Latest news with #Wright
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘All you need to see' – Ian Wright's heartwarming reaction to England star Agyemang's dramatic goal speaks volumes
IAN WRIGHT was seen celebrating ecstatically after Michelle Agyemang's late equaliser kept England Women's Euro 2025 dreams alive on Tuesday evening. England found themselves 1-0 down to Italy in the 96th minute when 19-year-old Agyemang latched on to a loose ball in the box and snuck it into the net for the leveller. 8 Ian Wright appeared visually stressed as England inched closer to a semi-final exit at the Euros Credit: ITV 8 Michelle Agyemang was once again the Lionesses' saviour as she scored in the 96th minute vs Italy Credit: AP 8 But he erupted into celebration as Michelle Agyemang's 96th minute equaliser kept the dream alive Credit: ITV 8 The game was a rollercoaster from the start, with Italy taking a shock lead in the 33rd minute Credit: Getty 8 England triumphed in the end, with Chloe Kelly following up a saved penalty to tuck away a winner deep into extra time Credit: Getty England fans around the country erupted at the finish, but it was Wright's reaction that caught the attention of those watching ITV's match coverage. Cameras on the gantry caught the reaction of Wright and his co-presenters during the shocking twist. Wright was overcome with emotion at the late goal, throwing his hands up in the air and screaming towards the pitch. He also found himself jumping arm-in-arm with co-presenters READ MORE ON FOOTBALL The touching moment came during his awaited return to ITV's punditry team. It was the Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS After public backlash, Aluko Wright has been heavily involved in coverage of the Lionesses in recent years in an attempt to help build support for the women's game. Supersub Chloe Kelly's late winner sends England into Euro 2025 final 8 Eni Aluko alleged Wright's dominance in covering women's football was blocking opportunities for women in the industry Credit: AFP or licensors 8 Aluko - who had previously worked alongside Wright - issued an apology following backlash, but Wright refused to accept it Credit: Getty 8 Wright seemed delighted to be back in the gantry again ahead of kick off Credit: Getty Football account "He's been championing the sport for yonks; his enthusiasm has brought so many extra eyeballs to it." Chloe Kelly's goal in the dying minutes of extra-time sealed a 2-1 win for England - and led to the players celebrating with pizzas, which fans loved. Viewers will be happy to see Wright back on their screens covering the women's game, with all eyes turning to Sunday's final to see if he will make another appearance and see England defend their title.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘All you need to see' – Ian Wright's heartwarming reaction to England star Agyemang's dramatic goal speaks volumes
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IAN WRIGHT was seen celebrating ecstatically after Michelle Agyemang's late equaliser kept England Women's Euro 2025 dreams alive on Tuesday evening. England found themselves 1-0 down to Italy in the 96th minute when 19-year-old Agyemang latched on to a loose ball in the box and snuck it into the net for the leveller. 8 Ian Wright appeared visually stressed as England inched closer to a semi-final exit at the Euros Credit: ITV 8 Michelle Agyemang was once again the Lionesses' saviour as she scored in the 96th minute vs Italy Credit: AP 8 But he erupted into celebration as Michelle Agyemang's 96th minute equaliser kept the dream alive Credit: ITV 8 The game was a rollercoaster from the start, with Italy taking a shock lead in the 33rd minute Credit: Getty 8 England triumphed in the end, with Chloe Kelly following up a saved penalty to tuck away a winner deep into extra time Credit: Getty England fans around the country erupted at the finish, but it was Wright's reaction that caught the attention of those watching ITV's match coverage. Cameras on the gantry caught the reaction of Wright and his co-presenters during the shocking twist. Wright was overcome with emotion at the late goal, throwing his hands up in the air and screaming towards the pitch. He also found himself jumping arm-in-arm with co-presenters Laura Woods and Karen Carney. