Latest news with #Hannah Hampton
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How England should line up for Euro 2025 semi-final vs Italy: Sarina Wiegman must change shape to help defence - and give Lauren James some rest
There was so much to take away from England's penalty shootout win over Sweden in the quarter-finals of the 2025 European Championship. Some of it was good, be it the impact of the substitutes or the resilience from the whole team. Some of it, though, was bad, particularly in defence, where the Lionesses were torn apart despite their remarkable second-half comeback. It's a performance that should serve as a wake-up call for Sarina Wiegman, who needs to address the issues in the backline if England are to retain their European title. That starts on Tuesday, when her side come up against an Italy team that is in its first major tournament semi-final this century. The Lionesses will be the favourites, given their status as holders and the greater experience in their squad when it comes to these big moments. But that does not mean Wiegman should rest on her laurels when it comes to team selection, as GOAL takes a look at how England should line-up in Geneva... GK: Hannah Hampton Whatever changes Wiegman makes, there will not be one in between the sticks. Hannah Hampton remains England's only capped goalkeeper and she comes into this semi-final off the back of an incredible high, having made two huge saves in the penalty shootout win over Sweden. She's not been perfect this tournament, with her struggling to come out and collect crosses in particular on Thursday. Still, she deservedly remains England's undisputed No.1. CB: Esme Morgan England have to change shape in order to address the issues they have in defence right now, and there is no better opportunity to do so than on Tuesday, against Italy. Having used the system to remarkable success at the 2023 Women's World Cup, Wiegman last deployed her team in a 3-5-2 from the start in a friendly against Switzerland in December of last year. Asked why, she cited the desire "to be adaptable to what we have in front of us", as that was the shape the Swiss lined up in. Italy prefer the same formation. Despite her difficult day out against Sweden, there is an argument to keep Jess Carter in the team in that system, as she is at her very best in a back three. However, that game will have certainly knocked her confidence and there's no doubt Italy would target her again, so it makes sense to bring in Esme Morgan, replicating the in-game change Wiegman made in the win over Sweden. CB: Leah Williamson This selection depends on the fitness of Leah Williamson, who limped off in extra-time against Sweden with an ankle injury. If she is okay to start, then the England captain must, with her leadership and quality vital, even if some of her performances this tournament have been a little shaky. If she cannot play, the Lionesses would be in a bit of a pickle. Carter would make sense to take this spot then, unless Wiegman wants to take her out of the firing line. Then, she'd be turning to Maya Le Tissier or Lotte Wubben-Moy, neither of whom have played any minutes since the 2024-25 club season concluded. CB: Alex Greenwood The biggest reason why a formation change is necessary is because England are being too easily exposed at left-back. Against France, Carter played there and was torn apart by Delphine Cascarino. Against Sweden, Alex Greenwood failed to cover the position well enough, which allowed the opposition to get at left centre-back Carter regularly. There's no natural option for the orthodox left-back role in the Lionesses' squad - so why set-up in a shape that needs it filling? Instead, Wiegman can change to a 3-5-2 and put Greenwood back into a back three that she thrived in at the 2023 Women's World Cup. RWB: Lucy Bronze Also capable of playing in the back three if desired, Lucy Bronze fits the wing-back role nicely with her excellent work rate and ability to be effective in attack. She's played there this season with Chelsea and she's also thrived in the position with England in the past. CM: Keira Walsh One of the arguments against the 3-5-2 shape is that when England played in it at the 2023 World Cup, it didn't seem to bring the best out of Keira Walsh. However, we're talking about a world-class player, someone who you would certainly back to adapt and thrive in whatever system she's in. It might actually help with one of the problems England had against Sweden, too, when Walsh was marked out of the game. This shape would give the Lionesses some different looks when playing out from the back and allow the right and left centre-backs to drive forward with the ball with less risk, thus opening up new angles. CM: Georgia Stanway There's a case to be made for rotation in this position, as Georgia Stanway has started all of England's games at this tournament despite only returning from four months out with a knee injury at the end of May. It would also help freshen up an area of the park that failed to impact the game much against Sweden. However, Stanway excelled in the 3-5-2 shape at the last