Women’s football

GEORGIA STANWAY’S stunner saved England’s Euro hopes – by the skin of their teeth! Up until 84 minutes, things hadn’t gone according to plan for Sarina Wiegman’s high-flying side.
Georgia Stanway struck a screamer to fire England into the Euro 2022 semisCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The 23-year-old raced away to celebrate her sensational goalCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Stanway was mobbed by her team-mates after the winnerCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun

After all THIS was supposed to be England’s moment. 
A home tournament, a shiny new manager, record goals and attendances to watch the Lionesses hunt for an elusive first-ever major trophy.
All they had to do was get past Spain, who had never won a knock-out game at a major tournament and had lost their two best players, all-time top scorer Jennifer Hermoso and Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.
But Jorge Vilda’s party poopers made the Lionesses look like kittens with Esther Gonzalez’s 54th-minute opener so very nearly sinking the hosts. 
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When all hope was almost lost it took in Manchester United’s magicians Ella Toone and Russo to combine in the dying minutes to resurrect England and send the tie to extra-time. 
Then Barrow-born Stanway had nerves of steel to crack in a thunderbolt strike for the winner on 96 minutes to stretch England’s redhot unbeaten run to 18 games. 
It spared England and Wiegman’s blushes, given they have reached the semi-finals of the last three major tournaments.  
The hosts were boosted by their gaffer being back on the touchline after a nervous wait to see if she would test negative for Covid-19 having picked up the virus last week.
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She named the same starting XI for all the Euros games so far to keep “rhythm and consistency”.
The ex-Netherlands boss had previously found so much joy from the pretty passing sequences between Bronze, Stanway, Mead and White – but Spain were having none of it. 
It was no surprise the visitors had the first real chance with Olga Carmona breaking free on the left-flank to send a dipping and curling shot at Earps. 
The likes of Gonzalez and Mariona Caldentey were also snapping at their heels and ready to pounce when the Lionesses looked sleepy.
The Amex finally roused when Arsenal forward Mead won an inviting free-kick on nine minutes. 
She stood over it and whipped a dipping and curling effort beautifully onto White’s noggin, but her header pinged wildly in the opposite direction. 
Esther Gonzalez Rodriguez opened the scoring for Spain on 54 minutesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Gonzalez’s finish was the first goal conceded by England at this summer’s tournamentCredit: Reuters
The visitors hit back again, this time with Maria Caldentey stinging the hands of Earps with a long-range effort.
Mastermind Wiegman smelled danger and went back to the drawing board, swapping Mead onto the left and Hemp out right.
It finally got the wheels turning and Mead won another free-kick on 36 minutes. 
She stepped up and teed up England all-time top-scorer White who lashed it with venom into the net – but the flag went up due to an offside from Bronze in the build up and VAR concurred.
England, who must have felt the wrath of Wiegman at half-time, looked pumped up after the restart with Mead’s twinkle toes winning yet another free-kick. 
But they were made to wait when a Stop Oil protester stormed on to the pitch and attempted to attach himself to Earps’ goal before he was tackled by security and escorted out. 
When the free-kick did finally come in, a foul on Mapi Leon halted proceedings and England were back to square one.
It felt like Spain’s opener had been brewing on 54 minutes having prodded and poked at the Lionesses all game. 
England boss Sarina Wiegman worked her magic from the sidelinesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Ella Toone sent the Amex wild with her late equaliserCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Toone kept her cool with a fine finish from close rangeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
It all began with substitute Athenea Del Castillo who had been electric since coming on at the break. 
She shimmied beyond Rachel Daly way too easily before teeing up Esther Gonzalez to fire a low drive into the bottom corner.
Wiegman had seen enough and made a huge call in hauling off the tournament’s top scorer Mead for Chloe Kelly and White for Alessia Russo on 58 minutes.
Shortly after Toone entered the fray for Kirby in a desperate bid for a precious equaliser. 
Spain only looked more dangerous and jaws hit the deck when Del Castillo outmuscled Daly yet again to crack a looping shot over Earps – who did brilliantly to save it.
England responded and peppered Spain’s goal with a string of chances before Lauren Hemp pounced on a loose ball but fired over. 
The visitors swaggered back up the other end sparked a desperate scramble up the other end with Leah Williamson making a crucial block to keep it at 1-0.
Finally Wiegman ended Daly’s torture and hauled her off for Alex Greenwood to shore things up on England’s left flank.
QUICKFIRE DOUBLE
It was still looking like curtains for England until finally Russo was there to do what she does best. 
She won a header in the box and Toone was there to hammer home from close range and send it to extra time.
It was a huge moment for the United best pals who were substituted on after the break and both playing in their first-major tournament.
It sparked bedlam on Spain’s bench with reserve goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez being booked for kicking over a drinks bucket and remonstrating in a Uefa official’s face.
But she had nothing to complain about when former Manchester City forward, Stanway, stunned the Spaniards with a rocket strike. 
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The Bayern Munich whiz, teed up by midfield maestro Keira Walsh, opened up and whacked a crisp effort beyond Sandra Panos. 
Finally the Amex was treated to the first full-throated renditions of ‘Three Lions’.
Lauren Hemp and the home fans thought they deserved a penaltyCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The match was briefly halted when a male protestor ran on to the pitchCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

SARINA WIEGMAN wants to see greater diversity in England Women’s teams following concerns over a lack of non-white players.The Lionesses’ boss backed FA plans to improve pathways for black, Asian and minority ethnic talent.
Sarina Wiegman supports FA plans to develop a more “inclusive player-centred pathway”Credit: AFP
The hosts’ Euro 2022 squad features three black players in Demi Stokes, Nikita Parris and Jess Carter.
But only Carter, 24, has been deployed off the bench in the tournament.
Ahead of tonight’s quarter-final clash against Spain, Wiegman, 52, said: “Everyone who wants to be involved in football in whatever position should be welcome.
“I know the FA have set strategies in place to get more diversity in the game, so that’s something for the long term.

“I hope we get more diversity in the national team. For now, I just pick the best players.”
When Hope Powell took England to the Euros final in 2009, their starting XI featured three black players — Anita Asante, Eniola Aluko and Alex Scott.
Lianne Sanderson and Jessica Clarke were also in the squad.
The drop in numbers of black players at senior international level has led to calls for more to be done to help promising talent from minority ethnic backgrounds reach the game’s elite stage.
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And the FA say they intend to develop a “high-performance, inclusive, player-centred pathway”.
England captain Leah Williamson said: “A few of the girls feel very passionately about it. We all do.
“But I’ve heard a few speak really well to the FA and it was received as well as we had hoped.
“It’s definitely a priority for them — there are things in place now. We’re on the right path to make it ready for those young girls. 
“This tournament is going to do such a good job at inspiring so many and nobody should be denied to then be involved.
“We feel passionately about it — and, luckily, so do the FA.”
Hope Powell wants to see more “attention to detail” paid to pathways to the elite level for talented playersCredit: Reuters
Earlier this month, Powell, who now manages WSL side, Brighton, said: “It’s really important that pathways are right and attention to detail is paid to that.
“You need that kind of conveyor belt of talent for any of it to work.
“We have to make sure that the next crop, the next talent and generation of talents after that, are ready and have all the opportunities to play as young girls.” More