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The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
England are out of lives - but there are three reasons latest final goes beyond luck
They may have already used their nine lives, but England are through to their third consecutive major tournament final at Euro 2025. Yes, England have been extremely fortunate to make it this far, requiring miraculous escapes to defeat Sweden and Italy in the knockout stages and overcome sub-par performances. But if the Lionesses have had luck on their side, there is no denying that reaching another final is an impressive achievement - one that is unprecedented in England's history. Sarina Wiegman 's run of finals is even longer, with the Dutch coach extending her streak to five Euros or World Cup finals in a row with the Netherlands and England. Wiegman was asked for her secret after England's dramatic semi-final victory over Italy and replied with a laugh: 'I'm the lucky one. I can't believe it myself.' She gave the credit to her players, coaching staff and the support of the English and Dutch federations - but Wiegman has also played a role in extending her tournament record. And even if a lot of Wiegman's decision-making at the Euros has justifiably come under question, her approach is built on process and the results are hard to dispute. Empowering her players England's togetherness and the unity of the squad has been a key part of their run to the final. Before the tournament began, England's players were encouraged to open up to each other and share their 'why' - their reason being at the tournament. Forward Lauren Hemp said a shared understanding of every players' journey into people 'connects us more as a team' while captain Leah Williamson said: 'You have to know those things about each other for when times get tough.' Wiegman has also encouraged her players to share tough moments with each other, with Beth Mead explaining: "I think we've made ourselves very vulnerable. I think that gives us so much more togetherness, so much more trust of each other.' During the Euros, Mead has shared how she and Ella Toone have supported each other while they are both grieving the loss of a parent, while the Lionesses also came together to call for action after Jess Carter revealed she had been suffering racist abuse online. 'She [Wiegman] empowers us, which I think is important,' Williamson said. 'Especially coming from a woman. She sees us, gives us space to be ourselves and encourages us to be better - and really does encourage us to be better - in a positive way.' Lucy Bronze spoke of how England are able to 'lift each other up' and their resilience has been required when bouncing back from their opening defeat to France or coming from behind to beat Sweden and Italy in the knockout stages. The term 'proper England' has been used throughout the tournament and part of that is Wiegman wanting 'our behaviours and how we want to support each other' to contribute to the team environment, believing that it makes a difference when under pressure. There have been many times during the Euros where a team that has previously tasted success could have folded. But England's togetherness, built through their vulnerability, has helped them push through even when they are not playing their best. Building a winning culture They can't keep getting away with it, right? But the more late goals England score, the more their ability to win by any means possible becomes self-fulfilling. Italy and Sweden both left the Euros with regrets after being unable to finish England off. 'We've shown that multiple times,' Wiegman said after the semi-final. England are winning games in a very different way to Euro 2022, with slow starts and a lack of urgency a frequent theme, but the legacy of their super-subs from that tournament has lived on at Euro 2025. The role of England's bench - and the 'positive clickers' - has been instrumental again throughout . The fact Wiegman has already led England to a major trophy by using her squad in this way ensures that everyone buys in. 'It just becomes more natural,' Wiegman explained when discussing her approach at the start of the Euros. 'You have set the tone at the beginning of how you want things. And then you hope that things become organic and everyone knows how it works. When new players and new staff members come in, they just straight away come into the environment and everyone knows how it is and they grow and adapt to it naturally.' Wiegman's standards remain high and Leah Williamson explained: 'She's a winner, she's very competitive, even when it comes to darts. She has that edge to her.' Wiegman said there was 'relief' after narrowly avoiding defeat against Italy but said: 'We never give up. We say we can win by any means. Against Sweden, with the penalty shoot-out, we were a bit lucky that they missed. Tonight we were going for that goal but it gave us something, too. This team just keeps going." In-game changes and staying calm Wiegman defended the timing of her substitutes against Italy after what appeared to be an agonising wait to bring on Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang following their decisive contributions against Sweden. With Beth Mead replacing the injured Lauren James at half time, Kelly came on for Georgia Stanway in