England v Italy live: Lucy Bronze and Leah Williamson start for Lionesses in Euro 2025 semi-final as Jess Carter dropped

Sarina Wiegman makes just one change to the England starting XI that lined-up against Sweden last time out.

Jess Carter, who has been subjected to racial abuse during this tournament via social media, drops out with Esme Morgan slotting into the defensive line.

Lucy Bronze and Leah Williamson, who both picked up knocks in the match against Sweden, are fit to feature and will start the game.

England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Morgan, Greenwood; Toone, Walsh, Stanway; James, Russo, Hemp

The confirmed line-ups will be announced in the next few minutes, but all of Wiegman’s squad of 23 took part in the training following the gruelling clash with Sweden, including Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Lauren James.

Asked if she expected to have a fully fit squad for the semi-final, Wiegman said: “That’s what it looks like, yeah.”

The England squad has arrived at the Stade de Geneve. While the majority of players gather together when they walk out onto the pitch, either chatting, taking photos, or looking for friends and family in the crowd, Chloe Kelly heads off on her own on a walk between both boxes. The coolest customer around.

Very randomly, while I was on the train into Geneva, the Switzerland head coach Pia Sundhage got on and sat opposite me. Sundhage will be at both semi-finals, after leading hosts Switzerland on a historic run to the quarter-finals. The 65-year-old said the experience of leading Switzerland at the Euros was “overwhelming” and that it would take some time for what they achieved to sink in. For now, she predicted an England win, but said it could be “magic” for Italy to reach the final.

England defender Alex Greenwood believes taking the knee has “lost its purpose” and said the Lionesses want to stake a stand against racist abuse after Jess Carter revealed her ordeal at Euro 2025.

“We hope other organisations, and other teams, have the same feeling as us and also want to do something to make a change,” Greenwood said to BBC Radio 5 Live.

As England prepare for their Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy, Sarina Wiegman knows she can rely on a 19-year-old striker who thrives when the Lionesses are in trouble.

England defender Esme Morgan said Lucy Bronze’s warrior spirit is inspiring the Lionesses at Euro 2025, with the veteran’s “passion, energy and fight” spreading around the team as they prepare for Tuesday’s semi-final against Italy.

The right back is appearing at her seventh major tournament for England and with the Lionesses now through to their sixth consecutive semi-final, Morgan said Bronze remains as important as ever.

Around the England camp, there’s a different air. The squad insist they are fully focused on Tuesday’s Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy, but it’s not quite a case of drawing a line under the week’s big story, in the way that often happens in such situations. Certainly for games of this magnitude.

By contrast, many of the players want to use the occasion to draw attention to the stand they’re trying to make. They wanted to “send a message to the world,” in the words of Sarina Wiegman.