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The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lionesses have the power to rise to their biggest moment of Euro 2025
Around the England camp, there's a different air. The squad insist they are fully focused on Tuesday's Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy, but it's not quite a case of drawing a line under the week's big story, in the way that often happens in such situations. Certainly for games of this magnitude. By contrast, many of the players want to use the occasion to draw attention to the stand they're trying to make. They wanted to 'send a message to the world,' in the words of Sarina Wiegman. The pre-match press conference in Geneva was dominated by discussion of Jess Carter, and her decision to take a 'step back' from social media after suffering racist abuse. Some of the players remain infuriated by it all. Wiegman and Georgia Stanway were fully composed by the time it came to talk, but this wasn't a case of now setting it all aside. Stanway explained the rationale behind no longer taking the knee head on, and even addressed some critical discussion that stance has received from some quarters. 'We felt like the knee was just a little bit repetitive,' Stanway said. 'We felt like it's come to a point where the knee isn't doing what we wanted it to do.' Wiegman of course backed up her midfielder, stating: 'It's really sad we have to discuss this. It goes beyond football.' That has generally been true of her team. In what is obviously a transformative era for women's football, England have been one of the pioneering sides in marrying football success with social impact. This match might even be a defining occasion in that regard, as England stand on the brink of a third successive final at a Euros or World Cup, and Wiegman herself looks to her fifth. There is of course an awkward but inevitable question from all that, that does feel a little incongruous given the seriousness of the matter the players are discussing. Football does have to be played, after all. So, is there any danger of distraction? The feeling from the camp is that there's no chance of that. They actually look likelier to channel this kind of energy. 'If anything, it's brought us together as a team,' Stanway said. 'Right now, all we can do is show our support, our togetherness.' This was a theme that Lucy Bronze had driven the previous day. 'We all support Jess, Jess supports the team,' Bronze said. 'No matter what we're all going through, we're all able to do that and I think we've shown that whether it's something going on at home, deaths of parents, to racism, to homophobia, this team stands up and speaks out. 'We all support each other through it all, and whilst we're doing that we're still successful as a football team and I think that's what gives us this platform to be able to speak out and to push even more.' Stanway even had a phrase for it: 'The power of the Lionesses.' That's where there is a different air, and another shift. Stanway admitted that this tournament has been 'a rollercoaster'. It's not just gone up and down, however, but also back and forth. England have looked assured in one moment, and uncertain the next. It just hasn't been convincing in terms of performance. They've only played well against inferior opposition, in the Netherlands and Wales. Against France and Sweden, they didn't just toil. A potential blueprint to beat England was even more evident. These are problems that have been growing for a while, going back to before the 2023 World Cup. England struggle to play when Keira Walsh is pressed, and struggle to defend when facing proper pace and livewire attacks. Worse, Wiegman hasn't yet figured out any solutions to this, other than in-game adaptations that change the momentum of matches rather than actually address the tactics. Hence the importance of Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang against Sweden. Wiegman admitted their impact adds to her 'headaches', but that also points to the logic of maybe keeping them on the bench. They can then be unleashed. On that other major selection story, Leah Williamson trained on the eve of the match after recovering from an ankle injury, and wants to play. Italy, it must be acknowledged, don't have anywhere near the quality of France or Sweden. Unlike those sides, however, they are here, in the semi-finals. Part of that might be a kind draw, but it's also because of their own resolve, as well as a tactical canniness under manager Andrea Soncin. That was witnessed in the trouble they gave Spain in that crucial final group game. It might have been a Spain with six changes, but one of those Aitana Bonmati, and Italy went in needing a result. Events changed that but they also saw Italy become the only side to actually take the lead against Spain. Soncin spoke after that about how he's enjoying the greatest days of his life, reflecting the emotional momentum that has built around this team. You only have to look at the form of Cristiana Girelli, who struck twice in that quarter-final against Norway. They also have a social momentum all of their own, since they're on the brink of a final just three years after being permitted to turn professional. If that fosters the sense of one of those teams that has done superbly to get this far and is unlikely to have more, it goes without saying that Wiegman won't let England think like that. 'We might be favourites,' the manager said, with a considerable 'but…' 'I think it would be disrespectful to Italy to think we are favourites.' The team are instead thinking of bigger things as well as how they can rise above it all. That is most true of Carter. 'She's ready to perform,' Wiegman said. 'We're ready to perform.' England are ready for more, in so many senses.
