When she was a ball girl at an England match at Wembley just four years ago, Michelle Agyemang says she was “never that close to the action”.
The 19-year-old certainly is now, having scored decisive goals to keep the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 dreams alive in Switzerland.
Her 81st-minute close-range finish sent their quarter-final against Sweden to extra time and then penalties, where England triumphed in a chaotic shootout.
With her side moments away from a shock 1-0 defeat to Italy in the semi-final too, Agyemang – on as a late substitute again – pounced to drag her side level in the 96th minute and send the match into extra time.
Having come through England’s under-age teams, her first real encounter with the senior side came when she was a ball girl in Sarina Wiegman’s third match in charge – a World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in 2021.
“It was crazy,” Agyemang told BBC Sport. “Seeing the girls so close to my face. Beth Mead got a hat-trick that day, so to be a part of that experience was invaluable and I’ll never forget it.”
Wiegman knows about her evolution from ball girl to first-team player, but the Arsenal forward does not think her England team-mates know about her history – and that’s OK.
They know her as the quiet, unassuming teenager who comes alive on the pitch.
Against France in England’s opening match, Agyemang provided a taste of what she is capable of.
Her four-minute cameo almost led England to pull off an unlikely comeback, with nobody in the team having more touches in the opposition box than Agyemang’s five.
But while she could not save the Lionesses from defeat then, her goal against Sweden in the quarter-final kept them in the tournament and, ultimately, on track to retain their title.
“It means the world to me to finally be here,” she added.
“I don’t think I would have expected that maybe a year ago but everything happens for a reason and to be here is great. To step on the pitch, even just to wear the kit is a great privilege for me and I enjoy it – every single second of it.”
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