linking up with Girelli for a one-two, before delivering across the box. With the defence at sixes and sevens, the cross missed everyone but Bonanseainto, who took a touch with her left and rifled into the back of the net with the same foot. Leah Williamson and Lucy Bronze cut frustrated figures, having been caught out, as Bonanseainto wheeled away and made a heart with her hands in celebration. As she celebrated with the bench, the cameras cut to Soncin, who was jumping around with two fans dressed up as Mario and Luigi. The duo had been shown during Il Canto degli Italiani; the rousing Italian national anthem a powerful moment, but this was dreamland. Girelli in tears after the game. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo England did their utmost to bring them back to reality, the chances flowing either side of half time, but Italy stayed compact and carried a threat on the counter. Girelli limped off after the hour-mark; a blow for her side though they dug deeper and deeper. English frustration grew, their lack of clinical edge compounded by their opponents' gamesmanship. Wiegman sent out the Chloe Kelly bat signal, and seven minutes later, rolled the dice and went all-out attack with Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones replacing Russo and Leah Williamson. Chaos ensued. The ball was cleared off the Italy line; England goalkeeper Hampton stepped up with a huge double save. Soncin will have been scratching his head wondering how it was not 2-0 with four minutes of normal time to play: Hampton spilled Michela Cambiaghi's initial effort from Manuela Giugliano's corner, and Severini couldn't capitalise. Agyemang's equaliser was a sucker-punch, but the underdogs responded well through a cagey first-half extra-time. When Giuliani clawed away Mead's corner at the back post, penalties were in sight. Anything could happen then. But England, as they so often do, left it late. And some how, some way, got the Italian Job done. Written by Emma Duffy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
