Summary

  • Recap Sarina Wiegman and Georgia Stanway news conference before England's Euro 2025 semi-final with Italy

  • Wiegman says racist abuse received by Jess Carter is "ridiculous and disgusting"

  • Stanway says Lionesses will no longer take knee but "stance and opinion stays the same"

  • Lionesses face Italy in Geneva on Tuesday (20:00 BST)

  • Winner will play Germany or Spain in final on 27 July

  • Get Involved: WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. England semi-final: Listen and follow on BBCpublished at 18:31 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)

    That's it from Geneva for now.

    Tomorrow, it's crunch time.

    England against Italy at the Stade de Geneve for a place in the Euro 2025 final.

    Remember, you can listen and follow on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.

  2. 'Taking knee isn't doing what we want it to do'published at 18:28 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)

    England

    On the decision not to take the knee against Italy, Georgia Stanway adds: "It’s to change it up. We felt like the knee was a little bit repetitive. We felt it had come to a point where the knee isn’t doing what we wanted it to do. Our decision is to stand, hopefully that brings more conversation, more change and gets the topic talking.

  3. 'We are more powerful as a collective'published at 18:26 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)

    England

    More from Georgia Stanway about the Lionesses' support for team-mate Jess Carter in the wake of the social media abuse the defender received following the quarter-final win over Sweden: "The most important thing is Jess has the power to be able to do that - she doesn't have the power on her own, the power of the Lionesses, the staff, the FA.

    "It might sound like there’s one person fighting this battle, but you never really know how many people are behind her and stand with her.

    "That’s the beauty of football, if we want to make change we can do it as a collective, as a collective we are much more powerful."

  4. 'Italy can do different things'published at 18:23 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    And finally from Sarina Wiegman, on tactical lessons learned from the Sweden game: "I think this is a different game. Sweden were a very physical counter-attacking team - Italy can do that too, they are creative in their shapes, they can do different things.

    "I wouldn’t say there was one thing I could literally take over from the Sweden game to the Italy game."

  5. 'We have headaches all the time'published at 18:21 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman on selection dilemmas after strong performances from the substitutes against Sweden: "We have headaches all the time, because a lot of players can start.

    "That’s what makes the team strong. Before every game we take a lot of things into consideration, we will also do that tomorrow."

    She then clarifies that "everyone is fit" for the semi-final, including captain Leah Williamson, who went off against Sweden in the quarter-final after rolling her ankle.

  6. Have England practiced penalties?published at 18:19 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    Have England been practicing penalties since last Thursday?

    "We practice for hours and hours!," jokes Sarina Wiegman before adding: "No we didn’t."

    Wiegman says: "Over the last months players train for penalties all the time, also at their clubs, you want to be as prepared as possible.

    "Hopefully it’s not necessary. We have practiced again."

  7. 'Kelly showed she is ready'published at 18:15 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    Sarina Wiegman on Chloe Kelly's impact from the bench against Sweden: "In our squad we have different players in each position with different attributes, that’s what she brought when she came on.

    "She showed she was ready, she crossed the ball from right and left, she was really sharp, as were all the subs, they did their job. It was a hard fight.

    "That’s what we hope players bring when they come on the pitch."

  8. Postpublished at 18:13 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    More from England's manager about how the women's game has changed in recent years: "The visibility of the women's game in recent years has had a lot of impact, that you can now have a profession as a player or a coach is positive, and fans getting involved.

    "The main negative is abuse and discrimination."

  9. 'We cannot think we are favourites'published at 18:12 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman on England being labelled favourites against Italy: "I think it would be really disrespectful to Italy to think we are the favourites. They made the semi-final like we did, it’s impressive for any team to make the semis.

    "Complacency is the biggest mistake any team could make. We’ve seen how they've played. I don’t think there’s any way we could think we are the favourite We have to be at our very best to win the game."

  10. 'Williamson really wants to play'published at 18:10 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman on Leah Williamson's chances of playing: "She really wants to play, she did everything to recover as good as possible, and she has. She trained today, If she recovers well she can play tomorrow."

    On recovering from extra-time and penalties against Sweden: "We were really happy we had an extra day to recover compared to the other games we've had. Tomorrow when we have to play we will be ready."

  11. 'Fans have never let us down'published at 18:10 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)

    England

    Georgia Stanway on England fans in Geneva: "We know that they will turn up. The Lionesses fans never let us down. It's a closer stadium. The last few games we've had a running track around it."

  12. 'Faster, fitter, stronger'published at 18:07 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)

    England

    More from Georgia Stanway about the game tomorrow and her recent injury problems: "I still have to pinch myself. I feel I am super grateful to be here (after injury).

    "In that time you realise how much you really enjoy going to work every day. Now I am in this situation it feels like the time has gone fast.

    "It wasn't easy. I feel good, I feel faster, fitter and stronger than I have felt before."

  13. Postpublished at 18:04 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman on who should be responsible for making football a safe space: "I think it starts with everyone taking responsibility, then you have the bodies responsible for all these [social media] platforms that should do something also."

    Sarina WiegmanImage source, Getty Images
  14. 'Some people do disgusting things'published at 18:02 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman on whether she's fallen in love with England: "Yes, I have. But not the one Georgia was talking about. It’s incredible, but there are some people that do disgusting things.”

    Sarina WiegmanImage source, Getty Images
  15. 'We've sent a message to the world'published at 18:01 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman on what message she gave to the team about Jess Carter: "That didn’t need a message, the team came really well together. We spoke about it, everyone wants to perform tomorrow but wanted to address this and send a message to the world. It says a lot about the team."

  16. 'We won't stand for it'published at 18:00 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)

    England

    "It's moments like this that we just don't stand for," adds Georgia Stanway. "I think we've had a few people who want to come off social media because they are fed up off it."

  17. 'I don't think about personal achievements'published at 17:58 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman on if she thinks about personal achievements: "I don’t - I'm just in the job now, working with the team. All that keeps me busy is the game tomorrow. We want to win, we are in full preparation. That’s what keeps me busy. Maybe in 10 or 15 years I’ll think about that."

    Georgia StanwayImage source, Getty Images
  18. 'They are not fans'published at 17:57 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)

    England

    "They are not fans," adds Georgia Stanway when asked about the people who have posted social media abuse.

    "I believe people like that don't deserve to be called fans."

    On the decision not to take the knee: "Hopefully this will bring up more conversation and change. We want more action to be made. Our stance and our opinion stays the same."

  19. 'Jess is ready to play'published at 17:54 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tuesday, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman on whether she would consider not playing Jess Carter against Italy: "Of course we have had a conversation. It’s a hard situation but Jess is a very strong person, she wants to move on too, but she and we felt we had to address this, we can’t let it go. So we did.

    "We want to perform in the match, she's ready to perform and compete. That says a lot about her and the team."

  20. 'Need to cut it out of society'published at 17:53 British Summer Time

    England v Italy (Tues, 20:00 BST)

    England

    England midfielder Georgia Stanway on the social media abuse: "I think if anything it has brought us together as a team. Some things we will never be able to understand and this is one of them. We need to cut it out of society.

    "If we want to make a change we can do it as a collective."

    Georgia StanwayImage source, Getty Images