THE comeback queens did it again.
England survived by the skin of their teeth to pull off the ultimate Italian Job and come from behind to triumph 2-1 and reach the final.
ReutersEngland needed extra-time to pull off a dramatic win and reach the Euros final[/caption]
ReutersMichelle Agyemang’s injury-time goal spared England’s blushes to force extra-time[/caption]
AFPChloe Kelly scored her rebounded penalty to send England through with seconds on the clock[/caption]
APThe Italians suffered late heartbreak twice after taking a first-half lead[/caption]
Now it’s just a repeat or revenge mission standing between the Lionesses and retaining the European Championship.
England had 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang to thank as, just like she did against Sweden in the quarters, she came off the bench to the rescue to send it to extra-time.
And it was fellow substitute Chloe Kelly who sealed it even later on to spare them the drama of a penalty shoot-out.
Despite the underwhelming performance, the simple fact is England are a game away from keeping their crown.
And their Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman is looking to complete a unique hat-trick by leading our golden girls to glory and lifting the trophy for a third-consecutive time.
It’s either a date with destiny against Germany, the side they beat in the Euro 2022 final, or a quest for retribution against Spain, who defeated them in the World Cup final two years ago, on Sunday.
But having enjoyed the luck they have so far at the tournament, you could be forgiven for feeling it was their name on the cup.
Following the hugely emotional, and bruising, victory over Sweden, the build up for this one was dominated by the vile racist abuse directed at Jess Carter.
AFPBarbara Bonansea put Italy ahead in the first half.[/caption]
GettyBonansea rifled home a loose ball from inside the box[/caption]
In a call for change, the England squad decided to stop the anti-racism gesture of taking a knee in an attempt to tackle racism another way.
The players selected stood tall just before kick off as Carter linked arms with the rest of the substitutes on the sidelines.
That didn’t stop her name drawing the loudest cheer as the respective line-ups and benches were read out.
Esme Morgan came in for her at the back in the only change from the team that started against the Swedes while Leah Williamson recovered from an ankle knock to take the armband.
Andrea Soncin’s Italy, enjoying their best European Championship since 1997, were the huge underdogs having been thrashed 5-1 the last time these two met.
They also sit eight places below England in the world rankings and last beat them in 2012.
However, as Wiegman will have been fully aware, Le Azzurre are a team on the rise.
Over the past nine months they held world champs Spain to a draw, beaten record eight-time Euro winners Germany in a friendly and were now in a Euro semi for the first time in 28 years.
And, in typical Italian fashion, their defence proved a tough nut to crack as they came within seconds of adding another big scalp to their collection.
Half-chances from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo, whose grandfather immigrated to England from Sicily in the 1950s, was all the holders could muster before the opener.
And the deadlock was broken out of nowhere when a cross, after nice play down the right, proved too awkward for Lucy Bronze to deal with and Barbara Bonansea took a touch and rifled home.
The script had been flipped and the Lionesses had it all to do at the break.
ReutersMichelle Agyemang’s drilled effort drew England level[/caption]
In a frantic opening, Hemp headed over at one end before Sofia Cantore was denied by Hampton at the other.
There was still half an hour left when the Italians started running down the clock but it wasn’t all dirty tactics. And for all the inspirational stories from within the Lionesses camp, the opposition boasted a heroine or two themselves.
None more so than 31-year-old defender Cecilia Salvai, an ever-present at the tournament.
The Juventus ace was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma aged four and now spends her time away from the pitch supporting a charity created to help families deal with serious childhood illnesses. She gave everything here.
Then there was full-back Lucia Di Guglielmo, the brave Gladiator who put it all on the line to almost keep out the Lionesses as she headed Hemp’s header off the line late on.
Emma Severini then squandered the chance to make herself a national hero by shooting straight at Hampton and it proved to be a pivotal moment.
With just seconds left teen sensation Agyemang pounced on a loose ball to send it to extra-time just days after her heroics against Sweden.
She nearly repeated the trick near the end of extra time only for her effort to rattle back off the crossbar.
But it was Chloe, who after a foul on Beth Mead, who secured a spot in Sunday’s showpiece as she slotted home at the second attempt after Laura Giuliani had saved her spot-kick.
ReutersChloe Kelly’s late penalty was saved by Laura Giuliani[/caption]
PAKelly got her toe to her rebounded penalty to win the game with seconds remaining on the clock[/caption]
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