World Cup and she was one of the first players subbed off in the quarter-finals, so she should have plenty in the tank. CM: Grace Clinton Neither Ella Toone nor Lauren James were worryingly poor in England's quarter-final win, but neither impacted the game quite as they'd have liked. Whether that is because they've both played a lot of football at this tournament, it's unclear, but it wouldn't hurt to freshen up the midfield and this position feels like the best one to change up, so not to break up the understanding at the base between Walsh and Stanway. Grace Clinton has showed a lot of good things in an England shirt this year, deputising for Stanway during her injury, but has seen opportunities dry up in recent weeks. She'll be chomping at the bit to get her chance and can be dangerous in this system, with her creativity, tenacious battling and eye for goal. Toone and James will be there are worthwhile impact subs if it doesn't work out, too. LWB: Niamh Charles Niamh Charles has struggled for form this past year. She's not a natural left-back, which is part of the reason for that, and Sandy Baltimore, her Chelsea team-mate, thrived in that role during her first season at the club, leaving Charles on the bench for spells. However, when the Blues changed to a back three towards the end of the 2024-25 campaign, the England international was deployed as a wing-back and it proved to be a role that suited her strengths much more. Naturally a winger or a No.10, it allowed Charles to be an asset in the final third while not being exposed defensively. She was able to showcase her excellent crossing ability, great athleticism and good decision-making in crucial areas - qualities she could express with the knowledge that there was ample protection behind her if the opponent regained possession and countered. Given the issues that continue to come from that orthodox left-back position, it would make total sense for Wiegman to change shape to mask this huge issue, and Charles is the best option for the wing-back role. ST: Alessia Russo Alessia Russo has taken big steps forward as a No.9 in recent years, with this past season in particular a real highlight. However, she can still be isolated in that position at times, with her lack of service against Sweden evidence of that. When she plays in a front two, that's not as much of an issue. It is no coincidence that England continue to look much more threatening when Wiegman plays Michelle Agyemang alongside her, as she did in the latter stages against France and Sweden. ST: Lauren Hemp Despite the mark Agyemang continues to make alongside Russo, it would be something of a surprise if Wiegman handed the teenager her first senior England start in a major tournament semi-final. There is use in having her come on as a substitute to make an impact, too, something made easier if the Lionesses are already in a 3-5-2 shape. Moreover, Hemp has shown regularly in the past that she can be effective as a striker for England, both as a lone No.9 and as part of a front two. The Manchester City star partnered Russo effectively at the World Cup and she can use her pace and directness to trouble the Italy defence, which can lack speed.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
No Earps, no problem: Hannah Hampton cements position with Terry Butcher moment
After her penalty shoot-out heroics it was perhaps no surprise Hannah Hampton was a woman in demand immediately after England's quarter-final victory over Sweden. The Lionesses goalkeeper was on post-match press conference duties after being named player of the match but the questions were interrupted when she took a FaceTime call from her agent, Paul Crockford, who was with her friends and family. 'Paul, I'm in a presser, look!' Hampton said as she held her phone up to show a number of people cheering on her screen. 'I'll call you back.' "Paul I'm in a presser! I'll call you back!" 🤣 Hannah Hampton's post-match press conference took an unexpected turn when it was interrupted by a FaceTime call 📞 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) July 18, 2025 It had been a defining night in Hampton's international career. The goalkeeper had saved two penalties in a chaotic shoot-out and made a string of saves to keep her team in the game when they had trailed 2-0. She had put her body on the line for her country, taking an elbow to the nose from a set-piece and finishing the game with a tampon in one of her nostrils. It was a Terry Butcher-esque image to see the bloodied and battered Hampton rise to the occasion. 