
England 2-1 Italy AET - PLAYER RATINGS: Who is the Lionesses most consistent player? Which star redeemed themselves? And who is lacking end product?
Kelly had seen her last-gasp penalty saved but raced into the rebound to fire Sarina Wiegman 's side in front in the 119th minute.
England had been on the brink of heading out of the competition after Italy had led deep into stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes. Barbara Bonansea had put the underdogs ahead in the 33rd minute after England failed to clear a cross.
Michelle Agyemang came to England's recue by scoring in the sixth minute of stoppage time to force the match into an additional period.
The teenage substitute then struck the bar in added time, moments before England were awarded the ultimately decisive penalty for a foul on Beth Mead.
Mail Sport's Tara Anson-Walsh rates the players after England booked their place in a third successive major final.
England - 4-3-3
Hannah Hampton – 7
Backed up her Player of the Match quarter-final display with another confident performance. Commanded her box well and smothered an early Italy chance. Unable to do anything to keep out their early goal. England's most consistent player this Euros.
Lucy Bronze – 5
Characteristically gung-ho defending and was lucky to get away with an early yellow card for a high leg tackle. Was caught out for a poor clearance that led to Bonansea's goal but wasn't entirely to blame.
Leah Williamson – 6.5
Tasked with keeping her fellow captain and Italy's biggest goal threat Cristiana Girelli quiet and largely succeeded. Got her positioning right on the night and was often the only cool and measured head in an otherwise shaky back line.
Esme Morgan – 5
Came in for Jess Carter and was unable to offer much of an improvement. Beaten for physicality in the build-up to Italy's opener. Uncertain with the ball in the first half but improved after the break and cut out an Italy counterattack midway through the second half.
Alex Greenwood – 5.5
Had a difficult evening wrestling with Sofia Cantore and was caught completely out of position when Le Azzurre took the lead. Main positive came from her link-up play with club teammate Lauren Hemp on the left flank but her dazzling performances at World Cup seems a long time ago.
Keira Walsh – 6.5
Done for pace on a number of occasions but grew into the game. Was England's biggest attacking threat at the beginning of the second half… which says something about the Lionesses' performance until the introduction of Agyemang and Kelly given Walsh has scored just twice in her 91 appearances.
Ella Toone – 5.5
Did lots of running with little to show for it. Was visibly frustrated when the half-time whistle blew, shaking her head before running off the pitch. Her usual link-up play with Russo was missing but was still important defensively.
Georgia Stanway – 5.5
Had a similar performance to Toone, putting in another tireless performance between the boxes and managing to pick out a couple of good passes for the Lionesses to counter-attack but hasn't looked like scoring this tournament. Withdrawn for Chloe Kelly.
Lauren James – 4.5
Struggled to make an impact once again and wasted a good chance to score from close-range. Has looked pretty off it the last few games likely linked to a huge amount of game time after three months away. Seen putting ice on her foot after the break.
Alessia Russo – 5.5
Gifted an early chance to give England the lead but sent it wide. Nine times out of 10 Russo would have buried it but that has, unfortunately, been the story of her tournament. Irreplaceable in the build-up but a glaring absence of end product and too isolated up front.
Lauren Hemp – 6
England's brightest spark in the early stages of the game but lacked her usual composure in front of goal, missing two headed chances. Redeemed herself with the ball into the Italian goalkeeper Laura Giuliani which was spilled for Michelle Agyemang's goal.
Not used: Charles, Le Tissier, Moorhouse, Park, Wubben-Moy.
Sarina Wiegman – 6
Opted to twist and start Esme Morgan after Jess Carter's difficult night in the quarter-final against Sweden to little effect. Has seen something in Michelle Agyemang and her faith repaid in dividends. Can always rely on Chloe Kelly to get her out of a scrape and is now through to a fifth consecutive major tournament final…
Referee: Ivana Martincic – 6.
