The Lionesses of England have advanced to the final of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, following a dramatic 2–1 extra-time victory over Italy on Monday, July 22, at the Stade de Genève in Switzerland.
Italy opened the scoring through Barbara Bonansea in the first half, after capitalising on a defensive lapse from the English side.
England, who struggled to convert chances for most of the game, eventually equalised deep into stoppage time through teenage sensation Michelle Agyemang, sending the game into extra time.
Agyemang’s goal came in the 96th minute, marking her second crucial strike of the tournament after rescuing England in the quarter-final against Sweden.
“She has something special,” head coach Sarina Wiegman said of the 19-year-old forward, who replaced captain Leah Williamson late in the match.
Kelly’s Historic Winner and Wiegman’s Record
With penalties looming, Chloe Kelly stepped up in the 119th minute.
Although her initial penalty was saved by Italian keeper Laura Giuliani, she reacted quickest to slot in the rebound, sparking wild celebrations and sealing England’s place in the final.
She went on to win the Woman Player of the match.
The result means England will play in their second consecutive Women’s Euro final, aiming to defend the title they won in 2022.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman also made history by becoming the first coach—male or female—to reach five consecutive international tournament finals.
She previously led the Netherlands and England to finals in the 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023 tournaments.
Italy’s exit was marked by emotion, with Cristiana Girelli leaving the pitch in tears due to a second-half injury that cut short her tournament. Despite their strong defensive effort, the Azzurre missed out on their first final appearance since 1997.
Social and Fan Reactions
The win sparked huge engagement across social media, with fans celebrating Agyemang’s performance and Kelly’s clutch finish.
The official UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 pages reported record online interaction under the hashtag #WEURO2025, while Wembley screenings and public fan zones across the UK were flooded with support.
England defender Jess Carter, who previously paused her social media accounts due to racial abuse earlier in the tournament, was notably supported by Italy’s players pre-match, in a strong public stance against discrimination in football.
The teams also chose not to take the knee, stating that “football needs to find another way to tackle racism.”
What’s Next?
England will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Germany and Spain, scheduled for July 24, with the final set to take place on July 27 at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
The Lionesses are aiming to become only the second team in history to win back-to-back Women’s Euro titles, after Germany’s six-title streak from 1995 to 2013.
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