'She only needs one nostril!' Chloe Kelly joked after the game. Hampton is a fighter – and she has had to be for much of her life and career. She was born with strabismus, an eye condition which affects depth perception. Hampton underwent multiple operations as a child and was told by doctors that she would not be able to play sport because of that inability to judge distances, but she has continually defied such predictions. She has previously joked that being a goalkeeper, where being aware of the ball's exact location is quite an important part of the job, 'doesn't really make a lot of sense'. It makes her stops in the shoot-out all the more impressive. Hampton referenced after the game how she had endured a 'difficult couple of years within the England environment'. There are many components to that. She considered quitting football after reports emerged of her allegedly being dropped from the England team because of a poor attitude in 2022, which the goalkeeper insisted were inaccurate. Sarina Wiegman said at the time that Hampton had some 'personal issues' to resolve. By 2023, Wiegman considered them addressed and recalled her. Hampton was an unused player at Euro 2022 and the World Cup the following year but emerged as a genuine challenger to Mary Earps, who had been No 1 at both tournaments, at the start of 2024. Earps was arguably the most popular member of the Lionesses squad at the time having won BBC Sports Personality of the Year for her heroics at the World Cup and her battle with Nike over failing to sell her goalkeeper shirt at the tournament. Hampton got her chance when Earps picked up an injury in May last year and her performances in crucial qualifiers against France and Sweden were impressive enough for her to retain her place. The two goalkeepers shared game time as Wiegman tried to decide who was No 1. The answer finally came when Hampton started back-to-back games with Belgium in April and Wiegman admitted the Chelsea player was 'a little bit ahead'. Earps, having been told she would be No 2 at this tournament, then made the shock decision to retire and Hampton – through no fault of her own – was thrust into the spotlight. Earps's retirement added an extra layer of pressure ahead of her first tournament as No 1 and she had to contend with negativity from some supporters. 'It's hard when you see English fans not want you in goal,' Hampton told ITV before the tournament. 'I've not done anything to make you hate me. Yes, your favourite player has retired, that's not my decision. I haven't put that in her mind. She has come to that decision herself. It just goes back to proving them wrong.' Hampton has certainly won over any doubters. Her excellent distribution was key to her ousting Earps and she showed why with her sensational pass to Alessia Russo in the build-up to Lauren James's goal against Netherlands. Later in that game, the England fans behind the goal could be heard chanting: 'England's No 1.' But it was against Sweden where Hampton came of age. She was partly at fault for their second goal, leaving it too late to narrow the angle and giving Stina Blackstenius too much space to finish into the far corner. But then came a number of key saves which kept the Lionesses in the game. Much had been made of whether Hampton could match the aura of Earps. Would she have the character, the confidence and the gamesmanship Earps so often displayed during big games and shoot-outs. In the end, none of that mattered. Hampton is a different personality to her predecessor. She is more reserved but has a charming and humorous side to her – which was evident when she answered that FaceTime call. More than that, she is one of, if not the best, technical goalkeeper at this tournament. She was rightly mobbed by her team-mates when Sweden missed their final penalty. 'I think the girls have got behind me a lot. They know how tough it's been for me while being in and around the England environment,' Hampton said after the game. 'To be able to go out and help them tonight, for the whole team to put on a performance like we did, it's a lovely moment. 'It's been a difficult couple of years. All the girls were ecstatic, they've seen all the hard work that I've put in and how difficult it's been and how they've helped me get to the point that I am now and being happy to be wearing an England shirt again.' After a night of blood, sweat and tears, Hampton proved why she is England's No 1 – and will be for the foreseeable future.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Anatomy of a terrible penalty shootout – how England triumphed in chaos at Euro 2025
England lived to fight another day at Euro 2025 after surviving a chaotic penalty shoot-out to beat Sweden and reach the semi-finals. After England came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw following extra time, nine of the 14 penalties were missed in an extraordinary decider. The Lionesses were a penalty away from going home on two occasions but Hannah Hampton and Lucy Bronze were the heroes as they progressed. 'I think we're all frustrated in the sense that we had our system, we've practised them every day, we've got our routines, and sometimes it doesn't go to plan,' Beth Mead said. But after emerging through one of the worst penalty shoot-outs in major tournament history, England could still celebrate as they set up a semi-final with Italy. Here's how it all unfolded ✅ England 1-0 Sweden - Alessia Russo scores A confident penalty from England's No 9. That feeling would not last long. 'Penalty shoot-outs, statistically you're more likely to win if you go first, winning the coin toss played into that,' Lucy Bronze said. 