Wiegman’s England Rally Again to Make Euro 2025 Final | OneFootball

Lionesses Defy Odds to Reach Euro 2025 Final After Breathtaking Campaign

Sarina Wiegman’s side have ridden every twist and turn of a dramatic journey that now sees them competing in a third consecutive major tournament final.

Early Setbacks and Off-Pitch Disruptions

Even before a ball was kicked at Euro 2025, England were facing down adversity. Rather than celebrating their defence of the European crown, the headlines were dominated by off-field issues. Wiegman’s squad selection was rocked by the sudden departure of key veterans.

Goalkeeper Mary Earps announced her shock retirement on 27 May, and was quickly followed by midfielder Fran Kirby a week later. As if that weren’t enough, on the eve of Wiegman’s squad announcement, Millie Bright declared herself unavailable for selection, citing an inability to “give 100% mentally or physically”.

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Between the three of them, they accounted for 217 caps. Losing that level of experience just days before the tournament posed a significant challenge. Wiegman was firm in her public stance, stating there was “no crisis” but privately, preparations were being patched together on the fly.

Hannah Hampton was the only capped goalkeeper travelling to Switzerland, and doubts over leadership were raised. “It’s a challenging period for the group,” said England record goalscorer Ellen White on BBC Radio 5 Live.

From Chaos to Composure in the Group Stage

Thrown into a group featuring former champions France and the 2017 winners Netherlands, England knew their margin for error was paper-thin. Their Euro 2025 campaign started in the worst possible fashion, with a disjointed 2-1 loss to France at Stadion Letzigrund. Wiegman did not sugar-coat the defeat. Her side were “bullied all over the pitch” and “looked like we’ve never played together”.

But as pressure mounted, England delivered. Their tournament lifeline came in the form of a dazzling 4-0 win over the Netherlands. Lauren James stole the show with two goals, supported by efforts from Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone. It was a statement performance that re-ignited belief.

Four days later, confidence soared as Wales were brushed aside 6-1. “There have been many days this tournament where we could have been going home,” said Stanway. “To be staying a few more days is something we can be proud of.”

Finishing second in Group D set up a daunting quarter-final clash with Sweden, the tournament’s form side. The Scandinavians had won all three group matches and conceded just once. England fell 2-0 behind within 25 minutes and appeared on the brink.

Then came the spark. Lucy Bronze struck with 11 minutes left, before teenager Michelle Agyemang netted an equaliser deep into injury time. A rollercoaster penalty shootout ensued. England survived despite four saved spot-kicks, while Sweden failed to convert two golden chances to seal it.

“At least three times I thought we were out,” Wiegman admitted. “I don’t know why, but this team is just incredible. They stick together. They do whatever is necessary to turn around a result like we did. It is so impressive and I’m just really proud to be a part of this team.”

Internal Strength and External Noise

As England regrouped for the semi-finals, the backdrop was once again far from ideal. Jess Carter, a key member of the squad, was the target of racist abuse. In response, the Lionesses released a joint statement and announced they would no longer take a knee before matches, vowing to find a new way to address racism.

Wiegman supported the team’s stance, stating the “impact was not good enough”. Carter was omitted from the starting XI for tactical reasons, with Esme Morgan replacing her. Fans rallied behind Carter, chanting her name in the 16th minute at Stade de Geneve in an act of solidarity.

England’s opponents in the last four were Italy, underdogs ranked eight places below and reaching their first semi-final since 1997. What followed was less a football match and more a script from a Hollywood fantasy.

Barbara Bonansea gave Italy a shock lead in the first half, and England were once again teetering. Only a stunning double save from Hampton kept it at 1-0. With time running out, Wiegman turned to her bench. Agyemang delivered again, scoring in the 95th minute to drag the game into extra time.

Then came the defining moment. Chloe Kelly, who had already seen her penalty saved, was the fastest to react, bundling in the rebound in the 119th minute to spark bedlam in Geneva.

“Then I saw we had seven minutes [of stoppage time] and we had time to create another chance. The clock kept ticking and we had to keep going. The team never gives up,” said Wiegman.

She later added: “We’re going to make a movie some day! Well, this is a movie, my goodness, it’s unbelievable.”

Kelly had earlier signalled to the crowd to “chill out” with a confident celebration after scoring, exuding the very belief that has carried England this far. Her winner was the latest goal in the history of the women’s Euros. Agyemang’s earlier equaliser, clocked at 95:01 minutes, set another tournament record for the latest goal in normal time.

Eyes on the Prize

Now the Lionesses stand on the cusp of greatness. Having navigated what felt like every conceivable obstacle, they are back in another Euro final. It will be either world champions Spain or the ever-dangerous Germany in the final, but for England, belief is unshakable.

“Getting to three major finals in a row and getting to the Euros final again shows what this team is made of. We fight to the end,” said Lucy Bronze.

“It probably wasn’t our best performance again but it just shows the fight that we have and the talent that we have got. It was a rollercoaster of emotions.”

England’s road to the Euro 2025 Final has been anything but straightforward. From off-pitch crises to on-pitch drama, Wiegman’s squad has refused to buckle. Their journey speaks of courage, adaptability and an unbreakable team spirit. And now, with the final looming, the belief in this group runs deeper than ever.

Whether this extraordinary chapter ends in triumph remains to be seen, but whatever the result, the Lionesses have already written themselves into footballing folklore.