Italy beat Norway 2-1 with a late, late goal from captain Cristiana Girelli to become the first side to book a place in the semi finals of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.
It was a night of high drama that both sides had entered on a high. Each nation had come into the match having already achieved their best performance at a European Championships since 2013. When Italy were defeated quarter finalists and Norway were runners up.
Gemma Grainger made five changes from the rotated side that beat Iceland 4-3 in their final group stage match. Signe Gaupset, who scored twice and assisted twice in that match earned her place in the starting side. Emilie Woldvik, Mathilde Harviken, Vilde Bøe Risa, Celin Bizet and Elizebeth Terland all dropped out of the starting team. With Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Engen and Guro Reiten also returning.
Italy made three changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Spain. Elisabetta Oliviero kept her place after scoring against the world champions. Italy’s captain Girelli returned to the starting side replacing Martina Piemonte while Lucia Di Guglielmo and Emma Severini returned after starting the first two matches of the competition. Lisa Boattin, who had started every match so far dropped to the bench, while Martina Lenzini joined her.
Confusion greeted the team sheets for both sides, with Guro Reiten starting at left back as she did once for Chelsea away at Tottenham last season in the Barclays Women’s Super League. There had been some suspicion that Barbra Bonansea might be out at wing back but a fluid formation from Le Azzure seemed to settle out of possession into a back four. With Bonansea out on the wing.
Italy and Norway have met seven times at the EUROs before, including once in the final of the 1997 edition, when Italy hosted the tournament. Prior to tonight the two sides had not met at a EUROs for 20 years when they played out a thrilling 5-3 at Deepdale in Preston. Both sides met at Stade de Genève hoping to make history for their nation.
The Line ups
NOR: Fiskerstrand; Bjelde, Mjelde, Engen, Hansen; Naalsund, Gaupset, Graham Hansen; Maanum, Reiten, Hegerberg
ITA: Giuliani; Di Guglielmo, Salvai, Linari, Oliviero; Giugliano, Severini, Caruso; Bonansea, Cantore, Girelli
The Action
On a beautifully temperate night in Geneva, Italy had a magnificent chance just minutes into the match. Lisa Naalsund was dispossessed by Girelli in midfield and Girelli found Caruso who drove at the back line, breaking through multiple tackles before toe poking inches wide of the post. Within the first 10 minutes Italy were having the better of the early exchanges despite some wonderful wing play from Graham Hansen.
Bonansea chipped a wonderful ball into the near post finding two Italy players free but both connected with each other as much as the ball. And just like that the chance was gone much to Girelli’s frustration. Shortly after Giugliano found Severini who found huge amounts of space at the back. Severini could only strike the ball directly at the goalkeeper who palmed the danger away.
With 10 minutes remaining in the half Naalsund played a wonderful ball through the Italian defence to find Thea Bjelde running in behind. Bjelde’s ball across took a deflection before bouncing awkwardly off Hegerberg’s hip and bounced just wide of the post. Caruso attempted to reply with the spectacular with minutes to go in the half, but Cecilie Fikerstrand in goal for Norway was equal to it.
Norway broke late in the first half with some terrific running from Engen to find Gaupset in space, with a two versus two ahead of Gaupset, she looked up. Clearly she saw Graham Hansen running through the middle of the park, but Gaupset went for the spectacular and quite astonishingly nearly caught Laura Giuliani out in the Italian goal.
Starting the second half with more intent Gaupset was involved again. She drove to the bye line before cutting the ball back into the box, a good intervention from the Italian defence prevented an effort on goal. However it was Italy who would take the lead in the match before the 50 minute mark. Caruso found a ball out wide to Sofia Cantore, her cross come shot found the boot of Girelli who tapped the ball home 1-0 to Italy.
Just minutes later, Cantore was an offside flag away from doubling their lead, with Norway stunned by the Italian opener they were struggling to respond. But Norway’s response would be gifted to them on a plate by Italy captain Elena Linari, who pulled Hegerberg to the floor in the box. It was the Norwegian captain who stepped up to the plate but for the second time at this tournament she put the ball wide of the post.
When Elizabeth Terland started warming up moments later it looked for all the world that the Norway captain would be withdrawn. However Maanum was subbed off instead, and just a moment later Grainger’s decision to leave Hegerberg on the pitch was repaid as a magnificent ball from Maren Mjelde found Hegerberg in behind. Laura Giuliani in goal for Italy was caught in two minds as Hegerberg poked the ball over the goalkeeper to level the scores.
As we entered the final 20 minutes Norway appeared to have wrestled all of their opposition’s momentum away from them. Graham Hansen was played inside and the Barcelona forward whipped the ball across the face of goal, but no Norwegian player could connect with the inviting ball and Oliviero took the chance to intervene.
Italy were able to stabilise the match with minutes remaining. Yet still Norway pressured, Gaupset found Engen on the edge of the box, she opened her body and curled the ball just wide of the post with a fantastic effort. Having soaked up Norway’s pressure for much of the second half, a wonderful cross to the back post from Cantore found Girelli in the 89th minute. Girelli headed home and reeled away in raucous celebration, Italy’s spot in their first major semi final since 1997 was secured.
