Soccer
Lucy Bronze hailed England’s ability to dig deep after super-subs Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly fired them to a 2-1 win over Italy and into the Euro 2025 final.
The Lionesses were staring at a stunning end to their title defence as they entered the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time still trailing to Barbara Bonansea’s close-range finish.
However, Agyemang pounced on a parry from Italy goalkeeper Laura Giuliani to send the tie to extra time, scoring the latest England goal on record – excluding extra time – in the history of the Women’s Euros (since 2013).
And in the 119th minute, Kelly converted the rebound of her own saved penalty to score the latest goal ever netted at any edition of the tournament.
England are just the third European team to reach the finals of three consecutive major tournaments (World Cup/Euros), after Germany (three, 1995-1997 and five, 2001-2009) and Norway (five, 1987-1993).
“We don’t do things the easy way it seems in this tournament, but we find a way to win,” Bronze told ITV Sport.
“Whether that’s the 96th minute, and then the 119th minute… we just dig deep and find a way to get the goals.
“We showed resilience in the last game, Italy played a good game in the first half today, but we showed resilience and fight to get back into it, as we have so much at this tournament.
“We looked a little bit lethargic once we got going, and then they got the goal. Being 1-0 down in a semi-final isn’t easily to take mentally.”
119 – In the 119th minute, England’s Chloe Kelly has scored the latest goal in UEFA Women’s EURO history. Heroine. pic.twitter.com/TD9tqaF9FV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 22, 2025
England are the first team to progress from both the quarter-final and semi-final in a single edition of the Women’s Euros after conceding first.
They have also scored more goals via substitutes than any other team at Euro 2025, with five, leading Bronze to laud their options off the bench.
“You’ve seen it in so many tournaments now how much of a difference our substitutions make,” the right-back said.
“We don’t make many changes to the starting XI but the ones who come on make a massive difference. It adds fresh legs, enthusiasm and tenaciousness.
“There’s been a lot of criticism over the years about the consistency of the England team, and I can understand that, from the point of view that we don’t always win.
“But what other team has got to three finals in a row, or six semi-finals in a row? The fight, the talent, everything we have in this England team is unbelievable. To get to back-to-back European finals is not an easy feat. Not many teams have done that.”
Sending us to the final…
Chloe Kelly. CHAOS.
pic.twitter.com/MwqqHAGAEe— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 22, 2025
Matchwinner Kelly, meanwhile, acknowledged her extra-time penalty was a weak one but was simply relieved to get a second chance.
She said: “It’s unbelievable. Such a great feeling, this team deserve nothing but that. Three finals on the bounce but we want more. It’s an unbelievable feeling.
“It wasn’t supposed to go like that, the penalty, but I was just ready for the rebound! I was confident but the goalkeeper did her homework. We keep practicing our penalties and luckily, I got there for the tap-in.”
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