Euro 2025: Recap Wiegman & Stanway news conference before England semi-final

BBC News

21-07-2025

Update:
Date: 18:31 BST
Title: England semi-final: Listen and follow on BBC
Content: England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)
That's it from Geneva for now.
Tomorrow, it's crunch time.
England against Italy at the Stade de Geneve for a place in the Euro 2025 final.
Remember, you can listen and follow on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
Update:
Date: 18:28 BST
Title: 'Taking knee isn't doing what we want it to do'
Content: England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)
England
On the decision not to take the knee against Italy, Georgia Stanway adds: "It's to change it up. We felt like the knee was a little bit repetitive. We felt it had come to a point where the knee isn't doing what we wanted it to do. Our decision is to stand, hopefully that brings more conversation, more change and gets the topic talking.
Update:
Date: 18:26 BST
Title: 'We are more powerful as a collective'
Content: England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)
England
More from Georgia Stanway about the Lionesses' support for team-mate Jess Carter in the wake of the social media abuse the defender received following the quarter-final win over Sweden: "The most important thing is Jess has the power to be able to do that - she doesn't have the power on her own, the power of the Lionesses, the staff, the FA.
"It might sound like there's one person fighting this battle, but you never really know how many people are behind her and stand with her.
"That's the beauty of football, if we want to make change we can do it as a collective, as a collective we are much more powerful."
Update:
Date: 18:23 BST
Title: 'Italy can do different things'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
And finally from Sarina Wiegman, on tactical lessons learned from the Sweden game: "I think this is a different game. Sweden were a very physical counter-attacking team - Italy can do that too, they are creative in their shapes, they can do different things.
"I wouldn't say there was one thing I could literally take over from the Sweden game to the Italy game."
Update:
Date: 18:21 BST
Title: 'We have headaches all the time'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on selection dilemmas after strong performances from the substitutes against Sweden: "We have headaches all the time, because a lot of players can start.
"That's what makes the team strong. Before every game we take a lot of things into consideration, we will also do that tomorrow."
She then clarifies that "everyone is fit" for the semi-final, including captain Leah Williamson, who went off against Sweden in the quarter-final after rolling her ankle.
Update:
Date: 18:19 BST
Title: Have England practiced penalties?
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
Have England been practicing penalties since last Thursday?
"We practice for hours and hours!," jokes Sarina Wiegman before adding: "No we didn't."
Wiegman says: "Over the last months players train for penalties all the time, also at their clubs, you want to be as prepared as possible.
"Hopefully it's not necessary. We have practiced again."
Update:
Date: 18:15 BST
Title: 'Kelly showed she is ready'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman on Chloe Kelly's impact from the bench against Sweden: "In our squad we have different players in each position with different attributes, that's what she brought when she came on.
"She showed she was ready, she crossed the ball from right and left, she was really sharp, as were all the subs, they did their job. It was a hard fight.
"That's what we hope players bring when they come on the pitch."
Update:
Date: 18:13 BST
Title: Post
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
More from England's manager about how the women's game has changed in recent years: "The visibility of the women's game in recent years has had a lot of impact, that you can now have a profession as a player or a coach is positive, and fans getting involved.
"The main negative is abuse and discrimination."
Update:
Date: 18:12 BST
Title: 'We cannot think we are favourites'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on England being labelled favourites against Italy: "I think it would be really disrespectful to Italy to think we are the favourites. They made the semi-final like we did, it's impressive for any team to make the semis.
"Complacency is the biggest mistake any team could make. We've seen how they've played. I don't think there's any way we could think we are the favourite We have to be at our very best to win the game."
Update:
Date: 18:10 BST
Title: 'Williamson really wants to play'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on Leah Williamson's chances of playing: "She really wants to play, she did everything to recover as good as possible, and she has. She trained today, If she recovers well she can play tomorrow."
On recovering from extra-time and penalties against Sweden: "We were really happy we had an extra day to recover compared to the other games we've had. Tomorrow when we have to play we will be ready."
Update:
Date: 18:10 BST
Title: 'Fans have never let us down'
Content: England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)
England
Georgia Stanway on England fans in Geneva: "We know that they will turn up. The Lionesses fans never let us down. It's a closer stadium. The last few games we've had a running track around it."
Update:
Date: 18:07 BST
Title: 'Faster, fitter, stronger'
Content: England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)
England
More from Georgia Stanway about the game tomorrow and her recent injury problems: "I still have to pinch myself. I feel I am super grateful to be here (after injury).
"In that time you realise how much you really enjoy going to work every day. Now I am in this situation it feels like the time has gone fast.
"It wasn't easy. I feel good, I feel faster, fitter and stronger than I have felt before."
Update:
Date: 18:04 BST
Title: Post
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on who should be responsible for making football a safe space: "I think it starts with everyone taking responsibility, then you have the bodies responsible for all these [social media] platforms that should do something also."
Update:
Date: 18:02 BST
Title: 'Some people do disgusting things'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on whether she's fallen in love with England: "Yes, I have. But not the one Georgia was talking about. It's incredible, but there are some people that do disgusting things.'
Update:
Date: 18:01 BST
Title: 'We've sent a message to the world'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on what message she gave to the team about Jess Carter: "That didn't need a message, the team came really well together. We spoke about it, everyone wants to perform tomorrow but wanted to address this and send a message to the world. It says a lot about the team."
Update:
Date: 18:00 BST
Title: 'We won't stand for it'
Content: England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)
England
"It's moments like this that we just don't stand for," adds Georgia Stanway. "I think we've had a few people who want to come off social media because they are fed up off it."
Update:
Date: 17:58 BST
Title: 'I don't think about personal achievements'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on if she thinks about personal achievements: "I don't - I'm just in the job now, working with the team. All that keeps me busy is the game tomorrow. We want to win, we are in full preparation. That's what keeps me busy. Maybe in 10 or 15 years I'll think about that."
Update:
Date: 17:57 BST
Title: 'They are not fans'
Content: England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)
England
"They are not fans," adds Georgia Stanway when asked about the people who have posted social media abuse.
"I believe people like that don't deserve to be called fans."
On the decision not to take the knee: "Hopefully this will bring up more conversation and change. We want more action to be made. Our stance and our opinion stays the same."
Update:
Date: 17:54 BST
Title: 'Jess is ready to play'
Content: England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on whether she would consider not playing Jess Carter against Italy: "Of course we have had a conversation. It's a hard situation but Jess is a very strong person, she wants to move on too, but she and we felt we had to address this, we can't let it go. So we did.
"We want to perform in the match, she's ready to perform and compete. That says a lot about her and the team."
Update:
Date: 17:53 BST
Title: 'Need to cut it out of society'
Content: England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)
England
England midfielder Georgia Stanway on the social media abuse: "I think if anything it has brought us together as a team. Some things we will never be able to understand and this is one of them. We need to cut it out of society.
"If we want to make a change we can do it as a collective."