England break Italy's heart in extra time to make final at Euro 2025

England are living on the brink and survived another near-inevitable elimination all the way to another Women's European Championship final.

The defending champions broke Italy's heart – twice – in a 2-1 win after extra time in their semifinal on Tuesday.

Chloe Kelly scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute, shooting home the rebound only after Italy's goalkeeper Laura Giuliani saved her penalty kick.

Italy were forced into extra time because another substitute, Michelle Agyemang, leveled the match deep into stoppage time.

Kelly and Agyemang also were crucial for England in another great escape in the quarterfinals against Sweden.

England will now defend their title in Sunday's final in Basel against either world champions Spain or Germany, who will face each other in Zurich on Wednesday.

"When it finishes like this I am enjoying it but it's a little bit dramatic," said England coach Sarina Wiegman, who has never been eliminated from the tournament. She led her native Netherlands to the 2017 title before joining England.

It was all so cruel on unheralded Italy, which had led since Barbara Bonansea's rasping volleyed shot in the 33rd minute.

"It's a bitter defeat because we were one minute away from the final," Italy's coach Andrea Soncin said in translated comments. "But we have to be proud."

Either potential opponent is a title rematch for England, having beaten Germany in the Euro 2022 final – also decided by a Kelly goal in extra time – and lost the World Cup final to Spain in 2023.

For the second time in six days, England had stared down what looked a sure exit and survived into extra time.

Italy would have been a worthy winner just for the immense defending of central backs Elena Linari and Cecilia Salvai as England pressed intensely in the second half.

However, Agyemang fired in a low shot after Giuliani spilled a cross in a rare handling error. The ball arrowed toward the net cruelly through the legs of both Linari and Giuliani.

After the final whistle blew, Guiliani lay flat out and face down against the turf all alone in the middle of Italy's half of the field.

The penalty was conceded by substitute Emma Severini for tangling with Beth Mead. Severini had a clear chance in the 86th to lift Italy into a two-goal lead but her close-range shot after a corner was smothered by England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.