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Wiegman hints Williamson fit for England semi and says Carter ‘ready to perform'
Sarina Wiegman has suggested captain Leah Williamson will be fit for England's Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy and said Jess Carter is 'ready to perform' after the defender revealed she had been the target of racist abuse. There were concerns about centre-back Williamson's fitness after she rolled her ankle in extra time of Thursday's dramatic last-eight shoot-out victory over Sweden, but the Arsenal defender – alongside every other member of the squad – trained with the team on Monday morning. Carter, in a statement shared to her accounts on several platforms on Sunday, said she would be 'taking a step back' from social media, while Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham confirmed his organisation has involved UK police. Asked if she expected to have a full complement available for the semi in Geneva, England boss Wiegman said: 'That's what it looks like, yeah.' And pressed further on what Williamson's readiness push said about her skipper, the Dutch boss replied: 'It says she really wants to play, and she did everything to recover as good as possible, and she has, so she could be training today. 'When she recovers well, she's available tomorrow.' England midfielder Georgia Stanway added: 'She's our captain. We would like her on the pitch as much as possible. She leads in communication and in performance, so to have her on the pitch is obviously what England need.' Williamson and Carter have both started every game of England's European title defence in Switzerland. On the abuse received by Carter, Wiegman said it was 'really sad that we have to be occupied by this. It's ridiculous. It's disgusting what's happening, and that goes beyond football, so we had to pay attention to that and support Jess.' Wiegman said she has had 'conversations' with Carter about her involvement in Tuesday's contest, adding: 'Although it's a hard situation, Jess is a very strong person, and she wants to move on, too, but she also felt, and so did we, that we had to address this. 'You can't just let it go. So she did, we did, and then we know that there's a match going on and we want to perform. We're ready to perform. She's ready to perform and compete, and that says a lot about her and about the team.' The Lionesses have collectively decided to stop 'taking the knee' ahead of kick-off, a symbolic anti-racism gesture that has become increasingly widespread, explaining in a statement on Monday: 'It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism.' Stanway said: 'I think it's just to change it up. We felt like the knee was just a little repetitive. We felt like it comes to a point where the knee isn't doing what we want it to do. So now our decision is to stand, and hopefully that will bring up more conversation and get (people) talking about the topic.' England, fifth in the world, are eight places higher in FIFA's global rankings than Tuesday's opponents, and are unbeaten in all five of their recent meetings with Italy – all friendlies – with four wins, including last year's 5-1 victory. But though statistics may be on the defending champions' side, Wiegman said: 'I think it would be really disrespectful to Italy to think that we're the favourites. 'Complacency is just the biggest mistake you could make. We've seen how they've played. I don't think there's anything that we could think that we might be the favourite, but we have to be at our very, very best to win the game.'
