Camille Naredo

Article (news)

football

Agence France-Presse

<p>GENEVA, Switzerland -- England coach Sarina Wiegman said Monday that Lionesses defender Jess Carter is &quot;ready to perform&quot; in the Women&#x27;s Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy despite racial abuse against her overshadowing the build-up to the game.</p><p>&quot;We have had conversations and although it is a hard situation, Jess is a very strong person,&quot; Wiegman told reporters in Geneva ahead of Tuesday&#x27;s last-four clash.</p><p>&quot;She also felt, and so did we, that we had to address this, we couldn&#x27;t just let it go.</p><p>&quot;So we did, and then we know there is a match going on and we want to perform -- we are ready to perform, she is ready to perform and to compete and that says a lot about her and about the team.&quot;</p><p>Carter, 27, has started all of the reigning European champions&#x27; matches so far at the tournament in Switzerland, including the dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Sweden in the quarter-finals.</p><p>On Sunday, the English Football Association revealed it had alerted UK police as soon as it was made aware of the abuse.</p><p>Carter, who plays club football in the United States, said she would take a step back from social media to maintain her focus on the tournament.</p><p>&quot;It is really sad that we have to be occupied with this,&quot; added Wiegman.</p><p>&quot;It is ridiculous and disgusting that this is happening and it goes beyond football, so we had to pay attention to that and support Jess.&quot;</p><p>Midfielder Georgia Stanway, meanwhile, insisted that what had happened had brought the team together as they target a third consecutive major tournament final.</p><p>&quot;If anything it has probably brought us together as a team,&quot; said the Bayern Munich player.</p><p>&quot;There are some things that we will never be able to understand. We need to cut it out of society and we need to cut it out of football,&quot; she added, while saying that the squad had chosen to stop taking a knee to highlight racism because it had become &quot;a little repetitive&quot;.</p><p>&quot;We felt it had come to a point that it wasn&#x27;t doing what we wanted it to do. Hopefully that will bring about more change and get people talking.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/7/18/england-reach-euro-2025-semis-after-shootout-win-over-sweden-1639">READ: England reach Euro 2025 semis after shootout win over Sweden</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/7/20/ten-woman-germany-in-euros-semis-after-stunning-shootout-win-over-france-1454">READ: Ten-woman Germany in Euros semis after stunning shootout win over France</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>- No complacency -</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz86TOfDIfqXIe&amp;cid=ABcq0JR8hmf3zzXh"></script><p>Despite the high stakes, Italy defender Cecilia Salvai put rivalry to one side before the semi-final showdown as she expressed solidarity for Carter.</p><p>&quot;As a player I can say we will not be opponents tomorrow,&quot; Salvai said.</p><p>&quot;I really hope she can play because it is a semi-final so I hope she can detach herself a bit from what has happened. We have the greatest solidarity with her.&quot;</p><p>England came back from the brink against Sweden in Zurich, scoring twice late on to force extra time before triumphing in a remarkable penalty shoot-out.</p><p>If they win against 13th-ranked Italy, they will advance to Sunday&#x27;s final against either Germany -- the team they defeated in the 2022 final at Wembley -- or Spain, who beat them in the 2023 World Cup final in Sydney.</p><p>&quot;It would be really disrespectful to Italy to think we are the favorites. They made the semi-finals just like we did and that is really impressive for any team, so complacency is just the biggest mistake you could make,&quot; Wiegman said as she dismissed that tag.</p><p>&quot;We have seen how they play so I don&#x27;t think there is anything that could make you think we might be the favorites. We will have to be at our very best to win the game.&quot;</p><p>Wiegman also hinted that all her players were fit and available for the match, meaning captain Leah Williamson should feature despite being forced off with an ankle injury against Sweden.</p><p>Italy are in the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time since the 1997 Euros after beating Norway in the last round, when veteran Cristiana Girelli struck a last-minute winner.</p><p>&quot;We know England&#x27;s strengths,&quot; admitted Italy coach Andrea Soncin.</p><p>&quot;They are the champions, they have experience of playing in games like these, but we are strongly convinced that we can compete against them. We have a great dream and we want to reach the final.&quot;</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>England coach Sarina Wiegman said Monday that Lionesses defender Jess Carter is "ready to perform" in the Women's Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy despite racial abuse against her overshadowing the build-up to the game.</p>

England coach Sarina Wiegman said Monday that Lionesses defender Jess Carter is "ready to perform" in the Women's Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy despite racial abuse against her overshadowing the build-up to the game.

England's Carter tipped to perform in Euro 2025 semi despite 'disgusting' abuse

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England's Carter tipped to perform in Euro 2025 semi despite 'disgusting' abuse

Agence France-Presse,

Andy Scott

Published Jul 22, 2025 02:17 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 22, 2025 03:35 PM PHT

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abssports

football

women's football

Women's Euro 2025

England

Italy

Jess Carter

Sarina Wiegman

racist abuse

racism

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