Women's Euro 2025 final: Sarina Wiegman must be bolder as England bid to make history | OneFootball

Boss should trust her supersubs from the start to guide the Lionesses to glory again

Sarina Wiegman and England dream of retaining their European crown on Sunday — but one coronation has already taken place. The Lionesses are clearly the “Queens of Comebacks” at Euro 2025 after their remarkable run to the final.

Wiegman is breaking records too, becoming the first manager — in the men’s or women’s game — to reach five successive major international tournament finals and could be in line to receive an honorary damehood. The road to this latest final has been turbulent. England’s performances in Switzerland have been defined more by grit than guile. They have led for a total of just five minutes in their knockout matches, with Chloe Kelly’s winning goal in the 119th minute against Italy the latest in Women’s Euros history.

Don’t leave it too late

If the Lionesses are to make history this weekend, they will need to improve their performances.

After an opening 2-1 defeat by France, England have been on the back foot and effectively playing knockout football ever since. The pressure was mounting at that point, with the Lionesses risking becoming the first holders of a Women’s Euros title to exit at the group stage. The response was emphatic — a 4-0 demolition of the Netherlands — and it was followed by a 6-1 thumping of Wales to ensure England finished second in Group D.

Those victories, however, have proved the exception rather than the norm, and England’s route to the final has drawn comparisons with the men’s team last summer. Gareth Southgate’s side laboured through the knockouts, relying on late goals and impact substitutes to advance.

Don’t panic: Chloe Kelly leads England’s semi-final celebrations

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It has been a similar story for the Lionesses. Three of their four goals in the knockout stages have been supplied by players off the bench.

Just as they did three years ago, when England won the Euros on home soil, the substitutes have embraced their role — even creating their own celebration by clicking their fingers.

Wiegman is renowned for being reluctant to make changes, but she will surely be tempted to turn some of her “finishers” into starters on Sunday. Kelly had a transformative impact off the bench in both the quarter-final and semi-final, and she could come into the team for Lauren James. The Chelsea star impressed in the group stage, but more recently has looked short of fitness since returning from a hamstring injury in April.

England’s defence has also been off the pace. The left side of the back-four has long been a problem area under Wiegman, and it has continued to be so at this tournament. Captain Leah Williamson has had three different centre-back partners in five games, with Esme Morgan the latest to get a chance in the semi-finals.

England still looked vulnerable on the counter-attack, with Italy’s goal coming down the Lionesses’ left flank, and they must address this. Jess Carter could be recalled to play alongside Williamson, but Morgan offers more pace and that may be enough to keep her place in the side.

Play ‘finishers’ from the start

No one has staked a stronger claim to start the final than Michelle Agyemang, who has emerged as the breakout star of this Euros. The Lionesses had dubbed themselves “new England” going into the tournament and Agyemang could be the face of it if she can pull off more heroics this weekend.

The Arsenal striker had played just 14 minutes of international football before being named in Wiegman’s squad for this summer’s Euros. The 19-year-old, however, has more than justified her selection, coming off the bench to score England’s equalisers in both the quarter-final and semi-final. Agyemang has caused chaos with her pace and power, while her composure in front of goal is remarkable for someone so young. It was only four years ago that Agyemang was a ball girl at Wembley Stadium for Wiegman’s third match in charge of England. Now, she could start for them in a major final.

Michelle Agyemang celebrates her equaliser with Ella Toone

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Agyemang has admitted she could not have dreamt of a summer like this, and the same goes for Hannah Hampton. The goalkeeper came into this Euros with the daunting task of filling the void left by Mary Earps following her retirement just five weeks before the tournament began.

Hampton has risen to the occasion and she will have a pivotal role to play in the final, especially given England’s defensive frailties. The Lionesses have kept one clean sheet in five games. It was forgotten amid the celebrations on Tuesday, but minutes before Agyemang’s equaliser against Italy, England were kept in the game by a stunning double save from Hampton. The goalkeeper has become a fan favourite after her performance in England’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over Sweden in the quarter-finals. The image of Hampton with blood pouring from her nose drew immediate parallels with that of England great Terry Butcher 36 years earlier. Hampton composed herself and saved two penalties as the Lionesses triumphed. In doing so, the 24-year-old silenced any debate over Earps’s absence.