the 74th minute with Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones swapping on for Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson in the 85th. "In the second half we were in their half, played well and created some chances. That's why we waited,' Wiegman said afterwards, but it still felt like a long time to persist with an approach that Italy looked comfortable dealing with - particularly when the impact of Kelly and Agyemang was so obvious when they did eventually come on. Ultimately, Wiegman's changes worked because England won the game - and the Lionesses have now scored five goals from substitutes at Euro 2025, the most in the tournament. It should be pointed out, though, that England's bench is one of the strongest at the Euros, with much more depth than the options available to Sweden and Italy. Wiegman's attacking substitutes towards the end of normal time meant that England, once again, ended up with players who were out of position. Beth Mead dropped into attacking midfield while Lauren Hemp put in a shift at left-back during extra time as England piled numbers forward. Wiegman, though, has guided her improvised team through different chapters of the game, particularly after England have found an equaliser but still have an unbalanced line-up on the pitch. 'You try and get that information onto your team-mates quickly and we adapt, and I think that's probably the difference that sets us apart probably sometimes at the moment tactically,' Beth Mead said after the quarter-final. 'If we can get it right, how does [the opponent] keep up with all those changes? I think that works quite well for us. 'Sarina knows what she's doing,' Mead added. 'There's method in the madness.' Perhaps England fans need to keep the faith as well before the Euro 2025 final on Sunday.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Lioness Michelle Agyemang on going from ball girl to Euro 2025 hero
From ball girl to the Lionesses ' saviour: Michelle Agyemang has had quite the journey. Since being called up to the England senior squad for the first time in April, the 19-year-old striker has scored three goals out of four appearances - and brought her team back from the brink with an equaliser in the sixth minute of added time against Italy in the Euro 2025 semi-final on Tuesday (22 July). Reflecting on what the result meant to her, Agyemang said: "Four years ago, I was just a kid throwing the ball to some of these girls, and now I'm here playing with them. "It's a great opportunity and I'm so happy that I'm here."
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
England are living a ‘fantasy' at Euro 2025 – now they must get real
As the giddy talk in Geneva inevitably turned to endings, and comparisons with movies, match-winner Chloe Kelly described it as a 'fantasy'. That might well refer to the improbability of England somehow winning despite performing so badly, even though that's obviously not what the forward meant. Sarina Wiegman and her squad naturally don't want to get into such critical discussion right now, and for good reason. There's another historic final appearance to celebrate right now. There's also going to be a lot of analysis to come before Sunday, and a lot of preparation. They're needed. England are right now so much less than the sum of their parts, but have crucial greater qualities. There is a rare resolve there. 'The team never gives up,' Wiegman said. Her hero, Kelly, went further. An old phrase was reworked, which might be even more relevant if it is Germany rather than Spain in Sunday's final. 'You can never write the English off.' That somehow could be said even later against Italy, as the European champions this time left it to the final 90 seconds of stoppage time. Italy manager Andrea Soncin lamented how his team were one minute from the final. They even celebrated Kelly's mis-hit corner just before Michelle Agyemang's equaliser. This isn't an accident, or coincidence. There is an obvious spirit in this group, that is as visible in moments like the entire squad rallying around Jess Carter as it is in late equalisers. One also leads to the other, and there's a multiplying effect. The more crucial late goals you score, the more you think there's always another there. It might even be time to rework another old phrase, that was famously used about Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. This England don't lose games. They just run out of time. Except, time can catch up with them another way, and it's where there's always another side to late goals. That doesn't refer to the anguish teams like Italy suffer, either. Do it a few times, and they're a sign of resolve. Do it a lot, and they're a sign of weakness. If you keep needing such moments, something is wrong in your team. That does lead to another interpretation of what happened in Geneva on Wednesday, that won't necessarily be popular amid the euphoria of victory. This one possibly wasn't a show of resolve. It was really just a team that had vastly superior individuals to Italy, with that higher quality eventually manifesting. It didn't really matter when. It just would. The gap was too good, reflecting how fortunate they were to face such a limited side in the semi-final. In fact, there's even an argument that the lateness of the game contributed to that, making