Michelle Agyemang: From ball girl to 'world at her feet' - Chloe Kelly and Sarina Wiegman hail teenager for late heroics in Euro 2025 semi-final
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Published 22/07/2025 at 23:52 GMT+1
Michelle Agyemang is living moments beyond what the teenager "could have wished for" after she netted a last-gasp equaliser in England's 2-1 win over Italy in their Euro 2025 semi-final. The Lionesses are through to their third major tournament final in a row and Agyemang was singled out by match-winner Chloe Kelly, who said the Arsenal youngster has "the world at her feet".
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Video credit: SNTV
Michelle Agyemang was a ball girl when Chloe Kelly scored in extra-time to win the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final, but the teenager had a very different view as England reached this year's showpiece.
The 19-year-old's dramatic 96th-minute equaliser set up the perfect conditions for Kelly to repeat her substitute heroics, as The Lionesses roared past Italy 2-1 on their way to their third successive major tournament final.
Barbara Bonansea had put Italy in front after 33 minutes, but just like against Sweden in the quarter-final, England found a way back through Agyemang, and Kelly's rebound from yet another missed penalty at this tournament secured the win in the depths of extra time.
Having scored three goals in a total of four caps for her country, Agyemang said the moment her team-mates mobbed her in the celebrations will "live in my heart forever".
"It means the world to me and I'm so grateful," Agyemang told ITV. "As I always say, I'm so grateful to God for where he's brought me from.
"[Three] years ago I was just a kid throwing the ball to some of these girls, and now I'm here playing with them.
"To see my team celebrate with me and most of these girls I haven't even known for more than two months, but it shows the togetherness that we have as a team, and the fight, the heart, the team spirit that we have.
"It's a great team moment and it's definitely going to live in my heart forever.
"To be doing this at this level and to be helpful to this team is more than what I could have wished for."
Kelly lavished praise on the youngster, who spent last season on loan at Brighton from Arsenal, saying she has "the world at her feet".
"Big Miche at it again! She's unbelievable and she should have scored again, that one that hit the crossbar. She's an unbelievable player and she's got the world at her feet," said fellow Gunners' forward Kelly.
"[She's] a young player with a bright future and I'm absolutely buzzing for her."
And Sarina Wiegman was succinct in her assessment of her new star forward, saying: "Woah, what a talent."
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'Three finals on the bounce and we want more'
England's opponents in the final on Sunday, July 27, will be familiar.
The other semi-final, played on Wednesday, will feature Germany, the side England beat at Wembley three years ago, and Spain, the team that vanquished The Lionesses in the 2023 World Cup final.
Kelly was understandably elated to earn the winning touch, but admitted that she hopes her side can coast to a more comfortable victory on Sunday, without the need for her heroic late contributions.
"Unbelievable, such a great feeling. This team deserves nothing but that. Three finals on the bounce and we want more. This is an unbelievable feeling.
"This team shows resilience again and we fight back, and hopefully we can make it a little bit easier for ourselves. We don't need that panic.
"We have hope, we have belief and we have the quality. We'll just keep working hard in training to be sure we're alright come next weekend."
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