A late goal from Michelle Agyemang and a penalty in extra time from Chloe Kelly secured their spot in Sunday's final in Basel.

England boss Sarina Wiegman once again named Chelsea quartet Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Lauren James in the starting XI, with Niamh Charles and Aggie Beever-Jones both among the substitutes.

The opening 30 minutes were calm and controlled, with James attempting a shot on goal from a Lauren Hemp cross as the Lionesses sized up their opposition.

Yet for all England's control, Italy were the ones to spring a surprise by striking the first blow after 33 minutes. Martina Lenzini and Sofia Cantore linked up well down the right, and when the cross came over, Barbara Bonansea took a touch before lashing her shot into the roof of the net.

The Lionesses would once again have to come from behind if they were to advance in the competition.

Having scored a goal from distance already in this tournament, Walsh attempted a curling effort from the edge of the box, but her attempt went just wide. England went in at half-time a goal behind, and as the second half began, Beth Mead replaced James on the wing. Hemp then went close twice as the Lionesses ramped up the pressure in search of an equaliser.

Next, Alex Greenwood had an attempt from distance parried by the goalkeeper before Walsh put her attempt over the bar, but the referee stopped play as the ball was ruled to have crossed the line for a goal kick in the build-up.

Italy's well-organised setup was reducing England to taking shots from distance. Ella Toone saw her long-range attempt go wide of the post, while Georgia Stanway blasted over. Bronze whipped a dangerous cross into the box, but Hemp couldn't make a connection.

After scoring a headed goal in the quarter-final, Bronze popped up again with a header from an Alex Greenwood corner as England fans held their breath, but the ball flashed across the face of goal without crossing the line. With 84 minutes gone, Blues striker Beever-Jones was introduced in place of Alessia Russo, along with Agyemang for Leah Williamson.

Italy were happy to hit England on the counter, and Hampton was called upon to make a superb double save to keep the Lionesses in the match. Bronze had another headed shot saved by Laura Giuliani from a Walsh corner as the fourth official indicated that there would be seven minutes of added time.

The seconds were ticking away. Hampton even came up for a corner. Then somehow, this England team mounted yet another comeback. Two minutes from exiting the competition, Hemp whipped in a ball from the right, which Giuliani palmed away, only for the rebound to fall to Agyemang, and the teenager drilled her shot into the bottom right-hand corner with the time on the clock showing 95:01.

The Lionesses were going to extra time again.

After the late drama, both sides settled into a steady rhythm in the first 15 minutes of the extra period of play and passed largely without drama. Walsh, who had kept the ball moving in the midfield with her usual poise and determination, was replaced by Grace Clinton.

Into the second period of extra time, Giuliani had to claw away an attempt direct from a Kelly corner that was going to sneak under her crossbar.

A brilliant run from Agyemang saw her in space on the left, and her lofted shot clipped the underside of the crossbar. With three minutes to go, the tie was heading for penalties. That was, until England were awarded one of their own. Mead had been hauled down by Severini inside the box, and there was no doubt in the referee's mind that this was a spot-kick.

Up stepped Kelly to take the penalty. Giuliani saved, but the England substitute was there again to convert the rebound.

They had made hard work of it again, but it mattered not. England are in the European Championship final for the second time in a row, where they will play the winner of Wednesday's semi-final between Germany and Spain.

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