As England advance to Euro 2025 final, Sarina Wiegman and Lionesses must stop playing with fire

It was almost a slice of cake for Italy until the lion ribbons were hungry. England managed to write a dramatic chapter in their golden age under head coach Sarina Wiegman and fought back to beat Italy, 2-1, after extra time in the semi-final of the UEFAEFLAEFA EURO.

The high-stakes match tested nerves, resilience and tactics during the entire pitch. For 96 minutes, England ran over the elimination beam, only to be saved again by late game substitutions. It was 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang who delivered a late game equalizer, and Chloe Kelly converted an extra time penalty for another “right England” escape act and showed up with England as not only a favorite to compete with the competition, but survivors of tournaments to survive.

Success in the tournament football ball is not always obtained only through skill; Sometimes there are momentum fluctuations and a bit of luck that comes into play. Being a witness to England’s success was as if you would see someone touching on his last medal.

“It feels incredible. Such a great feeling. This team deserves nothing but that. Three finals on the leap and we want more,” said Kelly in her interview after the game. “This team shows resilience, but we fight back, and hopefully we can make it easier for ourselves. We don’t need that panic.”

Of course not necessary to panic. But better play from the start will be necessary if both world cup champions Spain or revive a new life Germany to wait.

England and their slow start

Tournament Long-Shots Italy has been playing in their first euro-half final since 1997. They shake their underdog status when veteran Barbara BonanSea scored the opening goal in the game for 23 minutes when England dropped early. The ruling Euro champions stood 2-0 to Sweden in the quarters and also had a 2-0 shortage France In their opener, which they lost.

This deficiency has completely shifted the energy and momentum, while exposing some fragile cracks in the backline of the lions with Leah Williamson, played through a single injury, and Lucy Bronze struggled to contain some fast counterattacks of Italy. Against the break, the Leeuwessen were a goal and they had not included meaningful attacking scenarios in the last third. Again, they looked at a disadvantage over time.

Sarina Wiegman’s Late Gamble pays off again

Head coach of England, Sarina Wiegman, has drawn up some criticism because of a reluctance to rotate starters and a lack of initiative on substitutions after the nail -biting finish against Sweden against Sweden, where they won in the quarterfinals in penalties.

In almost repeated way, the Dutch manager was waiting to make more adjustments later in the game, despite the fact that he brought Beth Mead during the break. Although Wiegman’s hand was forced with the early sub, the coach said in post-game comments that ahead Lauren James Had her ankle hurt and the adjustment was made and they will again evaluate for the final.

‘That’s they are [substitutions] Just ready to go, and they want a contribution. And I think everyone accepts their role, whatever role she has given. I think what we are trying to do, give so much clarity about it, but also the task on the field when you come in and when we make a change, or when we change a form, and there is just so much energy, “Wiegman Media said after the game.

“We never give up. So until the referee whistles, you have a last whistle, you have the chance to score a goal. And we have subs to win. We had to, because we were a zero down. Sub to win, and we played to win. It really is real. Nice Then we get it over the line.

Kelly was only given 13 minutes to make an impact, and teenage Agyemang tapped the 85th minute, but didn’t need much more to make a statement in her development. The bank gathered to save England when Agyemang hit a rebound in the box and the game hit everyone, but the dream of Italy broke out to reach the final.

The teenager’s star shines through the tournament, now with back-to-back equalizers in knockout competitions while the former Ball girl is changing a potential national hero.

“It means the world for me and I am so grateful. I am God so grateful for God. Four years ago I was a child, threw balls for some of these girls, but now that I play with them. It’s a great opportunity and I am so happy that I am here,” Aygang said after the game.

“To do this at this level, to help this team, it is more than what I could have wished, so I am so grateful to be here. Most of these girls I have not known for more than two months, but it shows the solidarity we have as a team.”

Chloe Kelly has a full circle moment

With a chance to launch England to another euro final, Kelly stepped up to take a penalty in the late minutes of the second extra time. Kelly was the hero of the Euro final of England in 2022 and scored the game winner just within the six-year box of a set. Her heroic deeds were again completely visible when she followed her shot against goalkeeper Laura Giuliani of Italy. The keeper initially saved the penalty attempt but gave up a rebound, and Kelly responded quickly and hit the ball over the line.

There will be some who say that it was happiness and a judgment about the call, but that does not change the efforts of England, and they are through to the final with a rejuvenated sense of competence.

“We have hope, we have the faith, and we have the quality, so we just have to stay on it and keep working hard on training to ensure that we are next weekend,” said Kelly after the game.

What is the following?

For Italy, the defeat marked the end of a fairy tale run. The national team is in 13th place worldwide and the Andrea Soncin team exceeds the expectations that were set on them. The scheduled depth of the lion ribbons and the general DNA of the tournament ultimately prevail. They will compete in their third consecutive grand finale (Euro 2022, World Cup 2023, Euro 2025) on Sunday and wait for the winner of Spain versus Germany.