Ian Wright slams Sarina Wiegman for 'massive mistake' in Women's Euros final
James came into Sunday's showpiece with an ankle injury and did not even make it to half time in Basel.
She was substituted after 40 minutes, replaced by Chloe Kelly, after a disappointing performance as the Lionesses struggled to deal with the favourites.
Wright felt it was too much of a gamble for Wiegman to pick James from the start, while he was also surprised by where she was played.
Often on the right flank, the Arsenal legend had called for James to be deployed down the middle, but couldn't work out why she was played on the left, with defensive responsibilities that were very difficult to fulfil while not at full fitness.
'Massive risk,' Wright said on ITV of James' selection. 'I think she's wasted a sub there.
'She's obviously not right and not only that, she's put her on the other side. I said she should have been in the centre, not on the left side!
'Having to chase back Ona Batlle and chase back Aitana Bonmati when you're half fit. I think that's a massive mistake.'
England were already 1-0 down when James limped out of the game, with Mariona Caldentey heading in Spain's opener after 25 minutes. More Trending
The goal did come down Spain's right flank, with Batlle providing the assist.
Things improved for England in the second half, though, and James' replacement helped conjure up an equaliser after 57 minutes.
Kelly whipped in an excellent, in-swinging cross from the left which was expertly headed home by Alessia Russo and it was game on again.
The game continues…
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North Wales Chronicle
a few seconds ago
- North Wales Chronicle
She's amazing – Chloe Kelly thanks Sarina Wiegman for ‘giving her hope'
The Lionesses, defending the crown they won three summers ago in the Wembley final, made it a hat-trick of knockout-round comebacks on Sunday night after Alessia Russo cancelled out Arsenal team-mate Mariona Caldentey's opener to ultimately force a shootout. Substitute Kelly – who netted the extra-time winner in the Euro 2022 final – cooly converted after Hannah Hampton made two spectacular saves and Salma Paralluelo missed, writing more personal history and a satisfying ending to a fairy-tale 2025, one that began with the 27-year-old doubting if she would even make this squad. Made for the big moments ✨ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 'She's amazing,' said Kelly, asked about a coach who has now led teams to three consecutive European trophies. 'She is an incredible woman. What she's done for this country, we should all be so grateful. What she has done for me individually, she gave me hope when I probably didn't have any, and she gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.' At the beginning of this year, Kelly was still at Manchester City, lacking playing time, and so unhappy that she took to social media to express her wish to leave the club and a situation she shared at the time had 'a huge impact on not only my career but my mental wellbeing', even considering whether or not she wanted to stay in the game. Kelly was left out of Sarina Wiegman's first squad due to a lack of minutes after securing a deadline-day loan move to Arsenal but was called up as an injury replacement in February and has enjoyed revelatory tournament, cementing herself as the most superlative of English super-subs. 'There were a lot of tears at full time,' said Kelly, 'Especially when I saw my family, because they are the people that got me through those dark moments and I am so grateful to be out the back end. If that's a story to tell someone who might be experiencing the same, then tough times don't last. 'Right around the corner was the Champions League final, I won that, and now a Euros final. 'So thank you to everyone who wrote me off. I'm grateful.' Kelly was rewarded with a permanent deal at Arsenal after her impressive loan spell. She added: 'I knew that I had to get game time, and representing England is never a given,' said Kelly. 'But what (Sarina) has done for the women's game, not just in England, but in the Netherlands, the whole women's game, she's taken it to another level.' It was Kelly's cross that teed up Russo for the 57th-minute equaliser on Sunday, and it was her deliveries that allowed Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang to level late in their quarter-final with Sweden, ultimately setting up their first dramatic shootout. Kelly's composed spot-kick was an anomaly in that error-strewn afair, and – though she revealed after Sunday's trophy lift that she had missed three penalties in training – she stepped up and fired home with the same remarkable composure again in the final, once again bearing the weight of England's expectations. Asked if Kelly's coolness was even coachable, Wiegman said: 'I think it's a little bit of both. It says something about the team environment and it says a lot about her character. Everyone brings something different, and she brings this.' Wiegman added: 'Every player has their own story, and I think every story is incredible on its own, but for her most of the stories are out in the open. 'I'm so happy for her. She has been fighting to come back and be at her highest level. She just wanted to take that penalty and celebrate and dance, but to be able to score that penalty under that pressure is very impressive.'
