England v Italy
UEFA Women's EURO 2025, Semi-Final
8pm BST, Tuesday 22 July 2025
Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland

Sarina Wiegman and Georgia Stanway addressed the media on Monday evening ahead of England’s semi-final against Italy on Tuesday night.

Here is what they had to say.

Wiegman on England potentially being favourites:

I think it would be really disrespectful to Italy to think that we’re the favourites. They made the semi-final just like we did and that’s very impressive for any team that makes a semi-final. Complacency is the biggest mistake you could make. We’ve seen how they’ve played, so I don’t think there’s anything that we could think that we might be the favourite but we have to be at our very, very best to win the game.

On the difference between friendlies and tournament football:

It's very competitive. We’re now into the fifth game of the tournament and both into the semi-final then something happens with teams, so it’s going to be really, really competitive. I don’t think you can prepare with the games we’ve played against them.

On how the team are recovering:

We were just really happy that we had an extra day compared to all the other games that we’ve played so far, so this extra day really helped us and we’re in the stage now where tomorrow when we have to play, we’re ready.

On practicing penalties:

Of course, over the last months, you know that when you go into a tournament and come in the knockout stage, you can go to penalties. Players train penalties all the time, also at club. You just want to be as prepared as possible but also have that process from going into a penalty shootout and what you can expect. Hopefully it’s not necessary but we’ve practiced again.

We're LIVE with Sarina Wiegman and Georgia Stanway as they preview tomorrow’s #WEURO2025 semi-final against Italy. https://t.co/oG8HBWBFlz

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 21, 2025

Stanway on the vulnerability within the group:

Being vulnerable is probably one of the most important things because it brings the group so much closer together. When times are tough on the pitch, you want to be able to rely on your mate and you want to be able to look at them in both good and bad and understand that you’re both on the right journey and you’re both on the right path to exactly what you want at the end which is to win. We’ve talked a lot about vulnerability and we’ve talked a lot about opening our arms up and recognising who’s next to us and having the belief in the people that are next to you.

On the progression of her role:

It's just something that’s kind of happened naturally. I’m a midfielder and I wouldn’t say I’ve got many super strengths but I’d say I was a little bit of a good all-rounder. You can put me on the left, put me on the right and I’ll do exactly the same job. I think if anything this tournament, I’ve learnt a little bit more discipline. I’m happy to move around for my team-mates, link up with them and whatever’s required from Sarina, I’ll put a shift in.

On the importance of substitutes:

I think it’s just credit to the whole of England in terms of us getting this far, the squad, the depth that we have and just how important it is to have such depth in the team that brings such quality. You can see it in the games that we’ve played so far and how important the substitutes have been. Utilising it is the most important thing. They’ve come on, they’ve scored, they’ve made a difference, exactly like the EUROs last time.

On returning to action after an injury:

I still have to pinch myself. I do feel like I’m super grateful to be here. I think when you are out injured and from the Spain game before that, it was probably six or seven months before I’d even played. In that time, you do realise how much you enjoy going to work every day, how much you enjoy stepping out on the grass. I really, really missed it but you almost just slot back in. It feels like the time hasn’t gone now I’m in this situation. I’m grateful that Sarina had trust in me to fight through those months. It wasn’t easy but at the end of it, it’s worth it when we’re about to play tomorrow. I feel faster, fitter, stronger than I’ve ever felt before.

Italy in profile

Nickname: Le Azzurre
Coach: Andrea Soncin
Captain: Cristiana Girelli
UEFA Women's EURO best performance: Runners-up in 1993 and 1997
FIFA Women's World Cup best performance: Quarter-finals in 1991 and 2019
Last encounter: England 5-1 Italy, 28 February 2024

 

Match stats

 

● England have won seven of their last 10 games in all competitions against Italy (D1 L2), although they’ve lost each of the two head-to-heads at the UEFA Women’s EURO – in 1987 and 2009 (both 1-2).

