England v Italy live: Michelle Agyemang’s journey from Wembley ball girl to Euro 2025 hero after dramatic win

England v Italy: Women's Euro 2025 latest news and reaction

• England reach Euro 2025 final after dramatic comeback against Italy
• Michelle Agyemang rescues Lionesses before Chloe Kelly scores winner
• But Lauren James is a major doubt after she was forced off with ankle injury
• England will play either Spain or Germany in Sunday's final in Basel
• Teenaged Agyemang recalls journey from ball girl to England hero

Chloe Kelly had 'no doubt' about taking penalty

Chloe Kelly needed no persuasion to take the pressure-cooker extra-time penalty that sent defending champions England into the Euro 2025 final, according to defender Alex Greenwood.

"That takes a lot of courage to step up to take that," Greenwood said. "I asked her, she had no doubt in her mind, she was confident enough to take it.

"All of our penalty takers were off, so who was left was probably me or Chloe. I missed the pen in the (Sweden) game, in the shootout, Chloe scored hers comfortably, so they (manager Sarina Wiegman and assistant Arjan Veurink) said, 'It's up to you, you or Chloe'.”

Agyemang recalls journey from ball girl to star

England’s Michelle Agyemang spoke after her stoppage-time strike in the semi-final took the game to extra time.

“I am so proud of the team’s fight and the effort,” said the Arsenal youngster, who was a ball girl at Wembley just four years ago.

“We were down for over 90 minutes and to show that character and the fight, I said it last time, but I am saying it again, it is the character and the strength of this team that has got us this far.

“It means the world to me, I am so grateful and as I always say, I am so grateful for God and where he has brought me from.

“Four years ago, I was just a kid, just throwing the ball to some of these girls and now I am here playing with them. A great opportunity and I am so happy I am here.”

Agyemang scored England’s crucial equaliser (AP)

Kelly gets her confidence from 'myself'

After Chloe Kelly smashed in her own rebound that lifted England into the Euro 2025 final, she struck a casual pose at the corner flag, one hand on the flag, another on her hip, and smiled up at the England fans.

Kelly's 119th-minute winner was the punctuation mark on a nervy come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Italy that sends the reigning champions into their third consecutive final of a major tournament.

They will play either world champions Spain or Germany on Sunday.

Asked where she gets her confidence, Kelly said: "Myself."

"The moments when in January I felt like giving up football makes you so grateful for these moments here today, and this makes you enjoy every minute of that," said Kelly, who did her trademark prancing penalty run-up.

"I think confidence comes from within, but from around you as well. The players that we stand side by side with on the pitch, give confidence in each other."

Chloe Kelly celebrates after scoring England’s goal (The FA via Getty Images)

England are living a ‘fantasy’ at Euro 2025 – now they must get real

The Lionesses’ team spirit is rightly lauded but they cannot rely on last-minute miracles to beat high-calibre opposition of Spain or Germany in Sunday’s final, writes Miguel Delaney:

'A minute away from the dream'

The last time Italy reached a Women's European Championship final was 1997.

They looked destined to repeat the feat when Juventus midfielder Barbara Bonansea fired home in the 33rd minute at the Stade de Geneve. Italian fans erupted in celebration, with one proudly holding a sign declaring "It is coming home to Rome".

But England's 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang had other ideas, equalising in the 96th minute to send the match to extra time and ultimately crush Italian dreams.

"There is a lot of regret, we were a minute and a half away from the dream... unfortunately in the final we were tired," Elena Linari told Italian broadcaster RAI.

"I am proud of the girls, it is a bitter evening, but also a sweet one," she added.

Italy huddle after their semi-final defeat (AFP via Getty Images)

'I'm sad but we can be strong' – Cantore

Italian midfielder Sofia Cantore told Reuters that Le Azzurre's performance showed the strength and growth of the squad.

"I think we made something incredible. Now I'm sad, but we bring with ourselves the thought that we can be strong," Cantore said.

Italy were devastated to fall just short of the final (AP)

Girelli sets sights on 2027 World Cup in Brazil

In two years there will be a World Cup in Brazil where Italy, if they qualify, will have a reputation and new-found respect to defend. But will captain Girelli still be leading her country?

"We achieved something great, something stratospheric, but we'll see," the storied veteran said of her chances of playing on until then. "These emotions are too beautiful to not want to relive them."

Soncin: Sometimes you don't get what you deserve

"We were one minute away from the final," Italy coach Andrea Soncin said at a post-match news conference.

"The players have deserved a different end, but unfortunately it happens sometimes you don't get what you deserve.”

Soncin acknowledged women's football in Italy was playing catch-up to nations which had more established programmes, like England. "It's another step we have to make to better manage these situations."

'Michelle showed up again and saved the day'

England’s Esme Morgan, who made her first start at a major tournament in the semi-final win over Italy, and stood up to the task.

“I enjoyed it, especially in the end! It was a really intense game, a real challenge against their big, strong, physical forwards, and I enjoyed that task of trying to deal with them. I’m so proud of how everyone kept the belief until the very end and just kept fighting.

“I felt we were hammering on the door in the second half and things just weren’t seeming to fall but then Michelle showed up again and just saved the day. I’m so proud of her, she’s such an incredible human being and she deserves these moments.”

(Getty Images)

'Michelle deserves her flowers'

Leah Williamson on Michelle Agyemang’s impact on Euro 2025 after the 19-year-old rescued the Lionesses for a second time at the tournament.

“She feels inevitable right now. I think she's quality. I think what she brings, she's a nightmare to play against. I’m glad she's my teammate at club and country.

“She deserves her flowers. I hope she gets them. hope she enjoys tonight, and then I hope she's ready to go at the weekend.”