Metro
2 minutes ago
- Metro
Chloe Kelly sends pointed message to her doubters after England's Euro 2025 win
Chloe Kelly has thanked those who 'wrote her off' and gave her extra motivation to help inspire England to a penalty-shootout win over Spain in the Women's Euro 2025 final. For the third time on the trot, the Lionesses were forced to come from behind to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain a first-half lead in Basel. Just as they had done against Sweden and Italy previously, the holders dug deep to find an all-important equaliser, with Alessia Russo heading home Kelly's exquisite cross to make it all square in the 57th minute. Kelly – who scored a last-gasp winner for England in the semi-finals – had earlier been introduced from the substitutes bench after Lauren James was visibly struggling with an ankle injury, which she had suffered four days earlier in the semi-final. The two teams could not be separated after extra-time and it was England who eventually prevailed after another dramatic shootout, with Kelly converting the decisive spot-kick to seal a 3-1 win for the holders. The Lionesses' latest triumph represents the first time in history that an English team have won a major tournament on foreign soil, three years on from the side's European Championship heroics last time out at Wembley. It is also the third time in succession that Sarina Wiegman has clinched the title, with the 55-year-old steering the Netherlands to the trophy back in 2017 before being appointed by the FA. 'No, I can't believe it!' an emotional Wiegman told BBC Sport in the immediate aftermath of England's triumph. 'We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible.' Asked if she was shocked to win the trophy for a second time on the spin with England, Wiegman replied: 'Yes, yes. 'I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy. 'It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent. 'From the first game it was your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.' Kelly's magnificent campaign in Switzerland is made all the more remarkable by the fact the 27-year-old came close to quitting football during a 'dark time' in her career at the start of the year. Shortly after forcing through a loan move to Arsenal having struggled for regular game-time at Manchester City, Kelly admitted: 'It has been tough mentally and it has been draining at times. 'But I think for me, I know I'm a professional and I know I hold myself to a high level, but I think as a human, it was a tough time for me and I'm ready to move forward now. 'It was still a dark time for me because I didn't know how my future looked.' But just half-a-year on, Kelly is a two-time European champion with the Lionesses. Facing the media shortly after England's win, the forward used the opportunity to send a pointed message to those who had doubted her in her sticky patch. 'There were a lot of tears at full-time, especially when I saw my family, because they were the people that come me through those dark moments,' Kelly said. 'I am so grateful to be out at the back end, but if that's a story to tell someone who maybe experiences something the same, then tough times don't last and just around the corner was a Champions League final. 'I won that and now a Euros final, I've won that, so, thank you to everyone that wrote me off, I'm grateful.' Kelly also made sure to thank 'incredible woman' Wiegman for showing faith in her and providing 'hope' when she 'probably didn't have any' earlier in the year. 'She is bloody amazing,' Kelly added. 'She is an incredible woman. What she has done for this country, we should all be so grateful for. More Trending 'What she has done for me, individually, she gave me hope, when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.' Kelly continued: 'I knew that I had to get game-time, because representing England is never a given. 'But what she has done for the women's game, not just in England, she has taken it to a whole other level. 'The work doesn't go unnoticed from the staff that are behind her, they are incredible people and I am so grateful to have worked with such amazing people.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Spain manager and star player emotionally speak out on 'cruel' England loss MORE: Sir David Beckham and Amanda Holden lead rowdy celebrations after Lionesses' Euros triumph MORE: Ian Wright names 'major favourite' for 2027 Women's World Cup after England win Euros
South Wales Guardian
2 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Agyemang can inspire next generation of Lionesses, former coach says
Youngsters from Agyemang's hometown gathered at a small community centre in South Ockendon, Essex, to cheer on the Lionesses to victory at the Euro 2025 final. The biggest applause was for the 19 year-old striker who just a few years ago was also playing at Brandon Groves FC. Agyemang was named The Young Player of the Tournament on Sunday as England triumphed on penalties against Spain after a 1-1 draw. On Sunday, Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team of under 13-year-olds, said: 'We are proud of Michelle, obviously, but we are also proud of our our girls' team here who play and train every week. They are consistent. It's home, again. — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 'Michelle's success and the Lionesses' success will only help that and it will only drive our girls on even further over the next year. It will also bring more girls into football locally as well.' He said it was 'amazing' to see Agyemang scoop the Young Player award after scoring two goals, making six attempts and having a 77.5% passing accuracy rating in the competition. Paula Howes, vice chair of Brandon Grove FC, said: 'I think she (Agyemang) has got that determination and that drive on the pitch, and the girls can connect with that. 'It is also knowing that she is a local girl as well, I think that helps give them the motivation and drive, to know that you can start at grassroots football and progress up to the higher level, if you work at it.' Agyemang, who had one England cap before the tournament, has been a rising star in this competition, and twice became the team's saviour with equalisers in their quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. The 19-year-old came off the bench to score crucial equalisers against Sweden in the quarter-final and Italy in the last four. She also came on as a substitute in the final as England eventually saw off Spain on penalties to retain the trophy. Agyemang was picked as young player of the tournament by the Uefa Technical Observer Group who for her outstanding impact, both individually and for England. They said: 'Michelle made a great contribution to help England reach the final. 'She came on and both times got the goals that England needed to get through.' Lena Kowalska, 12, who plays midfield for the local team, said she was really impressed and inspired by Agyemang. She said: 'It is the fact that at her age, she can already be playing in the Euros and with the top women, it just makes me feel that we could do it one day if we are hard working as well.'