BBC News
6 minutes ago
- BBC News
England aim to solve 'wobbles' in semi-final, and what to expect from Italy
England's preparations for their Euro 2025 semi-final with Italy on Tuesday have been overshadowed by the racial abuse suffered by defender Jess have had to rally around Carter to offer support, while ensuring they remain focused on their attempts to defend their European endured a difficult few days, whether Carter will start is among the decisions Wiegman will have to consider as England seek to reach a third successive major tournament can Italy upset the defending champions and have England sorted out their defensive issues? Will Wiegman mix up the defence? A recurring theme of England's tournament has been the weaknesses exposed in defence, with France and Sweden's pace causing them has switched positions on three occasions - playing as a right-sided centre-back, a left-sided centre-back and a left-back to try to solve the Greenwood has also switched from centre-back to full-back, while defender Esme Morgan impressed when she came off the bench in the win over has a selection headache with Morgan pushing for a starting place, and she might also choose to protect Carter following the racial abuse. "Although it's a hard situation, Jess is a very strong person and wants to move on. She also felt we had to address this. You can't just let it go," said Wiegman. "We know there's a match going on and we're ready to perform - she's ready to perform and to compete. That says a lot about her and the team."We have headaches all the time because a lot of players can play from the start. It's what makes the team so strong."There were also doubts over the availability of captain Leah Williamson after she was seen using crutches and wearing a protective boot on Thursday. But Wiegman confirmed Williamson has recovered from an ankle injury and she was in full training on Monday. "She really wants to play and she did everything to recover as quickly as possible - and she has. It means she is available," added became the first team to progress from a knockout tie at the Euros having trailed by two goals in their win over Italy have opened the scoring in all four of their matches so can England wipe away the cobwebs and produce a solid defensive display?"I'd like to think we've got all the wobbles out of the way," England forward Beth Mead told BBC Sport. "I think this is very much the business end of the tournament, we've got to be on it and we've got to be very much in the right headspace. We've got to play well in knockout football now." 'Complacency is the biggest mistake' England have won seven of their last 10 games in all competitions against Italy and are playing in their seventh Euros have progressed from two of the last three, whereas opponents Italy, ranked 13th in the world, are in the semi-finals for the first time since means England go into Tuesday's game as favourites - but Wiegman is wary of acknowledging that."It would be really disrespectful to think we are the favourites," she said. "They made the semi-final just like we did and that's very impressive for any team. Complacency is the biggest mistake you could make. "You have seen them, how they have played. I don't think there is any way we can think that we might be favourites. We have to be at our very best to win."Defender Alex Greenwood told BBC Radio 5 Live it has become an "expectation" that England reach at least the semi-finals."I think as a team now, we've set those standards to reach these levels. We're really proud of that achievement," she said England "thrive under pressure", while Brighton midfielder Fran Kirby, who retired from international football before the tournament, admitted Italy are "definitely the underdogs"."I think everyone knows that from the outside," Kirby told BBC Radio 5 Live."But on the flip side, Italy will have seen England's performances and think that there's an opportunity there as well because they know they can score goals. "[Hopefully] England play the way that we know they can play and really shut up shop defensively." What challenge will Italy pose? Though the top division of women's football in Italy was established in 1968, it's only in recent years that their domestic game turned fully national team have never dropped below 19th in Fifa's world rankings - but they failed to qualify for four successive World Cups between 2003 and what kind of challenge will Italy pose England when they meet at 20:00 BST on Tuesday?"They have got a never-say-die attitude. They are a very aggressive, hard team to play against," said Mead. "They can be frustrating and they have individual quality."It's going to be a tough game and I know they're very much going to be up for it. They have something to prove, as do we. "We're defending champions but we've got to go out there and put the performance in. We've got to be at the races to beat this Italian team."In recent meetings, England have come out on side earned a 2-1 win in the Arnold Clark Cup in February 2023, before inflicting a 5-1 defeat in a friendly 12 months later. But in captain Cristiana Girelli, Italy have a player in form - the 35-year-old has netted three goals in the tournament so far."I think both teams will be confident going into the game for different reasons," added Kirby. "It's going to be really interesting, but I think England just need to tighten up a little bit. The Italian fans are also super passionate." What are the pundits saying? Former England captain Steph Houghton told BBC Radio 5 Live she is "really confident" they can reach a third successive major final."We can take really great confidence in how we came back against Sweden. It was more of a semi-final. It's an amazing opportunity for us," added said England were "very expansive" against Sweden and they cannot afford to be the same against Italy."We were losing every second ball. Sweden killed us in the transition moments with their pace and Italy have quite a similar way of playing," added Kirby. "England really needs to focus on that side of the game against Italy. But I don't think Italy are as strong as Sweden."Ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha believes England have shown they are capable of performing in the biggest moments."It's tough to not believe in them. They have done everything they have needed to get to this point," he said. "Against Sweden, we saw them suffer but they found a way and made Sweden really uncomfortable. "When you are a winner, why would you not take belief into the next game?"
