England vs Italia would always be a battle for the last blow of the European Women’s Championship semifinal.

Le Azzurre had stories on their side, never missing in the Lions in the competition in six efforts, while Sarina Wiegman’s team knew they had the beating of their opponents making them aside 5-1 in a friendly in February 2024.

Bronze was making her 35th big tournament of the tournament Englandmoving its level with Jill Scott For union most of all time for lionsses. After starting the last 13 games of women in England, she was now the longest -running leader from a lioness on the tour.

With England being favorites set to win matchIt was not surprising to see them obtain the game from the scratch of the neck from the first whistle, but what they had not clearly factor in their pre-hearing thought was just as the Italians would be determined in their protection.

Three times in half the opening, Lionesses approached the opening of the note, during which time ITALY He had not even touched the ball in the England penalty area.

Bonansea rocked England after half an hour

This would all change in the 32nd minute when Barbara Bonansea rested home on the roof of the net after a quick Italian vacation.

It was their first target goal in the match and doing so, Bonansea became the second oldest player to score in the women’s semifinals in Euro (34 years, 39 days) after Vignotto elisabettaAlso for Italy, in 1989 vs Germany (35 years, 166 days).

Cristiana GirelliThe switch range and the ability to find space in a compressed midfield without Italy to get into the game as it approached half the time, and with the teammate Lucia di guglielmo The conclusion of as many dribbles (three) as any other player in the field combined by rest, the pre-hearing narrative had completely overturned.

Before Girelli had to leave the injured field shortly after the clock, she had made 13 passages in the last third of the field, mostly throughout the Italian team.

England was already returning to the game by then, and shots from Alexwood, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh (x2) and Laurene (x2) were pepper Laura GiulianiThe goal is.

Italy was kept strong despite the constant pressure from England

Greenwood and bronze continued to attack either the Italian wing and give the crosses that we hope to restore the lions with conditions, turning their opponents again as they did.

120 and 108 touch respectively – most of all players in the field – proves how difficult the pair has worked to keep England in the game.

Was stanway with five solutions and Esme Morgan With 10 permits that held Italy in the bay after Le Azzurre continued to oppose England’s most urgent attack.

COME AND Cecilia Salvai kept it together in the back for Le azzurre; However, the pressure from England was constant as they showed 12 and 14 cleaning respectively, as well as 51 crosses.

Despite the clear smart instead of looking for a second goal to seal the victory, Andrea SoncinAnna still reached 19 successful dribbles and were absolutely a threat in the last stages of a game that England had begun to prevail in all respects.

With six to play, Michelle Agyemang came and immediately watched to disturb the tedious Italian protection, which had kept the departure Alessia russo in the breast with relative ease.

The young man’s movement ensured that all four Italian all four could not be resolved. 11 times the possession was won by England in the last third of Italy, but with the time it was over, Lionesses had not yet been able to engineering it a moment to give them a foundation in the game.

Adyemang saves England from specified elimination

With two minutes of injury left over the seven indicated, another cross hope was launched in the Italian box, and for once, Giulian’s treatment was clumsy.

Agyemang was the grateful recipient and her goal only with her second shoot of the game – England’s latest (exception.

While living goes, there could be no better time, and there was a noticeable difference in body language by the Italians at that point.

England was climbing, and of the initial, single goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, Leah Williamson And Morgan failed to remove a blow during the match.

Given that they would win each of their last five tour games that had gone in extra time, Fortune then favored the Wiegman’s squad. And yet, the Italians still produced a back-to-back protective performance to be proud.

Despite being significantly tired of the two teams, Le Azzurre dug deep and found energy reserves from somewhere to keep England in the length of the arm. For example, Elisabetta Oliviero had included himself in 22 duels one -one and gained possession again in 10 separate cases – both high levels – by the end of the game.

Clearly, she and her teammates were not going quietly, but they would suffer the last indignation as just three minutes from the end of the extra time, Ema Severini – who had been a more than capable substitute for scorer Bonansea – was judged to have a foul Beth Mead.

England’s friend’s Sub Chloe Kelly took her shot just to see her escaped by Giulian, but Rebound was kindly and the same player – a hero in the 2022 final against Germany – placed Lionesses in their consecutive European Championship final.

This will either be a match against the Germans or a real test against world champions and tour favorites Spain.