Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

BBC sports editor Dan Roan has caught up with some England fans congregating in Mr Pickwick's Pub in Geneva, soaking up the atmosphere.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

England will be hoping it is third-time lucky against Italy tonight, with the Lionesses having lost both of their previous games against Le Azzurre at the Euros.

The first came in 1987, with the Italians winning 2-1 in a third-place play-off despite falling behind to an early Kerry Davis penalty, and, as mentioned in the previous post, it was a similar story when the sides met in the group stage in 2009.

Fara Williams’ spot-kick put Hope Powell’s side in front but second-half goals from Patricia Panico and Alessia Tuttino earned Italy victory.

However, England comfortably came out on top in the most recent meeting, winning 5-1 in a friendly in February 2024, when Lauren Hemp scored two of the goals.

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

So what are England's chances against Italy?

Well, the Lionesses have won their last five meetings, a run of games which stretches back over 16 years.

However, Italy did win the last time the sides met in a major tournament, which was in their opening match at Euro 2009 in Finland.

England took the lead, despite having captain Casey Stoney sent off in the first 30 minutes, but Italy fought back to claim a 2-1 victory.

Image source, Getty Images

Alan recommending Sarina Wiegman drops Ella Toone in favour of Chloe Kelly, which is awkward as we were just about to introduce Ella's boyfriend Joe Bunney, who has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.

Joe says he is optimistic about England's chances, but does not expect an easy ride against semi-final opponents Italy.

"You've got to be optimistic to try and get through, but if you're over confident then the opposition are up for that and will smell that," he said.

"The girls are relaxed, obviously taking it seriously. It's a big tournament and you've got to beat everyone to end up winning it like they did in 2022. They're well prepped and we'll see how tonight goes.

"I'm a typical English fan so I think we'll win. However, it won't be easy, nothing's easy in a tournament, especially at this stage.

"It's difficult, there are difficult circumstances, for example, new stadium - the girls have played in the Zurich stadium for two or three games now so there's load of different factors coming into it.

"Italy are a strong side themselves, so yeah I'm not sure but I'm hoping for an England win."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter in Geneva

It's a been a lovely day by Lac Léman - known as Lake Geneva to us - as England fans have been gearing up for the big day.

The fanzone was just getting things ready when we walked there earlier this morning.

A big screen was in the centre of the fan zone, surrounded by huts and benches alongside food stalls.

Supporters get a stunning view of the Jet d'Eau when they walk over the bridge from the main high streets - where giant Euro 2025 footballs are dotted across the city.

It's a tourist hotspot but its bustling with English fans, sporting white and navy blue shirts, as well as bucket hats and flags.

I didn't meet a single fan who predicted an Italian victory - but they are of course biased.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

You can't blame the England players for wanting to get out and about to soak up the sights and sounds of Geneva.

BBC Sport's Emma Sanders has been doing just that, and has painted a serene picture of the Swiss city for those not lucky enough to have made it out there themselves...

England supporters might be "feeling nervous" - well, isn't it our nature? - but the players were looking relaxed as they went out on a walk around Geneva today...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Pete Allison and Srosh Khan
BBC Newsbeat

That quarter-final against Sweden had everyone on the edge of their seats and BBC Newsbeat has been catching up with some England fans who are feeling a bit apprehensive about tonight's match.

Caitlin, 19, says she was more worried about the Lionesses' prospects going into their quarter-final game, but the nerves are still there.

"I'm feeling nervous," she says. "You can't write Italy out as a team. The fact they have got this far in the tournament and are showing no signs of stopping - I'm worried."

But Kelly, 19, is feeling a bit different. "I feel more confident than I did when they were playing against Sweden," she admits.

Caitlin's sister Chloe, 17, says England are "expected to win" but she thinks there will be more pressure on them than their opponents.

She hopes her namesake - Chloe Kelly - who came off the bench to transform the quarter-final, can make a similar impact in tonight's semi-final.

