England 2-1 Italy (AET): Kelly. Chaos. Carnage. But the Lionesses roar into the final (again)
How England are in the final is a question for the football gods. Or maybe for Sarina Wiegman. Or maybe, just maybe, for Chloe Kelly and a teenager called Michelle Agyemang who didn’t seem to get the memo about pressure.
For 90 minutes, England looked… tired. Stuck. Slightly broken. Against a well-drilled, fearless Italy, the Lionesses huffed and puffed with all the fluidity of a printer on strike, trying to keep their repeat chances at the UEFA Women’s EURO alive
Barbara Bonansea’s first-half goal was well taken, but let’s be honest, England were already creaking before she found the net. The midfield was overrun, the press half-hearted, the spark flickering. If the quarter-final against Sweden was a coming-of-age fightback, this was more of a flat tyre on a bendy road kind of vibe.
Sarina’s game plan wasn’t falling apart. It was being peeled off in layers. Stanway off. Then Williamson. Then Russo. Every time the camera cut to the England bench, someone was icing something. Or someone else.
Agyemang ignites the comeback
But then, when it all looked lost, enter Michelle Agyemang. Nineteen. Two international goals to her name before this tournament. Make that three now, and none more vital. 96th minute. Last gasp. Side-footed finish like it was the opening goal in a pre-season friendly. Ice in the veins, teenage edition.
From that moment, extra time swung with it. Suddenly, England looked like the team that has reached three major finals in a row. Italy dropped deeper. The Lionesses buzzed with intent. And when Kelly went down in the box with a few minutes to go, you sensed she would finish the story herself.
Which she did… eventually.
Her penalty was saved. No bother. She was on it before anyone else moved. Toe poke. Net ripple. Limbs everywhere. The chaos merchant strikes again.
In the end, England found a way. Sarina Wiegman becomes the first manager in history to reach five consecutive major finals. Five. She doesn’t blink, she doesn’t flinch, she just keeps delivering.
Jess Carter, who received vile abuse after the Sweden game, was serenaded with chants on the fan walk before kick-off. She only played the final minutes, but the crowd knew. And it mattered. There is something about this group that goes beyond the pitch.
Vintage? Nowhere near. It was carnage. Beautiful, bruised, bend but don’t break carnage.
Finals aren’t handed out for style. They’re earned. England, patched up, running on heart and hope, just earned theirs.
Basel awaits.
