‘An enormous contribution’: Wiegman heaps reward on England hero Hampton | Ladies’s Euro 2025

Sarina Wiegman mentioned England by no means doubted Hannah Hampton’s capability after the Lionesses goalkeeper made two essential shootout saves to assist ship England via to the Euro 2025 semi-finals amid exceptional drama in Zurich.

The Chelsea keeper, who was named as England’s new No 1 by Wiegman in Might when Mary Earps retired from worldwide responsibility, additionally made two very important saves in regular time to assist England battle again from 2-0 right down to remove Sweden.

“She didn’t have [any] doubters in our bubble. I believe she had a really spectacular efficiency,” Wiegman advised BBC Sport. “She had some excellent saves within the second half. She had one penalty on the appropriate facet that was an unimaginable save. Fairly massive contribution right this moment.”

Wiegman later added in her press convention: “[She made a] huge contribution to an excellent crew efficiency. The end result was actually good and the way the crew caught collectively, however she had an enormous contribution to that.”

The England head coach additionally praised Lucy Bronze, whose header helped spark the second-half fightback. Wiegman added: “Lucy Bronze is only one of a sort, I’ve by no means, ever seen this earlier than in my life.

“I’m a really fortunate person who I’ve labored with so many unimaginable folks and unimaginable soccer gamers, and there are so, so many, however what she does and her mentality, and the way she did that penalty and the purpose, on the far put up, she will get it within the web. However that’s not what defines her. What defines her is that resilience, that combat. I believe the one option to get her off the pitch is in a wheelchair.”

Wiegman admitted she had thought England had been going out of the competitors “about 3 times” throughout this tense quarter-final, however was clearly immensely happy with their comeback, including: “This crew is simply unimaginable. They stick collectively.”

Leah Williamson, the England captain, admitted it was “terrible to observe” the penalty shootout however praised her teammates’ “unimaginable mentality” to combat again and attain one other semi-final. The Lionesses noticed 4 of their penalties saved however nonetheless progressed with a 3-2 win, largely because of heroics from Hampton, having earlier battled from 2-0 down within the regulation 90 minutes to ship the sport to additional time.

“We don’t ever quit and we’ve mentioned it earlier than, we’re by no means carried out, we by no means consider that we’re ever carried out and the fightback, the standard to show the sport round after which keep in it mentality, simply unimaginable,” Williamson mentioned.

“I simply really feel actually, actually proud. That was terrible to observe on the finish. [Penalties] are the simplest and the toughest factor on the planet.”

Hampton produced two essential saves within the shootout, first from Filippa Angeldal, who took Sweden’s first spot kick, after which from Sofia Jakobsson in sudden loss of life, when Jakobsson had the possibility to win the competition. Sweden additionally fired two penalties over the bar and Magdalena Eriksson struck the put up as they missed 5 of their seven makes an attempt general.

Hampton, who was named as Uefa’s participant of the match, mentioned: “I believe it exhibits that correct England is again. We’re getting in the appropriate path. Everybody could be placing their our bodies on the road, actually, you possibly can see that on the market. Everyone seems to be a bit battered and bruised.

“You understand everybody has obtained your again on the market and tackles had been made after they wanted to be. Gamers took it upon themselves to guarantee that the crew stayed stable all through so if they’d a little bit of a niggle they determined to return off for another person who they knew could be 100 per cent to go and make a distinction as a result of it was positively a positive line between the outcome right this moment.”

The Lionesses will face Italy in Geneva on Tuesday for a spot within the remaining. The Italians are of their first semi-final since 1997, whereas the Lionesses are of their sixth consecutive main match semi.