The European Championship at home seemed to turn out to be a debacle for England for a while, but the team of national coach Sarina Wiegman fought its way past Spain in the quarterfinals and thus remains in the race for the title. Georgia Stanway signed in extra time with a bang from distance for the winning 2-1.
The English were favorites for the title before the tournament and fulfilled that role in the group stage. Austria, Norway and Northern Ireland were sidelined, fourteen goals were scored and not a single goal was conceded. The opposition in the first knockout match turned out to be of a different order, but England survived.
A defeat in Brighton seemed imminent on Wednesday for England, who struggled to make the game and had to leave the initiative to the opponents for the first half hour. After that, Wiegman’s team came into the game slightly better. A goal by attacker Ellen White was disallowed in the 37th minute for offside.
Opening goal Esther González
Spain started strongly after the break and England especially had trouble with substitute Athenea del Castillo, who was going to play at the front on the right outside. Del Castillo was also responsible for the opening goal in the 54th minute. Striker Esther González was played well, turned free and hit the ball low into the corner from close range: 0-1.
Del Castillo almost scored a second goal halfway through the second half. A failed cross was narrowly stopped by England goalkeeper Mary Earps.
Wiegman tried to force the equalizer by introducing substitute players. That worked, in the 84th minute. Ella Toone scored from close range.
Led by the home crowd, England pushed through in extra time. Stanway, Manchester City’s all-time top scorer, became the match winner. Spain insisted in the second half of extra time and became dangerous a few times, but the host country held out. Much to Wiegman’s visible delight.
Sweden or Belgium
The British will face the winner of the quarter-final between Sweden and Belgium in the semi-final in Sheffield on Tuesday. Wiegman thus retains the chance of a second European title as a coach. Five years ago, she won the European Championship with Orange, which then took place in the Netherlands. At the time, the Netherlands defeated England 3-0 in the semi-final.
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