Unity and resilience

England’s performances may be questioned, but their mentality cannot be. Against Sweden, they were 2-0 down with 11 minutes to go and found a way to win. For the victory over Italy, there were less than 120 seconds on the clock before Agyemang struck. The Lionesses have enjoyed unprecedented success under Wiegman, even remaining unbeaten for their first 30 games under her. At this Euros, however, they have been forced to show a different side to their game, digging in and battling when struggling to perform.

That resilience gives England belief going into Sunday. Even if they are not at their best, they are never out of it. “We have so many talented players, and we can play beautiful football,” said defender Lucy Bronze after the Lionesses beat Sweden. “But, if we have to, we know how to win in a different kind of way. This is what we mean by proper England; it wasn’t beautiful but it got us through.”

The unity in the England squad has created such resilience and it has grown during their time in Switzerland. One could argue that it is no surprise, given the Lionesses’ surroundings. They have been staying at The Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich, where the cost of a room for the night can stretch to over £10,000. Equipped with a two-Michelin-star restaurant and a spa, it is not hard to see why it was the FA’s No1 pick for a base.

Lucy Bronze says England know they can grab victory the hard way

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Luxury is one thing, but the FA have helped make it feel like home for the players. Agyemang had her piano transported out so she could play in her spare time. Some players have spent downtime playing basketball and table tennis, others have taken up jigsaws, Lego and Monopoly. Friends and family have been able to visit the camp, doing so for a barbecue one day. An impromptu darts tournament took place that evening, with Lauren Hemp’s dad beating her in the final. There was also a phase where Love Island became the evening viewing of choice — alongside that day’s other tournament matches — after Alessia Russo’s brother, Giorgio, appeared on the show.

Distractions and lighter moments like that have proved valuable. Their run to the final has shown how the bonds formed off the pitch can strengthen them on it, too.

The revenge mission

For England, it’s a chance to settle a score. Two years ago, Spain beat them 1-0 in the World Cup final in Australia. Spain, on the other hand, are aiming to make history by winning their first-ever Women’s Euros. They had never reached the final of a major women’s tournament before the World Cup two years ago, but now they are eyeing a third title after winning the inaugural Women’s Nations League last year. “It’s incredible; we’re making history,” said Spain captain Irene Paredes.

Spain and England have had two very different runs to the final. The Lionesses have been the “Queens of Comebacks”, while Spain have dominated their opponents.

Montse Tome’s side have won all five of their games at Euro 2025, scoring 17 goals and conceding just three. They are yet to concede during the knockout stages and have only once been trailing in a game (for four minutes against Italy in the group stage).

Aitana Bonmati reacts after scoring the winner against Germany

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If England are to beat Spain, they will need to find a way of stopping midfield stars Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati — who between them have won the past four Ballon d’Ors.

Putellas has been outstanding in Switzerland, scoring three goals and providing four assists. No other player has been directly involved in more goals at the tournament.

Putellas has outshone her partner, Bonmati, who had an understandably slow start to the tournament after a bout of viral meningitis.

Bonmati was a doubt to even feature at this Euros, but she was discharged just before the tournament started and on Wednesday scored the winning goal as Spain beat Germany 1-0 to secure a place in the final. “I could write a book about that,” said Bonmati after.

Spain will be favourites on Sunday, but England can take confidence from the fact they beat them 1-0 in February. Arsenal also defeated Barcelona, who have 11 players in this Spain’s squad, in the Champions League final in May. “I know what they can do,” said Spain midfielder Mariona Caldentey, who was part of the Arsenal side that beat Barcelona. “They’re in the final, even if they haven’t played the greatest football yet. We respect England, but we will go for it.”