the ending inevitable in another way. Italy had vastly overperformed to get this far, and just didn't have the experience or nous to see this out. They made some baffling decisions in the latter stages, although that was also because they didn't really have the legs to see it out either. They were naturally exhausted. The injury to star forward Cristiana Girelli only made it worse. All of that could be sensed in some extra-time counter-attacks. Italy would suddenly have an opening to put a runner through, but it was like they didn't want to commit. They were afraid of leaving themselves open, and possibly knew they wouldn't have the legs to get back either. That's what extra-time in such absorbing knockouts does. England have much more experience of such games, even if they were reliant on Agyemang's freshness. Except, in the final, they are not going to be playing a team as limited as Italy. It's a different test, where it instantly becomes much more dangerous to depend on another rescue act. That's where the flaws that warrant so many late goals can eventually catch up with you. It really depends on what wins out, your weaknesses or your spirit – unless you solve the problems in the first place. Wiegman laughed as she said it 'wasn't the plan' to keep going behind in such games, but she needs to get serious about one. While such spirit is immensely valuable in a tournament, tournaments also have a tendency to eventually see you hit your own limits; the point at which you can't go past. Wiegman badly needs to change the limitations of this team, especially given the talents of her players. It is such a bizarre thing. We are talking about one of the great coaches of the women's game, her outstanding quality illustrated by her very record of reaching a fifth consecutive final. And yet in these Euros it is like she just hasn't been able to solve England's core flaws, which is their very starting line-up. The 75th-minute subs have worked so far, and the swell around their introduction can cause further doubts for opposition. That's another side of those late goals. At the same time, superior opposition sides can get wise to that. Kelly is still correct. England have lived a fantasy so far. They just need to get realistic about what next. Maybe the best ending for this is not, actually, another late show.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roebuck breakthrough inspires England debutant Carpenter
United States v England Date: Saturday 19 July Kick-off: 22:05 BST Venue: Audi Field, Washington DC Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app Full-back Joe Carpenter says he wants to follow the example of Sale team-mate Tom Roebuck in claiming a regular England spot when he makes his Test debut against the United States on Saturday. Carpenter toured Japan and New Zealand last summer with England, without winning a cap, and was left out of Steve Borthwick's autumn and Six Nations selections. However, with Marcus Smith on Lions duty and George Furbank out injured, he has been part of the squad this summer, scoring a try in the non-cap warm-up match against a France XV last month. Roebuck, Carpenter's former house-mate, was frustrated to not get more game time in Japan and New Zealand last summer, but made his first England start against Wales in the Six Nations and has four tries in his past four Tests. "I'm excited to rip in," Carpenter told BBC Sport. "An opportunity to play for England is massive and, whatever game it is, it's an opportunity to put my best foot forward and hopefully stay in the squad and get more opportunities. "It's great to be in this environment with Tom and see him thrive. I think he's on five or six caps now and so I'm massively proud of him. "We lived in academy houses together, and then moved into town together before eventually splitting off to live with our partners. He's definitely my best mate in terms of rugby. "To have someone that close to you doing it, it just pushes you to be better and get there with him. "Unfortunately, he's not playing this weekend. It would have been cool to share the field with him in an England shirt. "But, I'm hoping that time will come at some point." Carpenter faces considerable competition for the 15 shirt. Leicester's Freddie Steward started both wins over Argentina earlier in the tour, while, in addition to Furbank and Smith, injured Lion Elliot Daly and Henry Arundell, back in England contention after moving to Bath, can also play full-back. However, the 23-year-old believes he is well suited to the attacking, opportunistic style that England want to play. "For me there's a lot on kick return and beating the first man, which is a big focus here - getting the boys on the front foot," he said. "That's massive. And also being that edge connection that gets the ball to the wingers. We have got Cadan [Murley] and Manny [Immanuel Feyi-Waboso] this weekend who are absolutely flying. I want those boys to get the ball. "I get on with Freddie really well. It's great when that's the case because you can compete together, learn together and get better together. "Freddie is an aerial beast, isn't he? That has been an area of my game over the past three years that I've been trying to match to his because obviously that's one of one of his USPs. "And also how he carries the ball and his defensive