It’s been a blink and you miss it rise to prominence for Lionesses star Michelle Agyemang, whose off-the-bench heroics came to England’s rescue once again on Tuesday. Trailing 1-0, with the clock creeping towards its conclusion, a swing of the right boot from substitute Agyemang found the back of the net, forcing the match into extra-time.
Agyemang’s contributions have proved invaluable this summer, with the forward having netted off the bench to save England in back-to-back matches. But for those who have known the teenager for some time, her impact on the team has come as no surprise.
When asked about Agyemang earlier in the tournament, Lionesses skipper Leah Williamson recalled an up-close-and-personal first meeting with the tenacious striker. She explained: “She flattened me [during a tackle]. I was too slow and I think I gave her a bit of stick about it, but in my head I thought, ‘You need to move the ball quicker, because she’s got something about her.’
“My first impression was that she let me know she was there, which I love. As a young player coming through, you can do all the fancy flicks and tricks you want, but somebody needs to know about you, and you need to tell people you’re there, and that’s what she does.”
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Agyemang has been considered a prodigy ever since she was a child, with the Essex-born ace having joined Arsenal aged six. She went on to make her senior debut for the Gunners aged 16 before signing a first-ever professional contract in 2024.
Manager Sarina Wiegman extended those plaudits following England’s come-from-behind win against Sweden, dubbing Agyemang a “special” player. She mused: “She has something special. She’s only 19-years-old, she’s very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do.
“When you talk about little things that she picks up straight away, because she’s not only in the 18-yard box very dangerous but when we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well too. Even when you saw her shot hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future.”
England will become just the second-ever nation to win the Euros in back-to-back tournaments, should they prevail in Sunday’s final. If they do get over the line, it’s likely super sub Agyemang will have something to say about it.