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In a nail-biting Euro 2025 quarter-final match, Norway faced a tough opponent in Italy, who were making their first appearance in the knockout stage since 2013. Despite a strong performance throughout the group stage, securing nine points with wins against Switzerland, Finland, and Iceland, the Norwegian women's team fell short, losing 2:1.
The turning point of the match came when star striker Ada Hegerberg, who had been under scrutiny following her missed penalties at the Euro 2025 tournament, was given a penalty kick against Italy. However, she missed again, firing the ball past the post. This miss was met with criticism from Norwegian media outlets, with "Adressavisen" describing her miss as "truly unforgivable" and NRK calling it "terrible."
Hegerberg, who had previously missed penalties against Switzerland, acknowledged her mistake, stating, "It's not enough." Despite the criticism, she praised her team's performance, highlighting the only bright spot of the tournament, their game against Iceland, where they appeared somewhat more stable.
Italy's victory was sealed by captain Cristiana Girelli, who scored a brace, with her header in added time being the decisive goal. Italy's advancement to the semi-finals for the first time since 1997 sets them up for a semi-final clash with the winners of the game between Sweden and England on July 22.
Despite the disappointing result, the Norwegian women's team can take pride in their victory against Finland, where they secured first place with a narrow win, despite the statistics speaking against them. The team will now regroup and look ahead to the future, aiming to overcome the criticism and continue their journey towards Euro glory.
In the aftermath of the match, questions surround Ada Hegerberg's contribution after missing another crucial penalty kick in the Champions League, potentially impacting Norway's future in European leagues. Despite a disappointing quarter-final loss to Italy, Norwegian sports analysts remain hopeful for the team, emphasizing their promising performance against Iceland.