= (PA Wire)

Sarina Wiegman on whether she at any point thought England were going home

“I thought at 88 mins, wow, OK, well we have to score a goal or we are going home. When the injury time was shown and there were seven minutes left, I thought, that gives us the time we need to create another chance.

“But of course the clock keeps ticking and you are thinking maybe it won’t come. But we play to win, we play to get these moments and we are a team that never gives up.”

(Getty Images)

Italy rue 'cruel' semi-final heartbreak

Italy captain Cristiana Girelli and defender Lucia Di Guglielmo cried as they walked around the field after an emotional semifinal loss — 2-1 after extra time to England on Tuesday — each with one arm around the other's waist.

They waved goodbye to fans and their shared Women's European Championship title hopes inside Stade de Geneve, which had been a joyous second home for them in Switzerland.

Less than hour earlier, Italy had been little more than one minute away from advancing to a final few had imagined.

"I feel that something has ended that we didn't want to end, because I still don't believe it's over," the 35-year-old Girelli said, in tears again in the player interview area. "Probably fate has been a little cruel to us."

Cristiana Girelli, right, waves to fans after the semi-final defeat by England (AP)

‘Inevitable’ Michelle Agyemang has left Lionesses with one choice for Euro 2025 final

At some point, Michelle Agyemang may start playing a game for England when they are not behind. It could even be on Sunday in the Euro 2025 final.

But for now, it is hard to think of anyone at this tournament who has a clearer understanding of their exact role and the impact they can make than the 19-year-old striker who began it with just one international appearance for her country, and who has now saved them from the brink twice in two games.

The sass, swagger and dark times behind Chloe Kelly’s unbreakable confidence

For Chloe Kelly, her 119th-minute winner in Geneva is the latest in a long line of iconic moments in England shirt, to go alongside Wembley, Brisbane and Zurich. When the pressure is at its highest, Kelly has been able to rise above it and deliver, time and time again.

This is how.

Ian Wright's hilarious reaction to England semi-final win caught on camera

Chloe Kelly sends England into final

No one else does it quite like Chloe Kelly. Another iconic moment for England in the books.

Michelle Agyemang rescues England

It’s incredible to see what Michelle Agyemang is doing on the big stage. Four years ago, she was a ball-girl for the Lionesses at Wembley. Three months ago, she hadn’t even met most of the squad.

Now she’s saving England in back-to-back games to send them through to the Euros final.

When is the Euro 2025 final and who will England play?

England will get their shot at back-to-back European titles after clawing their way to the Euro 2025 final in Switzerland - and they will face familiar opponents either way on Sunday.

Sarina Wiegman’s side produced another miraculous comeback in their last four clash against Italy, with Michelle Agyemang’s 96th-minute equaliser saving the Lionesses on the brink of elimination.

Chloe Kelly then tucked home her penalty rebound in the dying stages of extra time to book England’s place in the final, where they will hope to emulate their Wembley heroics of Euro 2022. Kelly was the hero then, too, scoring the extra time winner in a 2-1 triumph over Germany.

England saviour Michelle Agyemang ‘something special’ says Sarina Wiegman

Sarina Wiegman predicted much more to come from “something special” Michelle Agyemang after the 19-year-old saved England from the brink of elimination for the second time at Euro 2025 and helped the Lionesses book a return trip to the final.

“She has something special,” Wiegman said of Agyemang, who levelled with less than two minutes remaining in second-half stoppage time.

“She’s only 19-years-old, she’s very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do.”

Chloe Kelly reacts to chaotic England comeback to secure place in Euro 2025 final

Match-winner Chloe Kelly says England's last-gasp comeback win over Italy was nothing more than the Lionesses deserved as they booked their place in the Euro 2025 final.

"Unbelievable, such a great feeling," Kelly said. "This team deserves nothing but that. Three finals on the bounce and we want more. This is an unbelievable feeling. 

“This team shows resilience again and we fight back. Hopefully we can make it a little bit easier for ourselves and don’t need that panic.

“We have hope, we have belief and we have the quality. We just need to keep at it and keep working hard in training to make sure we’re ready for next weekend.”

Chloe Kelly, centre, wins the race to score England’s winner after having her penalty saved (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)

Ian Wright demands one England change for Women’s Euro 2025 final

Ian Wright insists England's improbable habit of producing stunning comebacks at major tournaments cannot continue and that a change is needed before Sunday's Euro 2025 final.

"You can't continue to rely on that," Wright said. "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."

England suffer major injury blow with Lauren James doubtful for Euro 2025 final

Lauren James is a major doubt for England's Women's Euro 2025 final against Spain or Germany after hobbling off at half-time against Italy in the semi-final.

"She hurt her ankle," said the England boss Sarina Wiegman. “I haven’t seen her yet.

"We’ll have to see over the next couple of days. We had to take her off."

(REUTERS)

England player ratings vs Italy as substitutes inspire the impossible once again

England’s substitutes inspired once again to complete an unbelievable turnaround against Italy and book their place in a third consecutive major final at Euro 2025.

Here are how the England players rated from their 2-1 semi-final win in Geneva:

Chloe Kelly delivers another miracle to extend an unbelievable England trend

England, somehow, do it again. The defending European champions are in a third consecutive major final after a second consecutive game where they needed a miracle late rescue. Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly were, once more, the heroes. Whether they can do it one more time is a big question but one that can wait – for tonight. There is an awful lot to fault about this team right now, but not their resolve. They keep going no matter what, which is why they keep getting through round after round of this tournament.

It isn’t always convincing. It isn’t always productive. But it does just keep happening.

Oh what a night

That actually happened! The Lionesses went through to the Euro 2025 in unbelievable, dramatic fashion as they came from behind to beat Italy in extra time.

Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang were the heroes on a famous night in Geneva.

Chloe Kelly, right, celebrates scoring England’s winning goal against Italy (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)