For the third time in only five games so far in the ongoing Women’s European Championship, England have been behind heading into the crucial stages, but they’ve so far been able to do the required, and now secured their place in the final.
The Lionesses have become the first defending champions of the tournament to go all the way into the final since Germany in 2013, and if history is to repeat itself on Sunday, they will be crowned champions for the second time in their history.
In the five previous instances where the defending champions have reached the Women’s Euros final, they’ve gone on to win it โ with Germany being the case study in all five instances between 1997 and 2013.
It hasn’t been smooth, but they’ve managed to avoid being smothered โ and now, they are one step away from achieving greatness, thanks to their resilience. Yes, this team has put their fans through all the emotions, but they simply refuse to give up.
Their never say die attitude has not only made them winners but as well masters of adversities, with records now falling in their wake, and the dreams that was reachable for opponents have become failed attempts. Down the drain.
Their teamwork has been extraordinary. Every player in the squad not only understands their role but also embraces it, making essential contributions to ensure that their dream becomes a destination.
Rough, Resilience, & Roar | Lioness Remains With Pride
It has been dramatic from their first game to this stage. Lioness fans have experienced a range of emotions in Switzerland, from sick to slick and sleek, but one thing is clear: it has been worth it.
Now one step away from glory, here is how Sarina Wiegman and her charges have gone about survival and getting to the business end of the tournament.
First Game | First Defending Champions to Lose Their Opening Game
It was not a good start to the tournament for Sarina Wiegman’s charge, as they fell in their opening game against France, losing 2-1 after conceding two goals just before the end of the first half.
They returned after the interval to put up a better showing but remained vulnerable, as France continuously took advantage of their desperation. Though they did manage to pull one back through Kiera Walsh, they still lost 2-1.
They became the first defending champions to lose their opening game since the extension of the entrants to eight teams in 1997.
Second Game | Alessia Russo & The Netherlands’ Biggest Loss
The result left them in an awkward position, because also in their group was another heavyweight in the Netherlands. But they displayed a sleek performance and blew the Dutch away in a 4-0 win in their second game, leaving themselves well poised to reach the knockouts.
In that game, striker Alessia Russo made history, as she became the first-ever to register a hat-trick of assists in Women’s European Championship history on record (since 2013), as per Opta.
It was also the Netherlands’ heaviest loss in a competitive tournament.
Third Game | Sarina Wiegman & Ella Toone Records
Another thrilling performance followed in their final group game as they walloped their fellow Brit by six goals to one to ensure that they finished as runner-up to France, who ended with a perfect record.
With the win, Lioness boss Sarina Wiegman surpasses the record for most win as manager in the competition’s history with her 14th, which took her above previous holder of the record, Tina Theune.
In the win, Ella Toone set a record as the only player on record (since 2013) to score a goal, assist a goal, and complete 100 percent of her passes in a Womenโs European Championship match (one goal, two assists, 20/20 passes completed).
Knockout Stage Dramas
Quarter-final | Historical Comeback
All and sundry thought the team was heading for the exit in the quarter-final, after going two goals behind to Sweden as early as the opening 25 minutes and having no response as late as 12 minutes to go.
But with the introduction of Chloe Kelly, Michelle Agyemang, and Beth Mead, they found strength again, scoring twice in the span of 103 seconds to become the first team in the history of the competition to overcome a two-goal deficit in a knockout game.
The game went to extra time, and again, their sloppiness was there to see. They would count themselves lucky that the Swedes strangely proved the worse in a penalty shoot-out that saw only five attempts out of 14 find the back of the net.
Semi-final | Latest Goal in WEURO History
England, again, went behind in the first half as Barbara Bonansea’s strike gave Italy the lead against the run of play just after the half-hour.
Substitute Michelle Agyemang scored in the 90+6th minute in injury time to force extra time, where another substitute Chloe Kelly scored the latest goal in the history of the competition from a penalty rebound in the 119th minute to send them into the final.
Fellow substitute Beth Mead was brought down in the box by Emma Severini in what was a controversial call. Kelly stepped up but saw her initial trademark penalty saved by Laura Giuliani. She reacted quickly to score from the rebound and complete the comeback.
The result sends England to a third straight final across all major tournaments, becoming only the third nation to do so after Germany (twice) and Norway.
They await the winner of the second semi-final between last edition’s beaten finalists Germany and world champions Spain, in what promises to be another memorable clash.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