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL Gotta be kitting Fans baffled at bizarre kit quirk during Lionesses semi-final with Italy One post on X captioned the video: "Ian Wright's reaction to Michelle Agyemang's late equaliser is all you need to see." The touching moment came during his awaited return to ITV's punditry team. It was the first game the ex-Arsenal and England forward had covered since his fallout with fellow pundit Eni Aluko. Aluko alleged during an April interview that Wright was limiting opportunities for female pundits and presenters in women's football. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS After public backlash, Aluko issued an apology for her comments, but it was one that Wright said he could not accept. Wright has been heavily involved in coverage of the Lionesses in recent years in an attempt to help build support for the women's game. Supersub Chloe Kelly's late winner sends England into Euro 2025 final 8 Eni Aluko alleged Wright's dominance in covering women's football was blocking opportunities for women in the industry Credit: AFP or licensors 8 Aluko - who had previously worked alongside Wright - issued an apology following backlash, but Wright refused to accept it Credit: Getty 8 Wright seemed delighted to be back in the gantry again ahead of kick off Credit: Getty Football account HLTCO commented on the video of Wright celebrating on X, saying: "The suggestion that Ian Wright has ever been anything but a huge positive for women's football is so wide of the mark it's ridiculous. "He's been championing the sport for yonks; his enthusiasm has brought so many extra eyeballs to it." Chloe Kelly's goal in the dying minutes of extra-time sealed a 2-1 win for England - and led to the players celebrating with pizzas, which fans loved. Viewers will be happy to see Wright back on their screens covering the women's game, with all eyes turning to Sunday's final to see if he will make another appearance and see England defend their title.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ian Wright demands one England change for Euro 2025 final after huge Italy scare
England are in yet another final after a dramatic 2-1 win over Italy, with both their goals scored at the end of regular and extra time, but the Lionesses started the game poorly and Ian Wright believes they are riding their luck Ian Wright has told England they must start the Euro 2025 final much quicker after leaving it late once again to secure a dramatic 2-1 win over Italy in Wednesday night's semi-final. The Lionesses have reached their third straight final under Sarina Wiegman but they made hard work of it as a sluggish start saw Italy take a first-half lead through Barbara Bonansea. England looked like they were heading out of the tournament before Michelle Agyemang popped up with a stoppage time strike to take the game to extra time, before Chloe Kelly scored a penalty rebound minutes before the game was set to go to a shootout. It came after England came from 2-0 down to beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals and Wright is concerned that their luck will soon run out in they don't assert themselves quicker against either Spain or Germany in the final. "You can't continue to rely on that," Wright told ITV. "Six semi-finals, three finals on the spin. At some stage, the luck will run out. We need to start better and get a foothold in the game. "The thing is, if it's Germany, very physical and direct, it won't suit us. Spain, they play a more technical game, it might suit us more. I'm not sure about Plan A and Plan B, we're in a final. "But we need to start games better. We take too long to start games, we need to get into that, how we can get into our stride quicker." Fellow ITV pundit Karen Carney agreed with Wright and claimed the team looked tired, calling on Wiegman to make changes to give the Lionesses some "freshness". "Sarina doesn't make many changes, but we saw tiredness today," the former England star said. "Freshness is important. "She has to look at her squad, rip it up, we need freshness to start the game. Plan A isn't working, Plan B is magnificent, we have to make changes." One change that Wiegman did make was to once again bring on Agyemang to make an impact from the bench and the teenager has now scored two vital goals at this tournament - leading to questions over whether she should now start the final. When asked if she had "forced" that decision, the Dutch coach replied: "She is not forcing me. She is very grateful to get minutes and she is very ready for it. "Her growth and development went so quickly. From not starting at Brighton to getting lots more minutes and showing how good she is, to coming into our team. It went smooth for her and she feels very good about that."