● In 32 previous meetings between England and Italy in all competitions, none have ended goalless and only two of those 32 have seen only one goal scored – a 1-0 win for England in 1977 and 1-0 win for Italy in 2003.

● England will play in their seventh UEFA Women’s EURO semi-final, having progressed from 50% of their previous six (3), including two of the last three (in 2009 and 2022).

● Italy have reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s EURO for the first time since EURO 1997, when they beat Spain 2-1 before losing to Germany in the final. The Italians have progressed from both of their last two semi-final ties (also EURO 1993), having been eliminated from each of their first four at the tournament.

● England are the first reigning champions to reach a UEFA Women’s EURO semi-final since Germany back in 2013 – on the last five occasions the reigning champions have featured in the semi-finals they have gone on to reach the final (Germany in 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013), with Norway the last to be eliminated in 1995 (lost 7-5 on aggregate to Sweden).

● Italy have opened the scoring in all four of their UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 games so far, having only gone 1-0 up in three of their 18 matches in the competition prior. The only three teams to score first in all three of their group stage games, the quarter-final and semi-final are Norway at EURO 2013, Netherlands at EURO 2017 and Germany at EURO 2022.

● Despite only playing 126 minutes and not yet starting a game at the 2025 UEFA Women’s EURO, only two England players have created more chances than Chloe Kelly (6), while she’s also made the joint most successful crosses (6). Kelly has made the joint most sub appearances in EURO history (10, level with Denmark’s Nadia Nadim).

● England manager Sarina Wiegman is looking to reach her third UEFA Women’s EURO final (2017 with Netherlands, 2022 with England), becoming the fourth manager ever to do so, along with Gero Bisanz (1989, 1991, 1995 with Germany), Even Pellerud (1991, 1993, 2013 with Norway) and Christina Theune-Meyer (1997, 2001, 2005 with Germany), with the latter the only to do so in three consecutive tournaments.

● With her brace in the quarter-final against Norway, Italy’s Cristiana Girelli (35y 84d) became the oldest European player to score twice in a major tournament match (World Cup/EURO); meanwhile only Carolina Morace (12) has scored more goals for the nation in those tournaments than Girelli, with three of her eight goals coming with her head.

● Lucy Bronze has been directly involved in seven goals (4 goals, 3 assists) for England in 2025 – her best tally in a calendar year, while only Beth Mead and Alessia Russo (both 8) have been involved in more goals this year for the Lionesses.

Sarina Wiegman and Georgia Stanway addressed the media on Monday evening ahead of England’s semi-final against Italy on Tuesday night.

Here is what they had to say.

Wiegman on England potentially being favourites:

I think it would be really disrespectful to Italy to think that we’re the favourites. They made the semi-final just like we did and that’s very impressive for any team that makes a semi-final. Complacency is the biggest mistake you could make. We’ve seen how they’ve played, so I don’t think there’s anything that we could think that we might be the favourite but we have to be at our very, very best to win the game.

On the difference between friendlies and tournament football:

It's very competitive. We’re now into the fifth game of the tournament and both into the semi-final then something happens with teams, so it’s going to be really, really competitive. I don’t think you can prepare with the games we’ve played against them.

On how the team are recovering:

We were just really happy that we had an extra day compared to all the other games that we’ve played so far, so this extra day really helped us and we’re in the stage now where tomorrow when we have to play, we’re ready.

On practicing penalties:

Of course, over the last months, you know that when you go into a tournament and come in the knockout stage, you can go to penalties. Players train penalties all the time, also at club. You just want to be as prepared as possible but also have that process from going into a penalty shootout and what you can expect. Hopefully it’s not necessary but we’ve practiced again.