Norway Player Ratings
Cecilie Fiskerstrand – 6/10 – Palmed away a few shots that she should have done better with. Was lucky that Cantore’s effort was ruled offside after it slipped through her fingers.
Guro Reiten – 5/10 – Defended well at times one on one against Sofia Cantore, also made some crucial interceptions. Played some wonderful long balls up the pitch also. However her positional sense in defence was exposed for the opening goal with Cantore given far too much space. Also exposed for the second goal it makes you question, how much was this the fault of the player? And how much is the fault of the manager who set her up to fail, that will be the question as the inquest into Norway’s exit begins.
Tuva Hansen – 6/10 – A solid defensive player but feels wasted at centre back having plyed her trade at full back for Bayern Munich all season.
Maren Mjelde – 7/10 – Mjelde made her international debut in 2007 and Norway needed all her years of experience at the back. Even still they looked disjointed. Had a good range of passing finding Bjelde a few times in advanced positions. Her assist was exceptional for Hegerberg.
Thea Bjelde – 5/10 – Made some positive runs from full back but had a real handful dealing with Bonansea on the wing. Had much more joy in the second half as Bonansea was pinned back, she had to come off injured late on.
Lisa Naalsund – 6/10 – Picked up a foolish early yellow card. Played a wonderful through ball that split Italy open for the first time in the match.
Ingrid Engen – 6/10 – Attempted to control the game by getting on the ball but Italy fought hard to win the ball back. Made the most interceptions and grew into the match.
Frida Maanum – 6/10 – Struggled to make an impact on the match, still it felt at the time like an inexplicable decision to take off Maanum over Hegerberg until of course, Grainger was proven correct.
Caroline Graham Hansen – 7/10 – Looked at her brilliant best at times tonight, by half time she had made three successful dribbles out of three attempted.
Signe Gaupset – 7/10 – It was not quite her night but Gaupset is one for the future and the stage will be hers again.
Ada Hegerberg – 5/10 – Had the fewest touches of any outfield player for Norway in the first half and offered very little in the press. Missed the penalty to get her side back into the match. However she showed her class to level the scores after her manager showed her faith in the striker by not taking her off.
Substitutions:
Elizabeth Terland (66′ for Frida Maanum) – 5/10 – Barely had an impact on the game with only six touches.
Emilie Woldvik (87′ for Thea Bjelde) – N/A –
Italy Player Ratings
Laura Giuliani – 5/10 – Woeful positioning for Norway’s opening goal and has been the weak point in this team for a while now.
Elisabetta Oliviero – 8/10 – Picked up some good positions and had a brilliant battle with Gaupset. Was quick and energetic at the back.
Elena Linari – 7/10 – A moment of madness in the box saw Linari rugby tackle Hegerberg to the ground. She was completely let off the hook by Hegerberg. Otherwise she did extremely well and made more defensive actions than any other player on the pitch.
Cecilia Salvai – 7/10 – Reads the game extremely well and had to wait to win a EUROs quarter having been in the side that lost to Germany 1-0 in 2013 but deserved victory today.
Lucia Di Guglielmo – 7/10 – Looked light on her feet and skipped through challenges at times. Found the side netting after positive work from Bonansea at one point.
Emma Severini – 5/10 – Was involved for better or for worse, did more to stop an Italian goal than find one when she got in Girelli’s way from a guilt edged chance.
Manuela Giugliano – 7/10 – Pressed well and helped turnover possession a number of times. Unlocked the Norway defence midway through the first half but Severini could not take advantage.
Arianna Caruso – 7/10 – Caruso is often at the heart of what Italy do best and today was no different as she kept her side ticking in midfield.
Barbara Bonansea – 8/10 – Put in a vintage display in both attack and defence.
Sofia Cantore – 9/10 – The new Washington Spirit signing set up the first goal after finding space impressively. Was unlucky not to get her name on the scoresheet after being denied by the offside flag. Has a great understanding with Girelli and that understanding helped Italy plot a route to the semi final.
Cristiana Girelli – 9/10 – The matchwinner, she scored both goals for Italy and ensured that they would reach their first semi final since 1997 in the process.
Substitutions:
Michela Cambiaghi (77′ for Barbra Bonansea)– 6/10 – Is consistently trusted from the bench by her manager having been introduced in every match of this tournament off the bench. Had little to do after coming on.
Giada Greiggi (77′ for Emma Severini) – 6/10 – Did well to help her team control proceedings after having only played games at this tournament since March.
Martina Piemonte (90′ for Cristiana Girelli) – N/A –
Martina Lenzini (90′ for Sofia Cantore) – N/A –
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Cristiana Girelli
Who else? After tonight she is outright the player to have scored more times than any other for her nation at a major tournament. It could really have only been her to score the dramatic late winner and to celebrate in wonderfully Italian fashion.
