England’s journey continues, stuttering into the Women’s European Championship semi-finals after coming from behind for the first time this tournament to beat Spain at Brighton’s Amex yesterday evening.
It wasn’t the typical swashbuckling Lionesses performance that we’ve come to expect and adore this summer, with extra-time required to overcome an awkward and resilient Spain side who made Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses suffocate and sweat until substitute Ella Toone relieved the tension with her equaliser four minutes from time. Georgia Stanway then took it upon herself to write the headlines and ensure her side’s place in the last four with a thunderous, sweetly struck effort from 25 yards.
However, it was Wiegman’s response in the nail-biting moments of adversity that caught the eye, with a direct tactical decision, a far cry from the usual free flowing football she has become synonymous with, influential in the turnaround.
