After Chloe Kelly had hit her own rebound that England raised in the Euro 2025 final, she hit a casual pose on the corner flag, a hand on the flag, another on her hip, and smiled at the fans of England.
Kelly's 119th minute Winner was the punctuation brand in a Nervy Come-From-Behind 2-1 victory over Italy who sends the ruling champions to their third consecutive final of a large tournament.
They will play world champions Spain or Germany on Sunday.
Asked where she gets her self -confidence, Kelly said, “myself.”
“The moments when I had the feeling that football gives up in January makes you so grateful for these moments here today, and this makes you enjoy every minute,” said Kelly, who did her characteristic prancing fine.
“I think that trust comes from within, but also from you around you. The players with which we stand next to each other on the field give confidence in each other.”
In January there was doubts that the 27-year-old would be in the Euro team because she barely played for Manchester City. She made a public plea to leave the city to secure more playing time and improve her opportunities.
Kelly's plea worked when she spent the rest of the season on a successful loan saying with Arsenal and then drew a permanent deal with the London Club.
Sunday's final will be the fifth in a big tournament for coach Sarina Wiegman, who said the night felt like a “movie” with 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang who hit the equalizer in the 96th minute to send the game in extra time.
“It was a bit dramatic. On the 88th minute I thought:” We have to score now or we have a problem, “Wiegman said laughing.
Wiegman took Agyemang, who almost scored again with an attempt deep in the second half of extra time, but beat her shot.
“She is only 19 years old and she is very mature, she knows exactly what to do,” said Wiegman. “When you came to our team late, just before the euro … but she is really mature and brings something else, and that is what she has shown today.”
“That ball she hit the bar – it was spectacular.”
The only negative thing about the night was that Lauren James decreased with an ankle injury to end the first half. Wiegman said that James, who was sitting on the couch with a bag of ice on the ankle, will be reassessed on Wednesday.