Metro
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Ian Wright sends warning to 'lucky' Lionesses after reaching Euro 2025 final
Ian Wright warns England their 'luck is going to run out' after reaching the Euro 2025 final, saying the Lionesses must 'start games better'. England were just seconds away from being knocked out of the European Championships on Tuesday night after Italy took a first-half lead in their semi-final clash in Geneva. Once again, teenager Michelle Agyemang was required to score a late equaliser, this time in the sixth minute of injury time which sent the match to extra-time. Fellow super sub Chloe Kelly then scored the winner in the 119th minute, squeezing in the rebound after her penalty was saved by Laura Giuliani. While a far better performance then their shootout win over Sweden in the quarter-finals, Sarina Wiegman's side were once again sluggish out of the gate and, for the third time in five games, found themselves trailing at the break. The Lionesses spirit and grit is unquestionable but while Wright praised this, he warns it is not sustainable enough to see them triumph at the end of the tournament. 'We need to start games better than we're starting games. 2-0 down in the game against Sweden,' the Arsenal and England legend said on his return to ITV punditry. 'We play tournament football. You never go into a game with England and feel really comfortable. 'For some reason, we make it very difficult and then we drag ourselves through because we've got such determination. We've got such character. 'You can't continue to rely on that. At some stage that luck is going to run out and we're going to need to find a way to start games better, and get a foothold in the game.' England will play either Germany or Spain in Sunday's final, setting up a rematch of the Euro 2022 final – which they won – or the 2023 World Cup final – which they lost. Either way, Wright believes the Lionesses face a very tough test and admits he is not fully convinced by Wiegman's tactical set-up, both for how they start and finish games. 'I'm not really sure about plan A or plan B,' the former striker added. 'Germany are very physical, very direct, which won't suit us. Spain play a much more technical game and keep the ball, that might suit us a little bit more. More Trending Pubs can stay open until 1am for England vs Italy Euros semi final 'We take too long to start games. I don't know what it is but we take too long to get into our stride so we need to get into that.' Wiegman for her part agrees with Wright, saying: 'Coming behind against Italy, you know you have a problem and we had some serious challenges in the game. 'First-half we did not play well, not enough energy in the game. Second-half we were better, but in the final third they made a lot of blocks, won a lot of duels were very aggressive. 'We always have the opportunity to bring fresh players in who bring a lot of quality. We ended with lots of players up front because it was wall, we had to make a hole in the wall.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: When is the Women's Euro 2025 final and who are England facing? MORE: Sarina Wiegman explains decision to leave out Jess Carter for England's Euro 2025 semi-final with Italy MORE: Jess Carter proves there's no room for error as a Black player
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ian Wright's passionate response as England Lionesses decide against taking the knee
England women have decided not to take the knee before their Euro 2025 semi-final clash against Italy after the team questioned whether it was sending a strong enough message following abuse suffered by Jess Carter Ian Wright has claimed taking the knee is a "personal" decision after England Women opted not to perform the gesture in their Euro 2025 semi-final clash against Italy on Tuesday night. England have been taking the knee throughout the tournament in Switzerland and have been keen to show their stance against racism after defender Jess Carter received abuse on social media while playing for the Lionesses. But the Lionesses confirmed they would not adopt the gesture against the Italians after Lucy Bronze said the team questioned whether "the message is as strong as it used to be". Instead, players decided to stand before kick-off. Former England and Arsenal star Wright gave his verdict on the decision ahead of England's crucial clash and said while he personally would continue to take the knee if he was still in football, he insisted it was down to the player to decide. "The decision to take the knee… it's always one that should have been a personal thing," he said on ITV. "If you want to take the knee, you take the knee. "For me personally, if I was playing now for everything the knee represents, Colin Kapernick, representing respective injustice and equality and everything that goes with it, I would probably still take the knee - even if I had to do it on my own. But in respect of Jess, the priority is that she's OK, she's got the support around her. "But there's nothing more I can say, I've said everything over the years in respect of racism and what it means and what it does and how it affects people…and nothing is getting any better." Wright added that families must make their children "resilient" towards racist abuse after campaigning against racism in sport for many years while working in broadcasting. 'For me, what I would say to people now is prepare your children, prepare your family, make them resilient towards it because it's going to continue to come," he said. "People say 'Wrighty that's a bit negative' - it's not negative. "They've been winning, they're winning now and they will continue to win. So I would urge people to just get your family resilient against it. Get your kids resilience and build resilience against them." The gesture of taking the knee was adopted by a number of football teams after George Floyd was killed by a white policeman in 2020 - and has been used as a symbol of anti-discrimination in sport ever since. But England have decided to go in a different direction and while speaking at a press conference this week, Bronze said the team were keen to look at new ways they could make their views known because current methods were not good enough. "I think the problem is that as the game grows and everything grows, in football and in life, as much as there might be change, there are more outlets for abuse and racism as well," she said. "It's just not enough. I think that's the point. Not enough is being done. There are small changes being made, there's always small steps forward, but that's the problem. It's always a small step. "And we don't want it to be small steps anymore. We want it to be 'this is happening, there's change, it's unacceptable', and there's no more small steps, because we get to the point of where it should be in the world, and especially in the world of footballers. "It feels like there can be a place where we can control abuse online, especially racism online. Everything is monitored online, so it just doesn't make sense to us."
