England’s lionesses, the national women’s football team, are in final for Euro 2025! They beat Italy in a nail biting 2-1 win in their semi-final, which saw the match go to extra time. The match was held in historic Wembley Stadium, as two well-matched teams played at a high level, showing incredible pace, aggression, and creativity.
00:35 Wiegman’s aimed, upbeat pep talk to get England jacked up before the final. She made clear just how important collaboration and perseverance would be to that end. The stakes of the game were universal, but the intensity at play didn’t let up as England and Italy continued fighting for dominance on the field. England initially appeared to be struggling as Chloe Kelly sent a corner into the side netting, leaving fans anxious about their team’s prospects.
Hope surged when Michelle Agyemang made a spectacular late equalizer, sweeping the ball home just before the final whistle. This match-winning goal not only restored England’s progress to the knockout stages, but illustrated Agyemang’s critical importance to the match. She hit the crossbar with a daring lob attempt in the final moments of extra time. The audience gasped and didn’t quite believe it could be the plan for the win!
Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang were the heroes of the game. Those goals were just what England needed to prevent a devastating upset! Kelly displayed blistering pace and technical ability as she expertly spun away from Italy’s Caruso before turning her inside on the right wing. She provided the key cross that opened the floodgates for England’s offense.
As the match went on Italy’s Elena Linari tended to closely mark Agyemang, trying to limit her effectiveness. Agyemang’s persistence and determination as an advocate one hundred percent paid off. Italy’s GK, Laura Giuliani, completely misread a cross from the right and spilled the ball directly at Agyemang’s feet. Pouncing on the mistake to make the most of that opportunity, Agyemang scored England’s opening goal, sparking euphoric scenes on the pitch and in the crowd.
Kelly’s decisive moments did not stop there. She displayed her remarkable technique by floating a long ball that seemed destined for the top right corner of the net. She roared through and hammered the ball into the net from point-blank range. That goal sealed England’s second hit and sealed their place in the final!
Throughout the game, players such as Laura Hemp showcased their talent by hitting intentional crosses. Combined with other bullying maneuvers employed, these billion-dollar-enforcers nearly put Giuliani out of business. Italy appeared more clinical in moments that counted, as noted by commentator Colum Fordham:
“England are piling on the pressure but Italy look more clinical (and technically more proficient) when it counts.”
That is not to take away from England’s never-say-die attitude which was exemplified by their comeback from a difficult situation. When the final whistle blew, jubilant players embraced one another on the field, and elated fans celebrated in their seats.