England created historical past in reaching a 3rd consecutive main championship last by beating Italy 2-1 – however Sarina Wiegman’s aspect proceed to experience their luck.
Chloe Kelly got here off the bench and scored a 119th minute winner to make sure the reigning champions stored their Euro 2025 hopes alive regardless of one other lacklustre show.
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Barbara Bonansea’s first half strike almost despatched the holders packing, however substitute Michelle Agyemang levelled in stoppage-time.
It meant either side needed to endure one other half-hour of motion, and the Lionesses salvaged a superb comeback proper on the demise.
Emma Severini fouled Beth Mead and a penalty was awarded, with Arsenal star Kelly seeing her spot-kick saved, however was first to react to fit dwelling within the follow-up.
England got here from behind to win for a second consecutive match, with a penalty shootout quarter-final win over Sweden final week simply the beginning of the drama.
Wiegman and co. mustered one other spirited response due to the brilliance of Agyemang and Kelly in one other match the place they had been second finest.
The Lionesses are actually in a 3rd main last in a row – the primary time a senior England males’s or ladies’s aspect have achieved the feat – having solely carried out reached finals in two of their first 13 appearances in such tournaments beforehand.
talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham was in Geneva for the rollercoaster and dissected the performances from the gamers and supervisor.
“Properly you recognize the phrase again from the brink, these Lionesses are reinventing that phrase, brink,” he stated at full-time. “They’re redefining it, we want a brand new time period for what they’re doing at this match.
“I imply they’re all smiles, they’re all laughing, you possibly can perceive why.
“However Italy shall be questioning how on earth they’re out, unbelievable.”
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Shaky Stanway
Georgia Stanway has a depth of expertise at membership and worldwide stage, however was a shadow of her regular self on Tuesday evening.
Durham gave her a joint-lowest ranking of three/10 with Alex Greenwood and Beth Mead amid her lack of menace within the midfield.
He stated of her show: “She advised me she was match the day earlier than the sport, she just isn’t but again to her regular sensible self although.”
One other lacking spark
Just like Stanway, Lauren James was unable to impose herself on the match in contrast to previous performances.
The Chelsea star seemingly struggled and will solely play for 45 minutes, with Durham handing her a 4/10.
“Off injured at half-time, by no means grabbed the primary half the way in which we all know she will,” he stated.
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‘We love her’
England definitely did not make issues simple and as soon as once more, Kelly was readily available to channel her world-class high quality with a decisive second.
She scored the successful purpose within the 2022 last in opposition to Germany and will now have pushed her nation in the direction of a second consecutive Euros title.
“We stated we love Chloe Kelly earlier than this sport, tonight we love her much more,” stated Durham.
Using her luck
Wiegman has been a sensational appointment for the Lionesses, however her decision-making in opposition to Italy – simply because it was in opposition to Sweden final trip – irked Durham.
With England desperately looking for a approach again into the match, she left her substitutions very late within the 77th and eighty fifth minutes.
One other 3/10 was submitted by Durham regardless of her reaching yet one more last on the helm.
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“Subs left ludicrously late once more,” he stated. “The luckiest coach on the planet proper now.”
England will now watch Spain and Germany battle it out for the final spot in Sunday’s last.
They play one another on Wednesday evening, stay on talkSPORT 2.