'I love maths.' ❌England 1-0 Sweden - Filippa Angeldahl misses With a bloody tissue stuffed up one nostril, Hannah Hampton goes the correct way and saves to her left. 'I don' t really know what happened to be honest, all I remember is going up for that ball and someone has elbowed me I think,' Hampton said after the game. 'I thought I got away with it at first because there was nothing [blood] coming out, then I sat up and it was streaming. But as a few of the girls have said, I'm better with one nostril so maybe I'll have it again in the next game.' ❌England 1-0 Sweden - Lauren James misses It suits James' playing style to have a short run-up but this one didn't come off as she skipped around the ball and shot low. It lacks power and Jennifer Falk saves to her right. ✅England 1-1 Sweden - Julia Zigiotti Olme scores In perhaps the best penalty of the shoot-out, Zigiotti takes out the camera positioned in the top corner - Harry Maguire style. ❌England 1-1 Sweden - Beth Mead misses Falk saves again, and to the same side. The goalkeeper has clearly done her homework and has printed off notes to attach to her water bottle. Mead's penalty was at a good height for the goalkeeper. ❌England 1-1 Sweden - Magdalena Eriksson misses Eriksson strikes the bottom of the post with Hampton beaten. Neither side can claim the advantage after consecutive misses. ❌England 1-1 Sweden - Alex Greenwood misses Falk guesses correctly for the third time in a row and is beginning to look unbeatable in the Sweden goal. ✅England 1-2 Sweden - Nathalie Bjorn scores It's Chelsea vs Chelsea but Bjorn keeps cool to beat her club team-mate. It's match point to Sweden now and they lead for the first time. ✅England 2-2 Sweden - Chloe Kelly scores After scoring winning penalties in shoot-outs against Nigeria and Brazil, it's Kelly's turn to keep England alive from the No 5 spot. Kelly grins as she stands over the spot, does her trademark run-up by lifting up her left leg, skipping, and burying the penalty into the corner. ' She made me laugh and then we both laughed at each other, it wasn't like a disrespect we just laughed at each other. In those moments there's a lot of pressure but I felt that and she just made me laugh.' Later asked what was going through her head , Kelly replied: 'I was bursting for a wee.' ❌England 2-2 Sweden - Jennifer Falk misses Sweden still have the chance to win it but there's an audible gasp in the stadium as goalkeeper Falk steps up to take Sweden's fifth penalty. 'I was more panicking that we didn't have any data on her or where she was going,' Hampton later explained. 'So I was like oh my goodness this is down to me. I was a bit surprised.' After making three saves, can Falk score in a battle of goalkeeper vs goalkeeper? No! Falk skies it and England stay alive. ❌England 2-2 Sweden - Grace Clinton misses It's back even again, as the pressure of sudden death falls onto the 22-year-old Grace Clinton. This was the weakest penalty of the lot and Falk saved comfortably. At this point, Sarina Wiegman starts to wonder if England had run out of lives. 'Well when you miss so many penalties I was really concerned,' Wiegman said. 'I thought it was done.' ❌England 2-2 Sweden - Sofia Jacobson misses It's the second match point for Sweden, but Hampton makes her best save of the shoot-out to tip it onto the post at full stretch! At this point, England players are starting to lose track of who needs what. 'We were trying to work out what was going on as the shootout was happening,' Kelly admitted. 'Michelle [Agyemang] was asking questions, I was like, if we score and they miss then we win.' ✅England 3-2 Sweden - Lucy Bronze scores In an iconic moment, Bronze steps forward and begins to tear the strapping from her left thigh after feeling muscle tightness towards the end of full-time. 'I thought, it's going to hinder me in a penalty [but] I didn't expect it to go to the sixth penalty,' Bronze said. 'So I didn't take it off [but] then it was my penalty and I thought, I need to take this off. I'm going to actually smack it.' With her captain's armband around her wrist, Bronze does just that. She smashes it down the middle. 'I watched the goalkeeper in every penalty and she dived quite early,' Bronze said. 'Statistically in shoot-outs it's risky for goalkeepers to stand still. Go down the middle.' ❌England 3-2 Sweden - Smilla Holmberg misses Now it's England's turn to hold match point, as the pressure falls on Sweden's 18-year-old right back. Holmberg goes for the top corner but blasts her penalty over the crossbar, the ninth miss from 14 penalties as England scrape into the quarter-finals and Hampton is mobbed by her team-mates.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Hampton's bloody nose and nine missed penalties: How ridiculous England v Sweden shootout unfolded
