𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

England’s players have said they will not take the knee before Tuesday’s Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy after defender Jess Carter was sent “vile” and “abhorrent” racist abuse online following their quarter-final win over Sweden.

The Football Association (FA) confirmed they are working with UK police and the relevant social media platforms, while Carter said she would be “taking a step back” from social media as a result of the abuse she has received throughout the tournament.

England became the first team in Women’s Euros history to came from two goals down when they battled from behind against Sweden in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Italy have scored the opening goal in all four of their games at Euro 2025 so far, including against Spain and in their quarter-final victory over Norway.

Sarina Wiegman can become the first coach in 20 years to reach a third consecutive European Championship final if England beat Italy tomorrow night.

The Dutch coach took the Netherlands to the Euro 2017 final and then the Lionesses to the Euro 2022 final, with her team going on to lift the trophy on both occasions.

Gero Bisanz (1989, 1991, 1995 with Germany), Even Pellerud (1991, 1993, 2013 with Norway) and Christina Theune-Meyer (1997, 2001, 2005 with Germany) previously reached three in a row.

England have reached a sixth consecutive major tournament semi-final, the best of results in their history. The Lionesses have won their last two semi-final appearances under Sarina Wiegman, at the 2023 World Cup and Euro 2022, but lost the previous three.

World Cup 2023: 3-1 vs Australia – W

Euro 2022: 4-0 vs Sweden – W

World Cup 2019: 1-2 vs United States – L

Euro 2017 – 0-3 vs Netherlands – L

World Cup 2015: 1-2 vs Japan – L

Leah Williamson has recovered from the ankle injury which forced the England captain off against Sweden while Lucy Bronze and Lauren James have also trained after England’s gruelling win on Thursday night. Sarina Wiegman will give an update in her pre-match press conference later.

The nature of England’s first-half performance means there may be some changes anyway, with Chloe Kelly pushing for more involvement after her explosive impact off the bench against Sweden.

Jess Carter, who has revealed she has received racist abuse throughout Euro 2025 and is stepping back from social media, struggled in defence before England’s reshuffle and Morgan and Niamh Charles could be involved if Williamson is unavailable and Wiegman decides to make more changes either side of Alex Greenwood.

Lucy Bronze, who is England’s most senior player at Euro 2025, says the online abuse faced by women’s footballers is getting “worse and worse” the bigger the game becomes.

“We’re obviously open to critics – that’s why we love the sport – but we’re not open to abuse,” said Bronze, who is playing in her seventh major tournament for England.

“We see it more in the stadiums in men’s football and online, but I think with women’s football there seems to be a real target online.

“It’s something that we’re very aware of. There is a way to make a change. There is a solution. I don’t have the answer, but I’m sure that there is one.”

England defender Alex Greenwood said taking the knee has “lost its purpose” and said the Lionesses want to stake a stand against racist abuse after Jess Carter revealed her ordeal at Euro 2025.

“We hope other organisations, and other teams, have the same feeling as us and also want to do something to make a change,” Greenwood said to BBC Radio 5 Live.

“But the responsibility lies with us in our team right now and what we’ve decided to do, we feel really passionate and strongly about.

“I know we can only do so much, but what we are capable of doing, we will continue to do.”

On the eve of Sweden’s Euro 2025 quarter-final against England, in what transpired to be his final match in charge, Peter Gerhardsson was asked for an insight into how he prepares his team for penalty shoot-outs. Gerhardsson gave a long response, essentially explaining that it was impossible to pick five players to take a penalty until the moment actually arrived.

Against England on Thursday, Gerhardsson and his coaching staff made a choice that would later define the shoot-out. There was an audible gasp in the Stadion Letzigrund as goalkeeper Jennifer Falk stepped forward to take Sweden’s fifth penalty.

Sarina Wiegman’s side were lucky to beat Sweden and semi-final opponents Italy have been handed a clear look at how to beat the Lionesses.

England defender Esme Morgan said Lucy Bronze’s warrior spirit is inspiring the Lionesses at Euro 2025, with the veteran’s “passion, energy and fight” spreading around the team as they prepare for Tuesday’s semi-final against Italy.

Bronze scored England’s decisive penalty in the dramatic shoot-out victory over Sweden and created an iconic image as she removed the tape on her leg and defied tightness in her hamstring to step up for her country.

The right back is appearing at her seventh major tournament for England and with the Lionesses now through to their sixth consecutive semi-final, Morgan said Bronze remains as important as ever.

“I don’t think it can really be put into words,” Morgan said. “She is such an incredible leader in this team. We are all inspired by her mentality. She’s a freak really, in that she just has so much passion, energy, fight, and she infects everyone else with it.”