Attendance: 23, 539.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Starmer faces mounting calls for a Lionesses Bank Holiday if England women retain their Euros title after dramatic semi-final comeback
English football fans should get a day off to celebrate if the Lionesses bring it home by winning the Euros for the second time in a row, Keir Starmer has been told today. The Prime Minister is facing renewed calls for a Bank Holiday if the women's national team beat either German or Spain in Sunday's final. The Lionesses tested the nation's stress levels again last night with an incredible extra-time win over Italy in a semi-final, after scoring second from the end of normal time and extra time. Last-gasp goals by Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Smith saw them overcome Italy 2-1 in Geneva. No10 has been resisting calls to give millions of workers a day off, despite Sir Keir backing calls for a Bank Holiday when they won the Euros in 2022, when he was opposition leader. Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said that it was important for the nation to mark 'the talent, success and historic achievement' of the team. 'The Lionesses can make history on Sunday and retain the Euros title they won so memorably three years ago. If they do that, the Prime Minister should give us a public holiday to honour their achievement,' he said. 'Retaining the title would be one of our country's greatest sporting achievements. Fans and patriots across the country deserve the chance to celebrate the talent, success and historic achievement of this amazing team. 'The Prime Minister is a football fan - we've all seen the pictures of him enjoying a kick around with his mates. 'If Wiegman's heroes deliver glory, we'll all be hoping he'll put the ball into an empty net by giving the Lionesses and the rest of us a chance to mark the occasion.' The Lionesses were on the brink of elimination by Italy when 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, drawing the sides level with an equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Barbara Bonansea's 33rd-minute opener. Then, with another shootout minutes away, Beth Mead was brought down and Kelly stepped up to the spot, where she was initially denied by Laura Giuliani, but buried the rebound to complete England's second successive stunning comeback. Asked yesterday whether the PM will grant a Bank Holiday if England go on to win the whole tournament on Sunday, Sir Keir's spokesman said: 'I'm not aware of any plans for that.' In 2022, the previous Tory government ruled out granting an extra Bank Holiday if England won the women's Euros. This was despite pressure from Sir Keir, the then Opposition leader, for them to do so. Ahead of that year's final, the Labour leader told the Daily Mirror that a Lionesses' victory should be 'marked with a proper day of celebration'. In 2023, when England reached the World Cup final, Sir Keir posted on social media: 'It's almost 60 years since England won the World Cup. 'I'm never complacent about anything… but there should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home.' However, a report in 2022 said that the cost to the public finances of a single day bank holiday due to lost productivity is around £2.4billion.


The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
Leah Williamson admits she has been ‘annoyed' by England's Euros performances before comebacks
England captain Leah Williamson admitted that she has been 'annoyed' by aspects of the Lionesses ' recent performances at Euro 2025, though added that the team 'deserve their flowers' for reaching the final. The Lionesses went 1-0 down to Italy in there first half of their Euro 2025 semi-final last night and needed a 96th-minute equaliser from 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang to save their Euros campaign, before Chloe Kelly wrapped up a dramatic comeback in extra time with a rebound after seeing her penalty saved. It marked the second knockout game in a row in which England needed to claw back a deficit, with the Lionesses having been 2-0 down to Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning a remarkable penalty shootout. And speaking after the semi-final victory in Geneva, William said she was 'very proud', though at the same time 'annoyed that we get ourselves into certain situations'. 'Those girls deserve their flowers, and everybody just played their role,' said Williamson. 'We get ourselves into certain situations with miscommunications or not doing exactly what the plan says, but to bounce back like that, you can't take anything away from the team or those girls, it is incredible. 'It has not been smooth sailing and I feel like things haven't necessarily gone to plan,' continued Williamson, before adding that 'the level just keeps rising and there are more and more unknowns and you have to be ready for everything'. The Lionesses will face either Germany or Spain in the final in Basel on Sunday, with that game throwing together either a rematch of the Euros final in 2022 – in which England beat Germany 2-1 – or a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, which Sarina Wiegman's side lost 1-0 to Spain. That match will likely be the toughest challenge of the tournament so far, with world champions Spain in particular having long been the pre-tournament favourites. But Williamson further explained that she doesn't 'think it has gone smooth sailing for anybody yet, which is the point', and England just need to 'keep rising as well'. 'It makes a great tournament and it shows what is going on. We just have to keep rising as well, this new England has to find their feet quicker,' said Williamson. 'We have one more to go. I promise you we will give it everything we can,' she added. Germany face Spain in the other semi-final in Zurich on Wednesday night, before England take on the winner of that match in the final in Basel on Sunday, 27 July, with kick-off at 5pm BST.


The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lionesses' super-sub gives Sarina Wiegman a selection headache
Michelle Agyemang, a 19-year-old striker, has twice rescued the England women's team by scoring crucial equalisers in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals and semi-finals. Her impactful introductions have been pivotal in turning games around, with teammates noting her ability to instil confidence and frighten opposition defenders. Agyemang's unique blend of physicality, aggression, hold-up play, and composure under pressure has made her an invaluable asset for the Lionesses. Despite her game-changing contributions, manager Sarina Wiegman is unlikely to start her in the final, preferring to utilise her as a powerful impact substitute. Agyemang's performances have been instrumental in propelling England into their third consecutive major tournament final, highlighting her as a key weapon for the team.