England lived to fight another day at Euro 2025 after surviving a chaotic penalty shoot-out to beat Sweden and reach the semi-finals. After England came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw following extra time, nine of the 14 penalties were missed in an extraordinary decider. The Lionesses were a penalty away from going home on two occasions but Hannah Hampton and Lucy Bronze were the heroes as they progressed. 'I think we're all frustrated in the sense that we had our system, we've practised them every day, we've got our routines, and sometimes it doesn't go to plan,' Beth Mead said. But after emerging through one of the worst penalty shoot-outs in major tournament history, England could still celebrate as they set up a semi-final with Italy. Here's how it all unfolded ✅ England 1-0 Sweden - Alessia Russo scores A confident penalty from England's No 9. That feeling would not last long. 'Penalty shoot-outs, statistically you're more likely to win if you go first, winning the coin toss played into that,' Lucy Bronze said. 'I love maths.' ❌England 1-0 Sweden - Filippa Angeldahl misses With a bloody tissue stuffed up one nostril, Hannah Hampton goes the correct way and saves to her left. 'I don' t really know what happened to be honest, all I remember is going up for that ball and someone has elbowed me I think,' Hampton said after the game. 'I thought I got away with it at first because there was nothing [blood] coming out, then I sat up and it was streaming. But as a few of the girls have said, I'm better with one nostril so maybe I'll have it again in the next game.' ❌England 1-0 Sweden - Lauren James misses It suits James' playing style to have a short run-up but this one didn't come off as she skipped around the ball and shot low. It lacks power and Jennifer Falk saves to her right. ✅England 1-1 Sweden - Julia Zigiotti Olme scores In perhaps the best penalty of the shoot-out, Zigiotti takes out the camera positioned in the top corner - Harry Maguire style. ❌England 1-1 Sweden - Beth Mead misses Falk saves again, and to the same side. The goalkeeper has clearly done her homework and has printed off notes to attach to her water bottle. Mead's penalty was at a good height for the goalkeeper. ❌England 1-1 Sweden - Magdalena Eriksson misses Eriksson strikes the bottom of the post with Hampton beaten. Neither side can claim the advantage after consecutive misses. ❌England 1-1 Sweden - Alex Greenwood misses Falk guesses correctly for the third time in a row and is beginning to look unbeatable in the Sweden goal. ✅England 1-2 Sweden - Nathalie Bjorn scores It's Chelsea vs Chelsea but Bjorn keeps cool to beat her club team-mate. It's match point to Sweden now and they lead for the first time. ✅England 2-2 Sweden - Chloe Kelly scores After scoring winning penalties in shoot-outs against Nigeria and Brazil, it's Kelly's turn to keep England alive from the No 5 spot. Kelly grins as she stands over the spot, does her trademark run-up by lifting up her left leg, skipping, and burying the penalty into the corner. ' She made me laugh and then we both laughed at each other, it wasn't like a disrespect we just laughed at each other. In those moments there's a lot of pressure but I felt that and she just made me laugh.' Later asked what was going through her head , Kelly replied: 'I was bursting for a wee.' ❌England 2-2 Sweden - Jennifer Falk misses Sweden still have the chance to win it but there's an audible gasp in the stadium as goalkeeper Falk steps up to take Sweden's fifth penalty. 'I was more panicking that we didn't have any data on her or where she was going,' Hampton later explained. 'So I was like oh my goodness this is down to me. I was a bit surprised.' After making three saves, can Falk score in a battle of goalkeeper vs goalkeeper? No! Falk skies it and England stay alive. ❌England 2-2 Sweden - Grace Clinton misses It's back even again, as the pressure of sudden death falls onto the 22-year-old Grace Clinton. This was the weakest penalty of the lot and Falk saved comfortably. At this point, Sarina Wiegman starts to wonder if England had run out of lives. 'Well when you miss so many penalties I was really concerned,' Wiegman said. 'I thought it was done.' ❌England 2-2 Sweden - Sofia Jacobson misses It's the second match point for Sweden, but Hampton makes her best save of the shoot-out to tip it onto the post at full stretch! At this point, England players are starting to lose track of who needs what. 'We were trying to work out what was going on as the shootout was happening,' Kelly admitted. 'Michelle [Agyemang] was asking questions, I was like, if we score and they miss then we win.' ✅England 3-2 Sweden - Lucy Bronze scores In an iconic moment, Bronze steps forward and begins to tear the strapping from her left thigh after feeling muscle tightness towards the end of full-time. 'I thought, it's going to hinder me in a penalty [but] I didn't expect it to go to the sixth penalty,' Bronze said. 'So I didn't take it off [but] then it was my penalty and I thought, I need to take this off. I'm going to actually smack it.' With her captain's armband around her wrist, Bronze does just that. She smashes it down the middle. 'I watched the goalkeeper in every penalty and she dived quite early,' Bronze said. 'Statistically in shoot-outs it's risky for goalkeepers to stand still. Go down the middle.' ❌England 3-2 Sweden - Smilla Holmberg misses Now it's England's turn to hold match point, as the pressure falls on Sweden's 18-year-old right back. Holmberg goes for the top corner but blasts her penalty over the crossbar, the ninth miss from 14 penalties as England scrape into the quarter-finals and Hampton is mobbed by her team-mates.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
