This time they needed only one penalty, although even that came with complications. England are through to the Euro 2025 final and, in keeping with the white-knuckle nature of their tournament, that tells only a fraction of the story.
Sarina Wiegman’s team were moments from losing against an unfancied Italy who had played the role of underdog to perfection, holding on to their first-half lead with an exemplary tactical performance. England looked down and out until Michelle Agyemang, the young Arsenal striker, seized on a loose ball and finished clinically in injury time. The Lionesses had got out of jail again and the breaks did not end there.
Half an hour of extra time had almost ticked down, the spectre of a second consecutive penalty shootout looming ominously. England had scraped through their quarter-final by that means in a deeply flawed epic against Sweden and few inside a tense, taut Stade de Genève had any appetite to endure that maelstrom of emotions again. Then Beth Mead was fouled in the Italy box: it was a needless offence and England had their shot at glory, although their past record from the spot meant it came with precious few guarantees.
The usually reliable Chloe Kelly stepped up but her strike was parried by Laura Giuliani. Time stood still as the ball ran loose and Kelly, characteristically sharp, got there first to sweep in a winner England had barely deserved. Wiegman, a concerned figure on the touchline for much of the night as her players stared down the barrel of elimination, leapt into the air. England’s substitutes and support staff tore down the touchline and minds raced giddily enough to wonder whether it is written in the stars that they retain their European Championship title.
To do that they must beat either Germany or the hot favourites, Spain, on Sunday. Their opponents will be known on Wednesday night and the one certainty is that they must perform more cohesively than they managed for long periods here. Agyemang had also bailed them out with a late equaliser against the Swedes; she has written herself into England folklore at the age of 19 but there will surely be less margin for error against one of the continent’s superpowers.
Legends are made on nights such as this. England’s travelling supporters celebrated deliriously long after the final whistle; huge sections of the venue had already dissolved into a mush of limbs when Agyemang struck. Those fans will be able to march proudly, expectantly, one last time before the tournament decider in Basel.
Hundreds of them had assembled at a fanzone near Lancy-Pont-Rouge station to take the mile-long walk towards the stadium, counting down before setting off at 6.45pm to trumpets and beating drums. There had been plenty to entertain them while they waited, including an impromptu limbo dancing competition between tied-together English and Italian flags. This being Geneva, food stalls selling chips and hot dogs were joined by another offering oysters, salmon tartare and moules frites.
Waving their unmistakable Tricolour, a section of Italy fans snaked their way through England’s contingent to begin a march of their own. They were greeted by good-natured boos; in truth, both camps had mixed amenably throughout the afternoon, in keeping with the playful but passionate feeling fostered all month.
Among those gathered were Sam and Beth from Worthing in West Sussex. They marched holding a flag, emblazoned with Brighton & Hove Albion’s crest, that bore the words “We stand with Jess”. The phrase referred to Jess Carter, the England defender who had opened up during the weekend about the horrific racist abuse she has recently experienced via social media.
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“It has to be said,” Sam explained of her supportive message, which she had painted the previous day in the pair’s Airbnb. She predicted a morale-boosting 4-0 win for England, although they both noted the stress of that Sweden rollercoaster. They could not quite have expected a similar blend of agony and ecstasy this time.
Before the game Wiegman had warned against complacency. The message was pressed home that, should anyone be expecting a free pass to the final, a rude awakening lay in store. But England were sloppy in the first half, missing chances against Andrea Soncin’s fiery competitors and going behind to a well-executed blast from Barbara Bonansea.
Their efforts to claw a route back appeared to have stalled and they needed to thank their goalkeeper Hannah Hampton for a remarkable double save before Agyemang’s intervention. Hampton is another hero to have emerged from the past three weeks and joined her teammates in the melee when England’s place in the final was confirmed.
They celebrated with pizza while friends and family, undeterred by the stadium’s dimming lights, soaked it all in long after the end. The biggest moment of awe and wonder may, against the odds, be yet to come.
