Women from Italy have advanced to the semi-finals of the European Championships
In a thrilling quarter-final match, the Italy women's football team secured their place in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 semi-finals, marking their first appearance at this stage in 28 years. The team, seen as potential dark horses, defeated two-time champions Norway 2-1 in Geneva, overturning a late-game equalizer to clinch their spot.
**Match Overview**
Captain Cristiana Girelli scored both goals for Italy, opening the scoring just after half-time (50') and sealing the victory with a decisive 90th-minute header. Norway's star player, Ada Hegerberg, missed a penalty at the 60th minute but later equalized in the 66th minute. Despite Norway's strong push following the equalizer, Italy showed resilience and maintained their composure to secure the win.
**Tactical and Team Dynamics**
Italy reverted to a 3-5-2 formation, restoring key players such as Lucia Di Guglielmo, Emma Severini, and Girelli to the starting XI. Norway, who topped Group A with three wins, made lineup changes, including Guro Reiten playing out of position at left-back and the key suspension of Marit Bratberg Lund. Italy displayed defensive solidity and effective counterattacks, capitalizing on their chances despite Norway's attacking talent.
**Significance**
This victory marks Italy's first UEFA Women's EURO semi-final appearance in 28 years. The team's performance against Norway is a testament to their mettle and potential, as they face either England or Sweden in the semi-finals, a challenging opponent after avenging past tournament losses.
The semi-final matches for Euro 2022 will be broadcast on ZDF, ARD, and DAZN. The Italian team's journey to the semi-finals was characterised by tactical discipline, timely clinical finishing from captain Cristiana Girelli, and mental strength to overturn a late-game equalizer by Norway, securing a memorable victory to advance further in the tournament.
However, the debate around Ada Hegerberg's performance is likely to intensify following Norway's tournament exit. Hegerberg missed a penalty in the 60th minute and, despite scoring the equalizer, was criticized for her performance throughout the match. Some fans and experts have expressed a desire to remove Hegerberg from the Norwegian national team.
Meanwhile, the German team will face France in the quarter-final match on Saturday. A 92-year-old is setting a significant task for the German team, as they aim to make history and reach the final stage of the tournament for the first time since 1991.
The Italy women's football team, who secured their place in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 semi-finals, will compete in the European leagues' Champions League, demonstrating their progress and potential. Captain Cristiana Girelli, a key figure in their success, scored both goals against Norway, including a dramatic 90th-minute header to clinch the victory. On the other hand, Norway, whose star player Ada Hegerberg had a controversial performance, were eliminated from the tournament.
