England faces dark horse Italy with sights set on Euro final

GENEVA — Having come back from the brink of elimination against Sweden in the last eight, England will hope to live up to its billing as tournament favorite when it faces Italy in the semifinals of Women's Euro 2025 on Tuesday.

The holder is tantalizingly close to another major tournament final, with a showdown next Sunday against either Germany or world champion Spain the reward for Sarina Wiegman's team should it get the better of the Azzurre in Geneva.

The Lionesses could be forgiven for feeling that their name is on the trophy after the dramatic nature of their victory over Sweden in Zurich on Thursday.

England was 2-0 down late on, but two goals in the space of three minutes forced extra time before it eventually triumphed 3-2 in a remarkable penalty shoot-out.

Now, it finds itself in a sixth consecutive semifinal between Women's Euros and World Cups, and it would be a shock if it slipped up against Italy.

Ranked 13th in the world, the Italians are surprise semifinalists, while the Lionesses are where they were expected to be, as they look to repeat their triumph at Euro 2022, of which they were hosts.

"I really had a sense throughout the game, even when we were down, that it wasn't our time to go," defender Esme Morgan told English media this weekend, as she reflected on the unlikely comeback against Sweden.

"I thought about three times that we were out," admitted Wiegman, who remains on course to win a third consecutive Women's Euros having guided her native Netherlands to victory on home soil in 2017, before triumphing with England in 2022.

England has been exposed against top-level opposition at this European Championship, though, having been defeated by France in its opening group game, before being torn apart in the first half against Sweden.

But, the nature of its recovery in the latter match, inspired by substitutes Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly, will give it confidence, as will its recent record against Italy.

England won 5-1 when the nations last met in a friendly in Spain in February last year, and ran out a 2-1 victor a year earlier in the Arnold Clark Cup in Coventry.

Italy finished second in its group behind Spain, but then got the better of Norway in the quarterfinals with veteran Cristiana Girelli scoring twice, including a last-minute winner.

Now, it is in the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time since the 1997 Euros.

"It's exciting, because we are going to face the reigning champion," defender Martina Lenzini told reporters at the Italian team's base near Lucerne.

"Getting to the semifinals for us is a result in itself, a bit unexpected in the eyes of others and by everyone around us, but we believed we could do this.

"We are always humble, but we were aware that we could get to this stage and have the chance to face a team of this caliber."

The holder's preparations for the match were rocked by revelations that defender Jess Carter had been the victim of racist abuse, which led to the English FA alerting police.

"From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racial abuse," Carter, who has 49 caps, wrote on her social media accounts.

"Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and results, I don't agree or think it's OK to target someone's appearance or race."

Meanwhile, England has been hoping that captain Leah Williamson will be fit, after being forced off with an ankle injury against Sweden — her fellow defender Morgan said over the weekend the team was "very optimistic" she will be available.

AFP