England vs Spain LIVE: Euro 2022 result and final score as Georgia Stanway screamer settles thriller
England 2-1 Spain (1-1 after normal time): The Lionesses were minutes away from a heart-breaking defeat but Ella Toone scored a dramatic equaliser before Stanway’s rocket fired the hosts into the last four
England completed a thrilling comeback over Spain to advance to the semi-finals of Euro 2022 as Georgia Stanway’s wonder-strike sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory after extra time. The Lionesses will face either Sweden or Belgium in the last four after they were minutes from crashing out of their home tournament.
After a cagey first half, Spain struck first as substitute Athenea Del Castillo beat Rachel Daly to set up Esther Gonzalez, who took advantage of some sloppy England defending to open the scoring.
England had yet to trail at the Euros and Wiegman threw on Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone in hope of an equaliser. Lauren Hemp was denied what looked to be a penalty after being tripped by Ona Batlle in the box, before Toone made a priceless impact.
The midfielder picked up Russo’s knockdown in the box to fire England level in the 84th minute, just as the Lionesses were facing a heart-breaking elimination, and it forced extra time. Spain stood off Stanway and the midfielder hit an unstoppable shot past Sandro Panos on a memorable night in Brighton.
Relive the action below as the Lionesses advanced to the Euro 2022 semi-finals:
England into Euro 2022 semi-finals as Georgia Stanway rocket defeats Spain in extra-time thriller
Georgia Stanway gets the goal her tournament deserves, England - so creditably, so resiliently - get to the semi-finals.
The show goes on thanks to a great show of character. Because, in so many ways, what actually makes this 2-1 quarter-final win over Spain all the more impressive was that it was a match when England were so often second best.
It was certainly far from their finest performance.
That, however, at once made it the game of the tournament while drawing out some of England’s best qualities; the sort of intangible strengths that really create champions; the kind of qualities that only come out on nights like this when the tension of it all is more exhilaratingly suffocating than the summer weather.
It all set up the sweetest and loudest of celebrations in Brighton, something beyond what Euro 2022 has offered so far.
England into semi-finals as Georgia Stanway rocket defeats Spain in extra time
England 2-1 Spain (1-1 after normal time): The Lionesses were minutes away from a heart-breaking defeat but Ella Toone scored a dramatic equaliser before Stanway’s screamer fired the hosts into the last four
Sarina Wiegman proves her class to guide England from the brink
Six minutes plus stoppage time. That is how close England were to the precipice, how close they came to throwing away a chance to win their first major international tournament and win it on home soil. Indeed, at times at the Amex, particularly during a one-sided first half, they could not have looked much further away from the standards set by their quarter-final opponents. Spain had done little to live up to their pre-tournament hype until then. Suddenly, the Lionesses were not fulfilling the favourites tag their performances in the group stage had earned.
And yet, it is in those moments, as the clock ticks down and something needs to change, that the presence of a best-in-class coach can make all the difference. England’s greatest asset at Euro 2022 is not Georgia Stanway, despite her spectacular winning goal struck from 25 yards out that booked a place in the semi-finals. It is not Ella Toone, the diminutive super-sub who equalised and is arguably deserving a proper run in the starting line-up. It is, instead, the manager picking that line-up and - more importantly - fixing it when required.
Sarina Wiegman plans for every eventuality. Just ask her assistants, who took charge while she was struck down with Covid-19 last week and in the build-up to this quarter-final. Were it not for the good fortune of a negative test result, confirmed only a few hours before kick-off, she would have watched from England’s Teddington training base, imparting instructions down a telephone line, but not seeing and analysing proceedings in quite the same manner. Perhaps, then she would not have made the same, bold decisions that turned this tie in England’s favour.
Sarina Wiegman proves her class to guide England from the brink
England 2-1 Spain (after extra time): With the Lionesses staring at elimination, Wiegman made a series of bold substitutions that would turn the match around
England comeback to defeat Spain and reach Euro 2022 semi-finals
Spain will look back on that game and wonder how they let it slip. They dominated all the stats expect the most crucial one.
England 2-1 Spain.
England comeback to defeat Spain and reach Euro 2022 semi-finals
England will now face either Sweden or Belgium in the semi-finals next Tuesday.
Their opponents will be decided on Friday when the Group C winner takes on the Group D runners-up in the third Euro 2022 semi-final.
England comeback to defeat Spain and reach Euro 2022 semi-finals
England comeback to defeat Spain and reach Euro 2022 semi-finals
Here’s a look at Georgia Stanway’s match winning goal that sent England into the semi-finals of Euro 2022:
England comeback to defeat Spain and reach Euro 2022 semi-finals
The Amex Stadium is rocking as the fans have remained behind to join in with the celebrations. ‘Sweet Caroline’ is blaring out of the speakers.
England had to dig deep to claim that win. It was such a well-fought victory that the players deserve these celebrations.
England comeback to defeat Spain and reach Euro 2022 semi-finals
“Job done, we’ll focus on the semis.” says England’s matchwinner Georgia Stanway in her post-match interview.
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