‘Is this a movie?’ – England overcome odds to reach final

The Lionesses appear to have an infinite number of lives at Euro 2025, contrary to the saying that “cats have nine lives.”

After suffering a subpar opening-game defeat by France, they stepped up in a must-win contest against the Netherlands, defeated Sweden 2-0, and made it through a penalty shootout where they saved four spot kicks.

Then, with just a few seconds left in their semi-final against Italy, they turned things around and won 2-1 in extra time to advance to a third successive major final.

Everything was chaotic, dramatic, and, as is customary, late.

On their way to the Euro 2025 final, England’s resilience and ability to overcome hardship have been constant themes.

They faced setbacks even before arriving in Switzerland.

Conversations dominated when it should have been about the Lionesses’ fight for their European title and how they would escape a difficult group.

Prior to Wiegman’s squad announcement on June 5th, she had two senior international retirements and the departure of her World Cup captain to contend with.

On the day of Wiegman’s squad announcement, Millie Bright declared that she is unable to “give 100% mentally or physically,” and midfielder Fran Kirby followed suit on May 27.

Despite the unsettling period, Wiegman had to insist there was “no crisis” heading into the tournament with a combined 217 caps between the three.

Hannah Hampton was the only capped goalkeeper in the squad, and two senior Earps and Bright players, Earps and Bright, did not travel to Switzerland, raising the question of whether there was enough experience.

It was always going to be simpler to say than to do to leave the group stage.

With England’s adversaries including 2017 champions the Netherlands and heavyweights France, optimism was low.

England needed to start strong against France, but things didn’t go as planned.

England’s shaky defense was brutally exposed in a 2-1 defeat at Stadion Letzigrund.

The Lionesses became the first reigning champions to lose their first game at the women’s Euros tournament after being outpaced and outplayed.

England, however, delivered when the pressure was on.

Their tournament would have ended if they had defeated the Netherlands, but they did so thanks to an impressive 4-0 victory over the Dutch, continuing their quest for Euro 2025.

As a result of Wiegman’s tactical adjustments paying off, Lauren James scored twice and Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone also had goals.

England resurrected their quarter-final spot with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Wales four days later, gaining the confidence boost they needed.

With a draw drawn outcome of second place in Group D, England faced Sweden in the quarter-finals, avoiding old rivals Germany, and defeating Spain, who won the 2023 World Cup, in the draw.

That must have been a good thing, right?

However, Sweden won all three of their group games while only conceding one more goal than any other team.

England was 2-0 up and tied for second within 25 minutes.

In Zurich, experienced defender Lucy Bronze and 19-year-old forward Michelle Agyemang both scored in the final 11 minutes to make extra time happen.

Sweden twice failed to convert when it would have won, leading to a breathtaking penalty shootout, and England stumbled over the line to win the game.

After the game, Wiegman said, “At least three times, I thought we were out.”

“This team is incredible, I don’t know why, but I don’t know why.” They are united. They take the necessary steps to reverse our behavior.

In a joint statement, the Lionesses said they would “find another way to combat racism” by halting the anti-racism gesture of taking a knee before games.

Fare, the head of the world’s largest anti-discrimination organization, questioned England’s decision to stop performing what it considered a “powerful anti-racist act,” but Wiegman defended her players, saying the “impact was not good enough.”

Esme Morgan joined Carter in the starting XI after Wiegman made her debut in four games and left Carter out of the starting XI.

However, Italy’s semi-final victory on Tuesday gave England the biggest scare.

The underdogs, who were eight places below England in the world rankings and who had to make their first semi-final since 1997, were the winners.

Wiegman hoped to reach a fifth successive major final as manager while England were aiming for a third straight title.

However, Barbara Bonansea and Italy’s shock lead in Geneva was not read as the script.

Only Hampton’s double save prevented England from going up to 2-0 late in the second half. Then, wiegman’s substitutes performed another magic, with Kelly scoring the winning goal in extra-time after Agyemang scored a stoppage-time equalizer.

Wiegman described it as a movie, and Kelly said it would be an extraordinary fantasy that you couldn’t replace.

Even after cutting a corner straight into the side-netting in stoppage time and having her penalty saved, she was one of the coolest guys in Stade de Geneve.

But she jumped out and punched the rebound over the line as quickly as she could, beating team-mate Ella Toone, before gesturing to the crowd to “colllapse” with her celebration.

She was completely aware of it.

The most recent women’s Euros goal scored was her 119th-minute winner.

England’s most recent goal on record in regular time of a Euros was Teenager Agyemang’s equalizer at 95:01.

In the 88th minute, Wiegman said, “We do have to score now otherwise we’ll have a problem and we’ll have to fly home tomorrow.”

When I saw that there was seven minutes of stoppage time, we had time to create a second chance. We had to keep moving because the clock kept ticking. The team maintains its resolve.

England thinks they can cross the final hurdle because they have already passed this point.

This is England, not world champion Spain or Euro 2022 champion Germany who will follow.

“This team is made up of three major championships in a row and the Euros final once more proves that.” We fight until the end, defender Bronze said.