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England's preparations for their Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy on Tuesday have been overshadowed by the racial abuse suffered by defender Jess Carter.
The team has rallied around Carter to provide support while maintaining focus on defending their European title. After a challenging few days, Coach Sarina Wiegman faces the decision of whether Carter will start as England aims for a third consecutive major tournament final.
Can Italy challenge the defending champions, and has England resolved their defensive issues?
Will Wiegman Revamp the Defense?
England's defense has been a recurring concern throughout the tournament, with difficulties exposed by the pace of France and Sweden. Carter has been versatile, switching between right-sided center-back, left-sided center-back, and left-back to address these issues.
Alex Greenwood has also alternated between center-back and full-back, while defender Esme Morgan impressed coming off the bench in the victory over Sweden. Wiegman faces a selection dilemma with Morgan pushing for a starting role and the need to protect Carter after the racial abuse incident.
"Although it's a tough situation, Jess is very strong and wants to move forward. She felt it was important to address this issue, not just ignore it," Wiegman stated. "We know there's a match to play, and we're ready to perform. Jess is ready to compete, which speaks volumes about her and the team."
There were also doubts regarding Captain Leah Williamson's availability after she was seen on crutches and wearing a protective boot on Thursday. However, Wiegman confirmed Williamson's recovery from an ankle injury, and she participated in full training on Monday. "She is eager to play and has done everything to recover quickly, making her available," Wiegman added.
England made history by becoming the first team to progress from a knockout tie at the Euros after trailing by two goals in their win over Sweden. Meanwhile, Italy has scored first in all four of their matches thus far.
Can England shake off any lingering doubts and deliver a solid defensive performance? "I'd like to think we've overcome all the wobbles," England forward Beth Mead told BBC Sport. "This is the business end of the tournament, and we must be in the right mindset to excel in knockout football."
'Complacency is the Biggest Mistake'
England has won seven of their last ten matches against Italy in all competitions and is participating in their seventh Euros semi-final. They have advanced from two of the last three semi-finals, while Italy, ranked 13th globally, is in the semi-finals for the first time since 1997.
Despite entering Tuesday's match as favorites, Wiegman is cautious about acknowledging this status. "It would be disrespectful to consider ourselves favorites," she said. "Both teams reached the semi-final, which is impressive. Complacency would be a grave mistake."
Defender Alex Greenwood commented on BBC Radio 5 Live that reaching at least the semi-finals has become an "expectation" for England. "As a team, we've set high standards, and we're proud of this achievement," she added.
Mead expressed that England "thrives under pressure," while Brighton midfielder Fran Kirby, who retired from international football before the tournament, noted Italy as "definitely the underdogs." Kirby told BBC Radio 5 Live, "Italy will have seen England's performances and may see an opportunity because they can score goals. Hopefully, England will play to their potential and secure their defense."
What Challenge Will Italy Pose?
Although Italy's top women's football division was established in 1968, their domestic game has only recently become fully professional. The national team has never ranked below 19th in FIFA's world rankings, but they failed to qualify for four successive World Cups between 2003 and 2015.
What kind of challenge will Italy present to England when they meet at 20:00 BST on Tuesday? "They have a never-say-die attitude, making them a tough, aggressive team to play against," said Mead. "They can be frustrating, but they possess individual quality."
"It's going to be a challenging game, and both teams have something to prove. We're defending champions, but we must deliver a strong performance to defeat this Italian team."
In recent encounters, England has prevailed. Wiegman's side secured a 2-1 victory in the Arnold Clark Cup in February 2023 before a 5-1 triumph in a friendly 12 months later. However, Italy's captain Cristiana Girelli, who has scored three goals in the tournament so far, is in excellent form.
"Both teams will enter the game with confidence for different reasons," added Kirby. "It will be interesting, but England needs to tighten their defense. The Italian fans are also incredibly passionate."
What Are the Pundits Saying?
Former England captain Steph Houghton expressed confidence on BBC Radio 5 Live that England can reach a third consecutive major final. "We can draw great confidence from our comeback against Sweden. It's an amazing opportunity," Houghton said.
Kirby remarked that England was "very expansive" against Sweden, a strategy they cannot afford against Italy. "We lost every second ball. Sweden exploited transition moments with their pace, and Italy plays similarly," Kirby noted. "England must focus on this aspect against Italy, but Italy is not as strong as Sweden."
Ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha believes England has demonstrated their ability to perform in crucial moments. "It's hard not to believe in them. They have done everything necessary to reach this point," he said.