We're LIVE with Sarina Wiegman and Georgia Stanway as they preview tomorrow’s #WEURO2025 semi-final against Italy. https://t.co/oG8HBWBFlz

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 21, 2025

Stanway on the vulnerability within the group:

Being vulnerable is probably one of the most important things because it brings the group so much closer together. When times are tough on the pitch, you want to be able to rely on your mate and you want to be able to look at them in both good and bad and understand that you’re both on the right journey and you’re both on the right path to exactly what you want at the end which is to win. We’ve talked a lot about vulnerability and we’ve talked a lot about opening our arms up and recognising who’s next to us and having the belief in the people that are next to you.

On the progression of her role:

It's just something that’s kind of happened naturally. I’m a midfielder and I wouldn’t say I’ve got many super strengths but I’d say I was a little bit of a good all-rounder. You can put me on the left, put me on the right and I’ll do exactly the same job. I think if anything this tournament, I’ve learnt a little bit more discipline. I’m happy to move around for my team-mates, link up with them and whatever’s required from Sarina, I’ll put a shift in.

On the importance of substitutes:

I think it’s just credit to the whole of England in terms of us getting this far, the squad, the depth that we have and just how important it is to have such depth in the team that brings such quality. You can see it in the games that we’ve played so far and how important the substitutes have been. Utilising it is the most important thing. They’ve come on, they’ve scored, they’ve made a difference, exactly like the EUROs last time.

On returning to action after an injury:

I still have to pinch myself. I do feel like I’m super grateful to be here. I think when you are out injured and from the Spain game before that, it was probably six or seven months before I’d even played. In that time, you do realise how much you enjoy going to work every day, how much you enjoy stepping out on the grass. I really, really missed it but you almost just slot back in. It feels like the time hasn’t gone now I’m in this situation. I’m grateful that Sarina had trust in me to fight through those months. It wasn’t easy but at the end of it, it’s worth it when we’re about to play tomorrow. I feel faster, fitter, stronger than I’ve ever felt before.

England Squad News

 

Ticket Information for England women v Italy at EURO 2025

 

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Where to watch or stream England women v Italy?

 

This game will be broadcast in the UK on ITV.

Sarina Wiegman has named her team to face Italy in the semi-final of EURO 2025.

Esme Morgan comes into the starting XI in place of Jess Carter, with the Washington Spirit defender making her first start at the tournament.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton, 2 Lucy Bronze, 4 Keira Walsh, 5 Alex Greenwood, 6 Leah Williamson (C), 7 Lauren James, 8 Georgia Stanway, 10 Ella Toone, 11 Lauren Hemp, 15 Esme Morgan, 23 Alessia Russo

Substitutes: 3 Niamh Charles, 9 Beth Mead, 12 Maya Le Tissier, 13 Anna Moorhouse, 14 Grace Clinton, 16 Jess Carter, 17 Michelle Agyemang, 18 Chloe Kelly, 19 Aggie Beever-Jones, 20 Jess Park, 21 Khiara Keating, 22 Lotte Wubben-Moy

England proved they are never beaten once more, as Chloe Kelly struck deep into extra-time to send the Lionesses into a third consecutive major tournament final with a 2-1 extra-time win over Italy in the UEFA EURO 2025 semi-final in Geneva.

Despite the Lionesses controlling long stretches of the first half, Italy struck first as Barbara Bonansea rifled home at the far post to give England plenty to do after the break.

But once more Sarina Wiegman’s substitutes kept them in the game, as Michelle Agyemang kept her composure to score the equaliser six minutes into added time.

And with one minute left of added time, Le Azzurre conceded a penalty that Kelly saw saved at the first time of asking but powered home the rebound to send England to the EURO 2025 Final.

Both sides struggled for clear cut chances in the opening exchanges, but it was the pace of Lauren Hemp who created the first real opportunity of the game on the ten-minute mark.

Bursting past two Italy players, she exchanged a smart one-two with Georgia Stanway to race in behind and find Lauren James in the box, whose shot went straight at Laura Giuliani.

In an opening 30 minutes short of chances, Alessia Russo offered Lionesses fans the best chance at goal in the 19th minute.

