They went on to win a dramatic 2-1 win against Italy in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-final. The contest opened on July 22, 2025 at the Stade de Geneve in Lancy, Switzerland. A raucous crowd of 26,539 fans packed the stands, both home and away, ready for the fireworks. With this shock victory, England found themselves in their third consecutive major tournament final.
The game opened up with both teams intent on attacking. England’s Michelle Agyemang opened the scoring early in the game, providing a spark that was crucial for her team’s confidence. Italy came out fighting, equalizing soon after as Barbara Bonansea took control before coolly slotting the ball beyond England’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
Even though England scored first, Italy appeared more energetic for the majority of the match, featuring powerful midfield dominance and intensity in the press. One back-to-back shot in the 86th minute from Michela Cambiaghi and Emma Severini of the Azzurre almost gave them the lead. Hampton pulled off an incredible double save to keep the match level.
By the end of regulation time, it was England who were on the defensive. But in a dramatic twist, they leveled the match with mere seconds remaining in regulation. This amazing strike sent the match to overtime. Chloe Kelly celebrates with teammates after playing a crucial role in England’s comeback. This time, rather than simply getting her original penalty saved, she immediately followed up and scored from the rebound. But this goal gave the world a glimpse into Lauren James’ genius, and it bottled up England’s resilience.
With both sides fighting fatigue during extra time, England had the chance and took it. No doubt Chloe Kelly proved her heroics once more! She scored a dramatic late winner and sent the English fans into a tizzy. Her work as a short-term substitute made all the difference. Coach Sarina Wiegman’s choice to sub both her and Agyemang onto the pitch was a game changer.
Throughout the match, England’s Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood made several attempts on goal but could not convert their chances. In fact, the first half was all about Russo and Lauren James almost scoring. 【17†source】 They almost doubled England’s lead within minutes. Italy’s backline stood strong until the final minutes of the match.
England’s head coach Sarina Wiegman commended her side on their efforts in bouncing back and performing under pressure. Yet it was the players who displayed extraordinary calm, even when Italy began to look more dangerous than England. In the end, Wiegman’s substitutions became central to impacting the course of the match and waking up a seemingly defeated team.
This win marks another big win for England, restorative justice. In doing so, they are confidently stamping their name on the list of Europe’s elite. From rout to route, the road that leads to Euro 2025 final underscores their sheer will to win and compete globally at all costs.