England go from shambles to euphoria as self-belief somehow sees off Sweden
The Letzigrund looks gorgeous under a pale pastel evening sun. The noise washes over the athletic track where Carl Lewis and Asafa Powell once broke the world record, and where Sweden are now flying out of the blocks and leaving England trailing in their dust. We do not yet know that in many ways this is simply the prologue, that this devastating early two-goal flurry is actually relatively benign in comparison with the carnage that will follow. We do not yet know that Lauren James will end up playing almost an hour in a double pivot. We do not yet know that Lucy Bronze will end up wearing the captain's armband on her wrist and kicking a giant credit card advert. Hannah Hampton, nose still unbloodied, has not the faintest inkling that this will end up being the greatest night of her career. But they all know something. Even if they're not entirely conscious of it. Even as an utterly shambolic England trail Sweden 2-0 and the obituaries for their Euro 2025 campaign are being scribbled, there is a little knot of refusal there, a team with an entirely unwarranted calmness at its core, a team that against all the available visual evidence still trusts that everything is going to work out eventually. Which, after half an hour of Swedish dominance, takes a pretty significant leap of faith. Alessia Russo has barely been able to get into the game. Georgia Stanway is manically scurrying around like a dog at a family barbecue. Jess Carter, based on her chasing and pointing and deathly reluctance to touch the ball, is clearly training for a future career as a referee. OK, so you may not have underestimated Sweden. But you may just have overestimated yourselves. And perhaps this was the inevitable outcome of a build-up focused almost entirely on Sweden's directness and physicality, on the need for England to show 'proper English' qualities. There was no clear plan on the ball, and precious little quality in it in any case: an entire team so absorbed by the grapple that they had forgotten to trust in their technical ability. Sweden, meanwhile, have come with an entirely transparent strategy: funnel the ball right, target England's left-back weakness with long balls over the top and in behind, and simply wait to collect your jackpot. England have no runners from deep, no flying full-backs, no real intention to create overloads, and just the same hopeless balls punted up the channels. Even so, they know something. They know the depth they possess on their bench. They know that they have the back three to fall back on, different combinations and angles of attack. They know they have the legs to last 90 minutes and 120 if necessary. And most of all they know they are up against a team already instinctively beginning to entrench themselves, whose tournament history suggests a certain hard-wired frailty that they can prod and exploit, if only they can take this game deep enough. And so the lateness of Sarina Wiegman's substitutions almost a kind of wilful stubbornness, a blind faith that things would eventually come good, in the absence of any corroborating evidence. The vivid patterns of Chloe Kelly transform England's right flank and the fresh legs of Michelle Agyemang offer a new threat alongside Russo. Bronze, by now suffused with main character energy, pops up at the back post to convert Kelly's cross. Less than two minutes later, Agyemang pounces on Kelly's header to level the game. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Even as Sweden survive to extra time, even as they continue to create chances on the counter, there is an almost irresistible momentum building behind England as penalties approach. Even amid the farce and fragility of that penalty shoot-out, it is Sweden who crumble under the pressure while Bronze, Kelly and Hampton hold their nerve. In a way, you could scarcely hope to see a better example of the power of self-branding in tournament football. England have so often turned up with no more elaborate strategy than simply *being England*, making a virtue of doing just enough, simply hanging in there and trusting in their intrinsic pedigree to see them through. It was a strategy that powered a flawed team all the way through the last World Cup final, and may just be good enough to do so again here. It is slightly trite to conclude that great teams win when playing badly. Perhaps the hallmark of certain great teams is in sensing almost subconsciously when they are allowed to play badly and when they are not, when the level needs to be raised, when the stakes are at their sharpest. It will probably be good enough against Italy; it will probably not be good enough against Spain or France. But for now this curate's egg of a team rolls judderingly, thrillingly, onto its next grand climax.
