Whether it’s the roar of the crowd or a tactical note from Sarina, the Lionesses’ ‘super-subs’ have played a crucial role in finishing games strong throughout the UEFA tournament. But what keeps their spirit so alive and ready to ignite?
A gruelling 120+ minutes of play and a penalty shootout later, England progressed to the semi-finals, after clawing their way to a win against Sweden. With England trailing 2-0, Chloe Kelly entered the pitch in the 78th minute — the textbook definition of a super-sub. Just one minute later, she delivered a pinpoint cross to Lucy Bronze, who headed in England’s first goal. Then, in the 81st minute, Kelly linked up with Beth Mead to set up Michelle Agyemang, England’s youngest player, for a quick-fire second.
From the brink of elimination to a dramatic equaliser in the final ten minutes, England’s quarter-final was turned completely on its head. For Michelle Agyemang, it was a night of firsts — her debut major tournament and her first goal in a UEFA competition. Stepping off the bench as a true super-sub, she delivered when it mattered most. After a nail-biting 3-2 win on penalties, England not only advanced, but also made history — becoming the first team ever to come back from 2-0 down in a UEFA Women’s Euro knockout match.
Positive clicks
England secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a commanding 6-1 win over Wales last Sunday, cruising out of the group stages in style. Among the standout moments were two unforgettable goals from substitutes Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones — each followed by a curious celebration of finger snaps from the bench. While fans (and even some teammates) were left scratching their heads, Chloe Kelly was quick to explain the meaning behind the gesture:
“We have a little group of us, the finishers as you call it, the ‘positive clicks’ we call it on the bench. We said if one of us comes on and scores, let’s do that as our celebration.”
A subtle but meaningful celebration, the finger snaps are a nod to the players on the bench — a way of bringing them onto the pitch, even if they don’t log a single official minute. It’s a tribute to their relentless effort in training and a reminder that every role matters. The gesture also extends beyond the squad, acknowledging the unwavering support of fans — whether they’re watching intently from their living room or screaming from the stands, faces painted red and white, homemade signs held high.
Kelly says:
“We work really hard, on the training pitch, in the gym,” which she suggests may go unnoticed.
However, she adds:
“It’s about sticking together, being at our best when called upon, and training hard to get the best out of each other.”
Sticking together
From cliques to clicks, Kelly explains the group on the bench are always there to support the girls on the pitch. She says:
“We’ve got a great group of girls, so it’s about enjoying the whole experience as a group,” adding:
“Usually, cliques are negative, but it’s definitely not [negative]. We support each other.”
This tradition comes three years after Kelly secured England’s win back in 2022 Euros, after coming off the bench and living up to her super-sub name by scoring a goal in the 110th minute.
An unwelcome culture
Regrettably, the positive culture the Lionesses have worked so hard to build has been overshadowed by the racial abuse directed at England centre-back Jess Carter throughout the tournament.
During a statement released on Instagram, Carter shared her feelings about the unnecessary comments attacking her race in regard to the game:
“While I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don’t agree or think it’s ok to target someone’s appearance or race.”
Backed by the Lioness official Instagram page, several of Carter’s teammates also took to Instagram to express their opinion. Lotte Wubben-Moy, England defender, writes,
“It’s unacceptable for any person to be subject to this or any kind of abuse,” as she questions what steps need to be taken to address and eliminate this ongoing abuse that has no place in football tournaments.
Carter, who plays club football for Gotham FC, has decided to step away from social media in response to online bullying.
During an interview, Bronze explained:
“The bigger the game gets, the bigger the noise becomes, the more fans there are, but the more critics there are,” and concludes that, regardless, there is no place for abuse.
Surrounded by younger teammates who are going through their first tournament, like Michelle Agyemang, Bronze applauded Carter’s honesty in speaking out against the trolls, saying:
“It gives people more power to be brave, stand up and speak up.”
Bronze also called on federations like FIFA and UEFA to take decisive action, emphasising that while players can use their platforms to raise awareness, the ultimate responsibility rests with these organisations, and social media platforms, to tackle the issue effectively.
At Beyond the Pitch, we stand firmly with Jess Carter and all others who have faced such abuse. This behaviour has no place in our sport or in society. We are committed to using our platform to speak out against these injustices and will do everything in our power to hold those responsible accountable and drive meaningful change.
The Lionesses have built a powerful culture that unites a vast community both on and off the pitch, and right there in the stands. As the super-subs click their fingers, true England fans are clicking with them every step of the way.
England will face Italy on Tuesday, 22 July at 8pm BST at Stade de Genève, with the match available to watch live on ITV.