But we might have to wait to see it - "With the impact she made, it almost makes her more likely not to start," says Chloe. "Because you know you have got players like that who can come on and get an assist in a minute."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter in Geneva

Image source, Getty Images

All the discussions among journalists here in Switzerland has been about who might start for England tonight.

Defender Jess Carter, who has obviously had a difficult few days in light of the racial abuse she suffered, could be left out of the team, with Esme Morgan among those to have been pushing for a starting place.

Sarina Wiegman has been known to switch to a back three on occasions but to do so in the semi-finals, having played the same formation throughout and the same starting XI for three successive matches, feels like a stretch.

Super-sub Chloe Kelly has staked a claim for a place too - but there's a strong feeling that she has made such a significant difference off the bench that changing that might not be the best thing for the team.

And how can you drop Lauren James, who is clearly one of the world's most talented players and is a match-winner?

It would be very surprising if Wiegman makes more than two changes to her starting XI - if any.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Not that Sarina Wiegman has inspired blind trust in the England fanbase.

The Lionesses' form has been somewhat inconsistent since their defeat in the 2023 World Cup final, during which time the England head coach's judgement has been questioned.

But time and again Wiegman has come up with the right answers...

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport in Geneva

I spotted Jean walking around Zurich wearing a gold bucket hat which says ‘In Sarina We Trust’ on the front, so I had to grab her for a chat.

She then showed me the amazing coat she has made with the same slogan on the back.

Jean and her friend Jackie have made a limited number of hats and t-shirts to sell to supporters in Switzerland.

“40% of football shirts go into landfill and people think wearing shirts is the main way to do your fandom,” Jean said.

“But our message is you don’t need to spend £75 on a shirt, you can design your own and it defines the women’s game as different from the men’s game.

“It’s all female designers, female printers, it is all hand made and limited edition. What I love is that the young girls really like them. It’s very limited what I can bring in my suitcase, so I’m not going to make a lot of money but it’s just a project I enjoy,”

England have reached the semi-finals in three consecutive European Championships for the first time.

This will be their 10th semi-final at a major tournament, with two of those ties played over two legs, and they have won four and lost five of the previous nine.

However, despite that losing ratio, this will be their third major semi-final in a row and many of the current squad will have happy memories of victories at this stage at both Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup, under head coach Sarina Wiegman.

In contrast, reaching the last four will be a totally new experience for opponents Italy, whose last major semi-final appearance was back in 1997.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The work done by women's head coach Sarina Wiegman in creating that spirit in the England camp cannot be overstated.

The former Netherlands manager has helped take the team to the next level since her appointment.

After guiding her home country to the European title in 2017, she made it back-to-back Euros titles when leading the Lionesses to victory at Wembley in the 2022 final against Germany.

Her side also made it to the 2023 World Cup final, losing 1-0 to Spain, and are now just one win away from another Euros final.

Before Wiegman's appointment, England had lost in three consecutive semi-finals at major tournaments (Euro 2017 and World Cups in 2015 and 2019).

The Lionesses' subsequent record under Wiegman has inspired a strong bond, not just with her players but also the England fanbase...

Former England forward Fran Kirby believes the Lionesses' performances against France in the group stage and Sweden in the quarter-final prove you can "never write them off".

Speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Gornall, Kirby said: "It shows the quality they have on the pitch and off the pitch coming in to make an impact. I don't think every team in the competition has that.

"They have shown they can come back from 2-0 down. Hopefully they don't have to do it again, but it gives them the confidence to know that they are never done and they are never out."

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

The unity shown by the England team on such an important issue as racism is an extension of the bond they have shown on the pitch throughout Euro 2025.

That is a view expressed by former England forward Fran Kirby, who was part of the Lionesses squad that won the Euros in 2022...

England midfielder Georgia Stanway, meanwhile, told BBC Sport why the squad wanted to stand at kick-off, instead of taking the knee.

"We feel like it has gone past that [taking the knee] now," Stanway said.

"We feel it is still happening even when we are taking the knee. We have decided that we will stand and we will not do that.

"We think that is a way of making change in itself because we want to get people talking - we want to tell people that what is being done isn't enough."