With a mixture of incessant pressure and control of the ball, England’s fast start had Le Azzurre on the back foot and making some early mistakes.
Lucy Bronze, making her 35th major tournament appearance (the joint most ever with Jill Scott), was lucky to escape with just a ticking off for a wild challenge as the Lionesses looked to exert some authority on proceedings.
A superb England move saw Lauren James connect with Lauren Hemp’s cross on 10’, but her stabbed effort only found the gloves of Laura Giuliani.
Though Sarina Wiegman’s side continued to set the pace, the Italians were at least making some inroads up front, driven forward by their brilliant captain Cristiana Girelli.
The out ball to Hemp was always on, and with her crosses into the box consistently causing panic amongst the Italian defence, Alessia Russo came close to scoring her first goal of the tournament.
A congested midfield meant that balls over the top and out wide for both sides became a feature, and as England’s intensity dropped, Arianna Caruso became more of a presence for Italy.
Neither she nor any of her teammates had touched the ball in the Lionesses’ area in the opening half-hour, yet less than two minutes later, Barbara Bonansea smashed the ball into the roof of the net – the fifth time in five Women’s Euros games that Italy had opened the scoring.
That opener lifted the crowd, and both teams put their foot on the accelerator as half-time approached. James again came close, but England’s passing had become laboured and predictable, and it was Italy that finished the half much the stronger, with Lucia Di Guglielmo completing as many dribbles (three) as every other player on the field combined.
The second half began as the first ended, and Hannah Hampton needed to be alert as Italy threatened, whilst Hemp got underneath a cross when well-placed before almost delivering minutes later.
Girelli began to conduct the Italian orchestra once again, finding her teammates with ease and stretching the Lionesses at every opportunity, though she would be subbed off just past the hour because of injury.
Deliberately slowing down play and time wasting soon became a feature of the Italian’s play as England attempted to get themselves back into the game, but despite having had almost two-thirds of possession with 20’ to play, they were unable to break down a resolute Italy defence.
Nervousness began to creep in as the clock ticked towards full-time, and England can consider themselves unlucky to have seen a chance cleared off the line late on.
Still, they poured forward and with two minutes of stoppage time remaining, teenage substitute Michelle Agyemang drilled home the equaliser.
With four attackers on the pitch during extra time, England were much more expansive and had Italy’s defence pegged back.
Agyemang’s movement was causing problems, and fellow substitute Chloe Kelly deserved a goal after a wonderful slaloming run.
Spent as an attacking force, Italy again sat back and were clearly hoping to get to a penalty shootout as their players tired and England upped the intensity once more.
With four minutes to play, Agyemang almost sealed it for England with a looping shot that hit the bar, but moments later, Emma Severini brought down Beth Mead in the box.
Chloe Kelly was handed the responsibility from the spot, and though her penalty was well saved by Giuliani, she poked home the rebound to send England into the final.
In so doing, Wiegman becomes only the second manager to lead a national team to three successive Women’s European Championship finals, ending Italy’s dominance over the Lionesses in this competition in the process.
Flashscore Player of the Match: Cristiana Girelli (Italy)