England worked the ball into her feet in the box, where she was swarmed by green shirts but wriggled away to take fire a low shot just wide of the right post on the turn.

But it was against the run of play that Italy took the lead in the 33rd minute, as Sofia Cantore charged forward down the right and England failed to deal with the resulting cross.

Lucy Bronze couldn't get sufficient contact to stop the ball flying all the way out to Bonansea on the left of the box, who controlled well before rifling a shot past Hannah Hampton.

The goal finally brought a renewed energy to England, as Russo held up the ball on the halfway line to thread Hemp in behind. She found James in the box, who saw Giuliani palm her placed shot off to the right at a reach.

Hemp had a flurry of great chances after the break, first connecting with a brilliant Ella Toone cross from deep to head just over before clipping a shot from close-range straight into Giuliani’s hands.

England kept pushing but found the Italian back five increasingly difficult to penetrate as Le Azzurre packed bodies behind the ball and a pinball in the box deflected wide off Russo with 15 minutes to go.

As the final whistle approached, chances increased at both ends. Italy headed just over before Bronze saw her header back across goal cleared off the line.

England were lucky to escape conceding a second moments later as once more they struggled to clear in the box.

Emma Severini struck twice from close-range but Hampton was on hand to save the first shot which ricocheted off her before the rebound was struck straight back at her.

But when all hope seemed to be lost, it was Agyemang who delivered once more. Mead took down a cross from the right before cutting back for the 19 year old, who showed brilliant composure to wait before slotting the equaliser home in the 96th minute to take the game to extra-time.

Kelly showed intent after the restart jinxing past four Italy players to cut into the box and launch a shot just wide of the far post as England continued to pepper the box with crosses but to little avail.

Agyemang nearly proved England’s saviour once more when she broke through on goal with four minutes remaining only to see her clipped shot rebound off the crossbar.

But moments later, Mead was hauled to the floor in the box, with the referee immediately pointing to the spot.

Kelly stepped up to take and while she saw her first attempt saved by Giuliani who guessed correctly to her right, she made no mistake to power home the rebound to send England into the EURO 2025 Final.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton (Chelsea); 2 Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), 6 Leah Williamson (Arsenal), 15 Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), 5 Alex Greenwood (Manchester City); 10 Ella Toone (Manchester United), 4 Keira Walsh (Chelsea), 8 Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich); 7 Lauren James (Chelsea), 23 Alessia Russo (Arsenal), 11 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)

Subs: 9 Beth Mead (Arsenal) for James 46, 18 Chloe Kelly (Arsenal) for Stanway 78, 17 Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal) for Williamson 85, 19 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea) for Russo 85, 14 Grace Clinton (Manchester United) for Walsh 106, 16 Jess Carter (Gotham FC) for Greenwood 120

Subs not used: 13 Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), 21 Khiara Keating (Manchester City), 3 Niamh Charles (Chelsea), 12 Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), , 20 Jess Park (Manchester City), 22 Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Goals: Agyemang 90+6, Kelly 119

Italy: 1 Laura Giuliani; 2 Elisabetta Oliviero, 19 Martina Lenzini, 23 Cecilia Salvai, 5 Elena Linari, 3 Lucia Di Guglielmo; 7 Sofia Cantore, 18 Arianna Caruso, 6 Manuela Giugliano, 11 Barbara Bonansea; 10 Cristiana Girelli

Subs: 9 Martina Piemonte for Girelli 64, 21 Michela Cambiaghi for Cantore 73, 8 Emma Severini 73, 20 Giada Greggi for Giugliano 89, 13 Julie Piga

Subs not used: 12 Rachele Baldi, 22 Francesca Durante, 4 Eva Schatzer, 14 Valentina Bergamaschi, 15 Annamaria Serturini, 16 Eleonora Goldoni, 17 Lisa Boattin,

Goals: Bonansea 33