England’s Lionesses secured a place in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final after a rollercoaster night in Geneva, completing a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Italy. Twice trailing during the knockouts, first in the quarter final penalty shootout against Sweden and then with Italy until the dying moments, the Lionesses once again showed they’ll fight until the end.
Route to the Final
Group Stage & Quarter-Final
England were drawn in Group C alongside France, the Netherlands, and Wales. And as the reigning Euros champions, the Lionesses were tipped to breeze through the group according to sports betting online. After losing their opening fixture to France 2-1, England roared back with a 4-0 win over the Netherlands and a 6-1 demolition of Wales. This was enough to secure them a second-place finish in Group C behind France, setting up a quarter-final clash with Sweden.
The match against Sweden couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start, with England behind on two minutes, and 2-0 down after twenty-five. However, two goals in three minutes levelled the tie, with Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang on target. It was 2-2 at the end of normal time and extra time, so a penalty shootout was needed to separate the two nations, with England winning 3-2.
Semi-Final vs Italy
The semi-final clash started ominously: Italy took the lead through Barbara Bonansea, exposing vulnerabilities in England’s set-up. Despite dominating possession and the shots stats, the Lionesses failed to create the clear-cut chances required, and they looked to be heading towards defeat.
However, in the 96th minute, 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang was again on hand to rescue England, scoring the latest of levellers and forcing extra time. Then, from a late penalty awarded after Beth Mead was fouled, Chloe Kelly struck again, rebounding her own saved spot kick in the 119th minute to seal the win.
Chances in the Final
England now prepare for the final in Basel on July 27, where they’ll either face Spain, the favourites to lift the trophy as indicated by online football betting, or Germany, a team the Lionesses have a long history with, after defeating them in the last Euros final.
The reality is, Spain are favourites to win the tournament for a reason. They have a star-studded squad, they’ve won every game convincingly at Euro 2025, and they’re unbeaten since February.
The last time Spain lost was actually against England in the Nations League, so this will give them confidence if it’s Spain they come up against. If it’s Germany, the Lionesses know they’ve defeated them on this stage before. And it’s winning on this stage that could ultimately make all the difference in the final.
Final Thoughts
The Lionesses’ journey to the Euro 2025 final has been defined by drama, determination, and character. With late, late showings from Agyemang and Kelly, there will be a belief in the camp that they’re never beaten, regardless of the situation and how long is left on the clock.
England are now poised to become the first nation since Germany to retain the Euros trophy, in a final against Germany or Spain, and if recent Lioness fixtures are anything to go by, it should be a thrilling conclusion to what has been a gripping tournament.
