Is this a movie?! Lionesses defy all odds! England storms into Euro 2025 final!

There's an old saying about cats having nine lives, but the England Lionesses at Euro 2025 seem to possess an infinite number. Their journey to a third straight major final has been nothing short of cinematic, marked by relentless resilience and a dramatic flair for overcoming adversity.

They were initially written off after a disappointing opening-game defeat by France. Then, they rose to the occasion in a must-win match against the Netherlands. They mounted an incredible comeback from 2-0 down in their quarter-final victory over Sweden and somehow navigated a penalty shootout where they had four spot-kicks saved. And finally, seemingly defeated with mere seconds left in their semi-final against Italy, they orchestrated a stunning turnaround to clinch a 2-1 extra-time win, with 119th minute goal which is the latest goal in Women’s Euro history, booking their ticket to yet another major final.

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"Everything was chaotic, everything was dramatic and everything was, typically, late," noted manager Sarina Wiegman, who told BBC Radio 5 Live, "We're going to make a movie some day! Well, this is a movie, my goodness, it's unbelievable."

Retirements and withdrawals overshadow build-up

England's unwavering resilience and remarkable ability to overcome setbacks have been consistent themes throughout their path to the Euro 2025 final. Even before arriving in Switzerland, the team faced significant hurdles. Discussions that should have revolved around their European title defense and navigating a challenging group were instead dominated by off-pitch distractions.

Before Wiegman's squad announcement on June 5, she contended with two senior international retirements and the withdrawal of her World Cup captain. Goalkeeper Mary Earps announced her shock retirement on May 27, followed a week later by midfielder Fran Kirby. On the eve of the squad announcement, Millie Bright made herself unavailable for the Euros, stating she couldn't "give 100% mentally or physically." With a combined 217 caps lost, Wiegman had to insist there was "no crisis" despite the unsettling period, facing questions about the team's experience, especially with Hannah Hampton as the only capped goalkeeper and two key leaders missing.

England's record goalscorer, Ellen White, expressed concerns before the tournament, calling it "a challenging period for the group."

A rollercoaster group campaign

Progressing from the group stage was always going to be a tall order, especially with footballing powerhouses like France and 2017 winners the Netherlands among England's opponents. Optimism was notably low.

England desperately needed a strong start against France, but it didn't go to plan. A 2-1 defeat at Stadion Letzigrund exposed England's leaky defense in brutal fashion. Outpaced and outplayed, the Lionesses made history as the first reigning champions to lose their opening game at the subsequent Women's Euros. Post-match, Wiegman lamented that her side was "bullied all over the pitch" and "looked like we've never played together."

However, when the pressure truly mounted, England delivered. A loss to the Netherlands would have ended their tournament, but instead, they secured their Euro 2025 hopes with an impressive 4-0 win over the Dutch. Lauren James shone with two goals, supported by Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone, as Wiegman's tactical adjustments paid off. Four days later, England gained the confidence boost they needed, securing their quarter-final spot with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Wales.

"There have been many days this tournament where we could have been going home," Georgia Stanway reflected after the group stage. "To be staying a few more days is something we can be proud of."

Comeback queens against the Swedes

Finishing second in Group D meant England faced Sweden in the quarter-finals, a draw that avoided old rivals Germany and placed them on the opposite side of the bracket from 2023 World Cup winners Spain. This seemed like a favorable outcome, but Sweden was arguably the tournament's in-form team, winning all three of their group games and conceding only once—fewer than any other side.

Within 25 minutes, England found themselves 2-0 down and on the ropes. Yet, they refused to yield. Experienced defender Lucy Bronze and 19-year-old forward Michelle Agyemang both scored in the final 11 minutes to force extra time in Zurich. A breathtaking penalty shootout ensued, where Sweden twice failed to convert opportunities that would have sealed their victory. England, seemingly on their last breath, limped over the line to complete the improbable comeback.

"At least three times I thought we were out," Wiegman confessed after the game. "I don't know why, but this team is just incredible. They stick together. They do whatever is necessary to turn around a result like we did. It is so impressive and I'm just really proud to be a part of this team."

Squad rallies after racial abuse

Adding another layer of adversity, just two days before England's Euro 2025 semi-final, defender Jess Carter revealed she had been the target of racist abuse during the tournament. This deeply troubling revelation overshadowed the build-up to the crucial match.

In response, the Lionesses released a joint statement, announcing they would suspend the anti-racism gesture of taking a knee before matches "to find another way to tackle racism." While the head of football's international anti-discrimination body, Fare, questioned the decision to stop performing what it considered a "powerful anti-racist act," Wiegman fully backed her players' choice, stating the "impact was not good enough."

Wiegman made her first change in four matches, opting to leave Carter out of the starting XI, with Esme Morgan slotting in. When Carter was named as a substitute, sections of the crowd at Stade de Geneve sang her name and applauded in the 16th minute in a powerful show of support.

A fantasy movie - The Italian Job

But perhaps England's biggest scare—and most dramatic triumph—came in Tuesday's semi-final against Italy. Their opponents were significant underdogs, ranked eight places below England and competing in their first semi-final since 1997. England, meanwhile, was aiming for a third consecutive final, with Wiegman herself hoping to reach a fifth successive major final as a manager.

However, Italy clearly hadn't read the script, taking a shock lead in Geneva through Barbara Bonansea in the first half. England looked bereft of ideas, and only Hannah Hampton's incredible double save late on prevented it from becoming 2-0. Then, in typical Lioness fashion, Wiegman's substitutes once again worked their magic. Michelle Agyemang scored a stoppage-time equalizer, forcing the game into extra time, before Chloe Kelly snatched the winner.

Wiegman described it as a movie, and Kelly herself suggested it would be a fantasy—something utterly extraordinary and impossible to invent. Kelly, despite slicing a corner straight into the side-netting and having a penalty saved deep in stoppage time, remained one of the coolest heads in Stade de Geneve. She reacted quicker than anyone else, sprinting to poke the rebound over the line, beating teammate Ella Toone to the ball, before famously gesturing to the crowd to "chill out" with her celebration. She had it covered all along.

Her match-winning goal in the 119th minute was the latest goal ever scored at a Women's Euros. Teenager Agyemang's equalizer at 95:01 minutes was England's latest goal on record in normal time of a Euros match.

"I thought in the 88th minute 'we do have to score now otherwise we'll have a problem and we'll have to fly home tomorrow'," said Wiegman. "Then I saw we had seven minutes [of stoppage time] and we had time to create another chance. The clock kept ticking and we had to keep going. The team never gives up."

Having made it this far through such an arduous and dramatic journey, England now firmly believes they can clear the final hurdle. Their opponent will be either world champions Spain or Euro 2022 runners-up Germany—but for this England team, after all they've overcome, the final obstacle seems just another plot twist they're ready to master.

"Getting to three major finals in a row and getting to the Euros final again shows what this team is made of. We fight to the end," said defender Bronze. "It probably wasn't our best performance again but it just shows the fight that we have and the talent that we have got. It was a rollercoaster of emotions."