England saviour Michelle Agyemang ‘something special' says Sarina Wiegman

Glasgow Times

18 hours ago

Agyemang has scored three times in her first four appearances for the defending champions, who were initially stunned in their 2-1 last-four comeback victory over Italy when Barbara Bonansea opened the scoring for the underdogs 33 minutes into the Geneva semi-final.
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.
England goalkeeper Khiara Keating (left), Michelle Agyemang and Leah Williamson celebrate after the match (Nick Potts/PA)
'She has something special,' Wiegman said of Agyemang, who levelled with less than two minutes remaining in second-half stoppage time.
'She's only 19-years-old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do.
'When you talk about little things that she picks up straight away, because she's not only in the 18-yard box very dangerous but when we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well too.
'Even when you saw her shot hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future.'
Despite her tremendous trajectory, Wiegman does not feel pressure to give the major tournament debutant, who scored 41 seconds into her England debut in April, more minutes than she has so far.
'She's not forcing me,' insisted Wiegman, who has now guided teams to three consecutive European finals, and will aim to make it a hat-trick of three trophies – one with the Netherlands and two with England – with victory in Sunday's Basel final.
'I think she is very grateful she gets minutes, and she's really ready for it. I think her growth and her development went so quickly, from not starting at Brighton, being on loan, to getting lots more minutes and showing how good she is and coming into our team.
'I think how these things go, (they've gone) pretty smoothly for her, and I think she feels very good about that.
England await their opponents for Sunday's final – either World Cup holders Spain or Germany, who England beat 2-1 in the final of their home Euros to lift their first major trophy in 2022 after Kelly scored in extra time.
Agyemang, who returned to parent club Arsenal at the conclusion of the last campaign, drew high praise from Gunners team-mate and England captain Williamson – the woman she replaced with five minutes remaining in normal time.
'She feels inevitable right now,' said Williamson.
England's Chloe Kelly beats Ella Toone to the ball to score the second goal (Nick Potts/PA)
'I think she's quality. I think what she brings, she's a nightmare to play against. I'm glad she's my teammate at club and country.
'She deserves her flowers. I hope she gets them. I hope she enjoys tonight, and then I hope she's ready to go at the weekend.'
Fellow Gunner Kelly, who signed a permanent agreement with Arsenal earlier this month, said she felt like she was in a 'fantasy' and was feeling 'so proud to be English' after writing more history for her country.
Agyemang, she said, 'made something happen for the team, got us back in the game, and built so much momentum for us.
'Especially that one where she hits the crossbar, I think that gave us a new lease of energy. She was unbelievable tonight. She gave us a lot of confidence, and when your forward is doing that, it's special.'