work in the backfield - his positioning is always spot on." Even with Roebuck rested, Sale are the best-represented club in England's XV in Washington with fly-half George Ford and props Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour alongside Carpenter. Ben Curry is on the bench and, behind the scenes, Sale's defence coach Byron McGuigan and physio Nav Sandhu have been seconded to England's staff this summer. Sale lost to Steward's Leicester in the Premiership semi-finals in June, the fourth time in the past five seasons that they have reached the play-offs. "I think that representation kind of reflects the last few seasons at Sale really," Carpenter added. "All the lads and all the coaches have been fantastic here, but it is really good that we've got such a good crew of Sale boys here. "Next year for us it is about how we can keep that consistency throughout the year and I think it will show with the boys here and the boys we have signed." Sale pair Tom Curry and Luke Cowan-Dickie are touring with the Lions this summer, while Raffi Quirke and Rekeiti Ma'asi-White are on England's fringes and second row Ben Bamber and hooker Nathan Jibulu have been involved with England A. The hottest favourites in 100 years, can Lions deliver on their promise? Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Roebuck breakthrough inspires England debutant Carpenter
United States v EnglandDate: Saturday 19 July Kick-off: 22:05 BST Venue: Audi Field, Washington DCCoverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app Full-back Joe Carpenter says he wants to follow the example of Sale team-mate Tom Roebuck in claiming a regular England spot when he makes his Test debut against the United States on toured Japan and New Zealand last summer with England, without winning a cap, and was left out of Steve Borthwick's autumn and Six Nations with Marcus Smith on Lions duty and George Furbank out injured, he has been part of the squad this summer, scoring a try in the non-cap warm-up match against a France XV last Carpenter's former house-mate, was frustrated to not get more game time in Japan and New Zealand last summer, but made his first England start against Wales in the Six Nations and has four tries in his past four Tests."I'm excited to rip in," Carpenter told BBC Sport."An opportunity to play for England is massive and, whatever game it is, it's an opportunity to put my best foot forward and hopefully stay in the squad and get more opportunities."It's great to be in this environment with Tom and see him thrive. I think he's on five or six caps now and so I'm massively proud of him."We lived in academy houses together, and then moved into town together before eventually splitting off to live with our partners. He's definitely my best mate in terms of rugby."To have someone that close to you doing it, it just pushes you to be better and get there with him."Unfortunately, he's not playing this weekend. It would have been cool to share the field with him in an England shirt."But, I'm hoping that time will come at some point." Carpenter faces considerable competition for the 15 Freddie Steward started both wins over Argentina earlier in the tour, while, in addition to Furbank and Smith, injured Lion Elliot Daly and Henry Arundell, back in England contention after moving to Bath, can also play the 23-year-old believes he is well suited to the attacking, opportunistic style that England want to play."For me there's a lot on kick return and beating the first man, which is a big focus here - getting the boys on the front foot," he said."That's massive. And also being that edge connection that gets the ball to the wingers. We have got Cadan [Murley] and Manny [Immanuel Feyi-Waboso] this weekend who are absolutely flying. I want those boys to get the ball."I get on with Freddie really well. It's great when that's the case because you can compete together, learn together and get better together."Freddie is an aerial beast, isn't he? That has been an area of my game over the past three years that I've been trying to match to his because obviously that's one of one of his USPs."And also how he carries the ball and his defensive work in the backfield - his positioning is always spot on." Even with Roebuck rested, Sale are the best-represented club in England's XV in Washington with fly-half George Ford and props Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour alongside Curry is on the bench and, behind the scenes, Sale's defence coach Byron McGuigan and physio Nav Sandhu have been seconded to England's staff this lost to Steward's Leicester in the Premiership semi-finals in June, the fourth time in the past five seasons that they have reached the play-offs."I think that representation kind of reflects the last few seasons at Sale really," Carpenter added."All the lads and all the coaches have been fantastic here, but it is really good that we've got such a good crew of Sale boys here."Next year for us it is about how we can keep that consistency throughout the year and I think it will show with the boys here and the boys we have signed."Sale pair Tom Curry and Luke Cowan-Dickie are touring with the Lions this summer, while Raffi Quirke and Rekeiti Ma'asi-White are on England's fringes and second row Ben Bamber and hooker Nathan Jibulu have been involved with England A.
