In the Euro 2025 semi-final, England's lackluster performance against Italy culminated in defeat, highlighted by missed opportunities and ineffective management. Hannah Hampton's corner in the last minute epitomized the team's inability to capitalize on a critical moment. The players' disjointed communication and lack of identity were evident throughout the match. Criticism was directed at Italy for gamesmanship, but the real issue lay with England, whose strategy and execution under Sarina Wiegman led to a disappointing exit from the tournament.
As blisteringly underwhelming as England have been all night, this is still a team with an unerring sense of their own narrative, a belief in themselves, a taste for the dramatic climax.
Of course there had been the usual gripes about Italian gamesmanship, the eternity Laura Giuliani was taking over goal kicks, the constant injury breaks, the sudden random attacks of cramp.
Sarina Wiegman had wasted 76 minutes of this game tinkering around the edges of an approach that was patently not working.
England's players had gathered in a huddle, presumably in order to learn each other's names and positions. Hi, I'm Alex, left-back. Hi, I'm Ella, attacking midfield.
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