Women's Euro: Is England ready for Italy in the semi-final?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Sarina Wiegman: England's secret weapon to success
After England lost their opening match against France in the 2025 UEFA Women's Euro, there were signs of outbursts and growing concerns among their loyal fanbase, mainly directed at head coach Sarina Wiegman.
The concerns were centered around whether the Dutch manager still has it in her to lead the Lionesses to greater heights. Well, she was quick to react to those who doubted her capabilities as head coach for the women's senior national team.
On the second matchday, this time against the Netherlands, we saw a rejuvenated England side. The main reason behind that change was a different setup in tactics from the one that led to their demise. A tight contest turned into a one-sided affair as they secured a decisive 4-0 win to get their title defense back on track.
Finishing at the top of Group D was the objective in a group dubbed the "group of death." However, there were no complaints, as a 6-1 thrashing of Wales was enough to see them finish as runners-up and book their spot in the knockout stages.
The credits go to head coach Sarina Wiegman and her game-changing tactics. It is safe to say they can dream of more glory days under her leadership, as they are in the semi-final, ready to lock horns with Italy. Find out what our Sportytrader betting experts have to say about this blockbuster meeting in the England vs. Italy prediction.
The Lionesses conquered a resilient Sweden in the quarter-finals
As mentioned above, England finished as runners-up in Group D. This was enough to grant them passage to the knockout stages. In the quarter-finals, their opponents were a resilient Sweden.
It was another moment of heart-stopping suspense because the Lionesses started the game poorly. From sloppy defending that saw them concede two goals in the opening 25 minutes of the first half to barely being a threat in the final third, it was a disastrous display.
However, head coach Sarina Wiegman, with her masterclass tactics, came to the aid of England once again. In the second half, she made four changes, and stability was restored. They looked like a totally different team.
They managed to score two goals and forced Sweden into extra time and ultimately won 3-2 on penalties to secure their spot in the semi-final.
Check out England's numbers in the first and second halves.
| 1st Half | Stats | 2nd Half |
|---|---|---|
| 0.12 | Expected Goals (xG) | 1.92 |
| 58% | Ball Possession | 68% |
| 3 | Total shots | 11 |
| 1 | Shots on target | 3 |
| 60% | Passes in the final third (%) | 81% |
| 0.19 | xG on target (xGOT) | 1.41 |
| 74% | Passes (%) | 81% |
Key player to watch
Teenage sensation Michelle Agyemang played an important role in guiding England to the semi-finals. If it wasn't for Agyemang's equalizer against Sweden, marking her first goal in this competition, then we would be talking a different story. She will hope to give a helping hand again if introduced.
Italy in the semi-finals after a long wait
Italy was placed in Group B with the likes of Spain, Belgium, and Portugal. Just like England, they also finished as runners-up, five points behind table-toppers Spain.
Le Azzurre started the group stages strong, beating Belgium 1-0 in their opening match at Stade Tourbillon in Sion. However, what followed next was not fitting for a country of their calibre.
On the second matchday, they drew 1-1 against Portugal and were outsmarted in a 3-1 defeat against Spain in the final group stage game.
In the quarter-finals, they were wasteful in the final third against Norway, considering they could've won the game by a significant score. At the end of the day, they did get the job done by securing a narrow 2-1 victory courtesy of Cristiana Girelli's brace. This saw them advance to the semi-finals for the first time after 28 years.
Key Player to Watch
The veteran Cristiana Girelli is aiming to finish the competition with a golden booth. She is the joint-second top scorer and is one goal away from matching Spain's leading scorer, Esther Gonzalez.
Final thoughts
England's performance in the 2025 UEFA Women's Euro is unbalanced. At times, they are bad, and one moment, they are very good. The Lionesses, though, have shown that they can adapt to any situation and use it to their advantage to succeed.
Considering that they are in the semi-final goes to show how far they can go when it comes to defending their crown. That said, the answer to the question of whether they are ready to face Italy is a yes.
