Shy fear machine?! Will this gem decide the final tonight? | OneFootball

Today, in the final of the Women's European Championship 2025, two true heavyweights face off. The reigning champion from England battles the giant Spain for the title. The squads of both nations are filled with superstars of women's football. However, while the Spaniards could once again rely on possibly the best player in the world, Aitana Bonmati, to make the difference in the semifinals against the DFB women, the English team was carried into the final by a player not everyone had on their radar before. Of course, we're talking about Michelle Agyemang.

After the 19-year-old had already pulled the Lionesses out of the mud with her joker goal in the quarterfinals, the striker was also on hand in the semifinals against France in true firefighter fashion. After being substituted in, Agyemang scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time to make it 1-1, saving the English team into extra time, which also went to England thanks to a late goal by Chloe Kelly.

📸 MIGUEL MEDINA - AFP or licensors

It becomes truly curious when you look at how much experience Michelle Agyemang needed to take on the pivotal role of the national team's super-sub. None at all. With all her appearances in the European Championship, the Arsenal player has only played four international matches and scored three times. However, this is no coincidence.

Sarina Wiegmann, the English national coach, said before the tournament that Agyemang would bring something she otherwise doesn't have. The Lionesses' coach emphasized that the striker has such force that she can definitely make the difference as a super-sub. Her teammate Lucy Bronze said about the 19-year-old that she is a true "fear machine" for the opposing exhausted defense lines when she is brought into the game with full power.

📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors

This lovingly dubbed "fear machine" also has a history with Sarina Wiegmann that goes beyond the coach-player relationship. At the sideline debut of the English coach, the then 15-year-old Agyemang was a reserved ball girl at Wembley and witnessed a 4-0 victory of the English team against the neighbor from Northern Ireland.

Four years later, Agyemang's position has changed, but her restraint has not. To this day, she does not celebrate in an extravagant or noticeable way because it somehow feels uncomfortable and almost embarrassing for her. Although, of course, every player is free to celebrate a goal as she wishes, the restraint in celebrating might be difficult this Sunday.

📸 Eddie Keogh - 2025 Getty Images

Although the English team faces a real challenge with Spain, the Lionesses will never give up until the last second. Not as long as they have Michelle Agyemang, who can come in at any time to strike fear into the Spanish defense line. When Sarina Wiegmann will unveil the English secret weapon remains to be seen. If she strikes again, it will be interesting to see if she becomes the understated and shy superstar of the tournament in one of the potentially greatest moments of her career.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Eddie Keogh - 2025 Getty Images