Italy have made history: Soncin’s team beat Norway 2-1, flying into the 2025 EUROs semi-finals. This is the first time we have managed this since the tournament adopted its 16-team format, and, in general, it is our first time in the top four since 1997. On Tuesday, 22 July, the Azzurre will face the winner of Sweden and England. In a sold-out Stade de Genève (26276 in attendance), Girelli made all the difference, scoring a brace to secure a huge result. The FIGC President, Gabriele Gravina, went down to the pitchside at the end of the game to congratulate all the players and Soncin: “It’s an extraordinary result, the Azzurre deserve it all. This group is creating incredible history in Italian women’s football, thanks to the pride, quality, and determination they bring to every game. Italian football is the most beautiful symbol of our nation that never gives up”. Soncin’s words were equally heartfelt and emotional: “Incredible, amazing, in front of all these people. This year both the U17s and U19s qualified… It is a great message for the youth managers and our whole movement. It is the biggest gift that we can give to everyone watching us, including girls and young women who have this passion for football. Now let’s enjoy the moment, and then very soon we will start to think about the semi-final. We will battle hard against whoever we face”.

THE MATCH
After an initial burst from Grainger’s squad that earned them a corner in the 3rd minute, the Azzurre began gaining ground, and in the 8th minute, Caruso missed a good chance: the ex-Juventus player burst through the middle, getting past two and pulling the trigger, but an unfortunate rebound sent the ball wide of the post. Italy then started managing the ball and the game well, while Norway couldn’t find any sort of rhythm. Around the 20th minute, Soncin’s side came close to breaking the deadlock twice: Bonansea sent a great ball in, but Severini and Girelli got in each other’s way in full flight. Shortly after, Severini received the ball off Caruso, who shot first time rather than setting up Cantore, who was all alone on the opposite side. The Azzurre were dominating, but they weren’t able to take their chances: in the 32nd minute, Bonansea and Di Guglielmo’s effort was wasted, unable to finish. Norway had a chance in the 36th minute: Bjelde got past Bonansea down the right, driving deep and getting the cross into Hegerber,g who missed the target by just a few centimetres from close range. The Scandinavians finished the half stronger, and in the 45th minute, Gaupset came close to a screamer, looking to catch Giuliani out with an effort from long range, which drifted just wide of the post.

Italy continued pushing at the start of the second half and in the 50th minute they got their opener: Cantore burst down the right flank, putting in a pacy low-driven cross which was tapped home from close range by Girelli, scoring her seventh goal in one of the main international competitions for Italy (only Carolina Morace has better on 12, with Patrizia Panico on 7 which the 1990-born forward then surpassed with her late winner). Just three minutes later, the Azzurre were denied their second because of an offside offence: Cantore scored after persistent pressure, but Caruso’s initial offside impact meant that the goal couldn’t stand. In the 58th minute, Linari brought down Hegerberg in the area, and Frappart pointed to the spot: the Norwegian captain stepped up, but missed the target, just like she did against Switzerland. The former Ballon d’Or winner then made up for it in the 66th minute, when she scored the equaliser: Mjelde launched it forward, Hegerberg got in behind Linari and beat the onrushing Giuliani. Once they made it 1-1, Grainger’s side grew into the game and began dominating the midfield. In the 86th minute, Engen let a powerful effort fly from outside the box, but it just went wide. But even when they had the most momentum, Italy still believed and found a winner in the 90th minute: Cantore sent a perfect ball into the back post, finding Girelli, who powerfully headed past Fiskerstrand, giving her no chance. The 1990-born veteran (at 35 years and 84 days old) became the oldest player to score more than once in the UEFA EUROs, overtaking Carolina Morace (33 years and 151 days, also against Norway. After four minutes of injury time, Frappart blew the final whistle and the Azzurre exploded with joy, reaching a historic semi-final: it is, in fact, the first time we have reached the top four since the tournament began adopting the 16-team format.

NORWAY 1-2 ITALY

Norway (4-3-3): Fiskerstrand; Bjelde (87' Woldvik), Mjelde, T. Hansen, Reiten; Engen, Maanum (64’ Terland), Naalsund; Gaupset, Hegerberg, Graham Hansen.
Bench: Panengstuen, Mikalsen, Woldvik, Østenstad, Bøe Risa, Sævik, Kielland, Harviken, Ilddhusøy, Terland, Jensen.
Manager: Grainger.

Italy (3-5-2): Giuliani; Di Guglielmo, Salvai, Linari; Oliviero, Giugliano, Caruso, Severini (77’ Greggi), Bonansea (77’ Cambiaghi); Cantore (92' Lenzini), Girelli (92' Piemonte).
Bench: Baldi, Durante, Schatzer, Piemonte, Piga, Bergamaschi, Serturini, Goldoni, Boattin, Lenzini, Greggi, Cambiaghi.
Manager: Soncin.

Goalscorers: 50’ Girelli (I), 66’ Hegerberg (N), 90' Girelli (I)

Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (FRA); Assistants: Camille Soriano (FRA), Susanne Küng (SUI); Fourth official: Désirée Grundbacher (SUI); VAR: Willy Delajod (FRA); AVAR: Fedayi San (SUI).

Bookings: Naalsund (N), Linari (I)