England created history in reaching a third consecutive major championship final by beating Italy 2-1 – but Sarina Wiegman’s side continue to ride their luck.
Chloe Kelly came off the bench and scored a 119th minute winner to ensure the reigning champions kept their Euro 2025 hopes alive despite another lacklustre display.
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Barbara Bonansea’s first half strike nearly sent the holders packing, but substitute Michelle Agyemang levelled in stoppage-time.
It meant both sides had to endure another 30 minutes of action, and the Lionesses salvaged an excellent comeback right at the death.
Emma Severini fouled Beth Mead and a penalty was awarded, with Arsenal star Kelly seeing her spot-kick saved, but was first to react to slot home in the follow-up.
England came from behind to win for a second consecutive match, with a penalty shootout quarter-final win over Sweden last week just the start of the drama.
Wiegman and co. mustered another spirited response thanks to the brilliance of Agyemang and Kelly in another match where they were second best.
The Lionesses are now in a third major final in a row – the first time a senior England men’s or women’s side have achieved the feat – having only done reached finals in two of their first 13 appearances in such tournaments beforehand.
talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham was in Geneva for the rollercoaster and dissected the performances from the players and manager.
“Well you know the phrase back from the brink, these Lionesses are reinventing that word, brink,” he said at full-time. “They’re redefining it, we need a new term for what they’re doing at this tournament.
“I mean they’re all smiles, they’re all laughing, you can understand why.
“But Italy will be wondering how on earth they are out, incredible.”
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Shaky Stanway
Georgia Stanway has a depth of experience at club and international level, but was a shadow of her normal self on Tuesday night.
Durham gave her a joint-lowest rating of 3/10 with Alex Greenwood and Beth Mead amid her lack of threat in the midfield.
He said of her display: “She told me she was fit the day before the game, she is not yet back to her normal brilliant self though.”
Another missing spark
Similar to Stanway, Lauren James was unable to impose herself on the match unlike past performances.
The Chelsea star seemingly struggled and could only play for 45 minutes, with Durham handing her a 4/10.
“Off injured at half-time, never grabbed the first half the way we know she can,” he said.
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‘We love her’
England certainly didn’t make things easy and once again, Kelly was on hand to channel her world-class quality with a decisive moment.
She scored the winning goal in the 2022 final against Germany and could now have pushed her country towards a second consecutive Euros title.
“We said we love Chloe Kelly before this game, tonight we love her even more,” said Durham.
Riding her luck
Wiegman has been a sensational appointment for the Lionesses, but her decision-making against Italy – just as it was against Sweden last time out – irked Durham.
With England desperately seeking a way back into the match, she left her substitutions very late in the 77th and 85th minutes.
Another 3/10 was submitted by Durham despite her reaching yet another final at the helm.
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“Subs left ludicrously late again,” he said. “The luckiest coach in the world right now.”
England will now watch Spain and Germany battle it out for the last spot in Sunday’s final.
They play each other on Wednesday night, live on talkSPORT 2.