Never-say-die Lionesses need Sarina Wiegman to step up her game in final | OneFootball

England are into another final but their head coach must be more decisive against Spain or Germany

It was a manager’s dream: two substitutes coming on and both scoring last-gasp goals to turn an impending defeat into an unforgettable semi-final victory.

Substitute Chloe Kelly scored an extra-time winner as the Lionesses beat Italy 2-1 to reach the Euro 2025 final

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It took too long for Wiegman to throw the livewire winger onto the field of play. Kelly finally emerged in the 77th minute and immediately England’s tempo rose and their directness increased. Where had she been as England continued to struggle?

It said a lot that one of the limited number of questions one touchline reporter felt it was worth putting to Wiegman after the game was whether she had indeed been too slow to bring her substitutes on.

“I don’t know if I make the changes at the right time,” Wiegman replied. “We thought we played well, got some chances, but the final touch [was missing]. That’s why we waited.”

But it felt unlikely that this “final touch” was going to arrive with the same players on the pitch. Kelly had to be introduced sooner, and if she had been then the second half of normal time might well have been more routine for England and 30 minutes of extra-time not required.

With five minutes of normal time to go, Wiegman introduced Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones for Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson. This was two strikers coming on for one striker and one centre-back - normal practice for the team chasing a game, except the formation had already become a little lop-sided by the introduction of winger Kelly for midfielder Georgia Stanway eight minutes earlier.

Wiegman’s decision to bring two strikers on instead of one was one attacking change too many, even for a side hunting an equaliser, and they were fortunate that Italy tired in extra-time, because the Lionesses were therefore forced to play a 4-2-4 formation for that half-hour period, with Lauren Hemp having to deputise out of position in the unfamiliar role of full-back.

Substitute Michelle Agyemang rescued England with an equaliser deep into stoppage time

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The aftermath of a semi-final victory ought to be a period of immense celebration - and rightly has been - but England know the level ramps up another couple of notches in Sunday’s final when they face either Germany, who they beat in the Euro 2022 final, or their 2023 World Cup final conquerors Spain. Without the Lionesses raising their own level far above how they performed against Sweden and Italy, there is little chance of them defending their European crown.

Yet Wiegman cannot and should not shoulder all the responsibility for the often unsightly football they produced in the quarter-final and semi-final.

Sandwiched in among an understandably jubilant interview at the Stade de Geneve, captain Williamson admitted: “I’m annoyed that we get ourselves into certain situations, miscommunications, or not doing exactly what the plan says.”

Williamson is right to vent her frustration at how straightforward Sweden and Italy found it to put the Lionesses on the back foot in the past two rounds. If they go a goal down to Spain or Germany, it may be another matter entirely, and there might be no coming back from it.

But if Wiegman can react more quickly if the tide changes in that final, and if England play at a level that is closer to their scintillating best, they have enough quality to make themselves double European champions.

One thing is for sure. They will need to tap into the resilience and belief they have accrued over the last two games.