Italy through to semi-finals with late winner

Elizabeth Botcherby
BBC Sport journalist

Italy captain Cristiana Girelli scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner as they beat Norway to set up a potential Euro 2025 semi-final against reigning champions England.

After a dominant first-half performance, Girelli opened the scoring in the 50th minute before Norway captain Ada Hegerberg recovered from missing a penalty to level the match.

However, with the game heading towards extra time, Girelli headed home Sofia Cantore's cross to send her side through to the last four for the first time since 1997, where they will face Sweden or England, who play their quarter-final on Thursday (20:00 BST).

"It's a dream that becomes a reality," Girelli said after the game. "It's amazing.

"I felt something different, something special. I have seen in the eyes of my team-mates a special light.

"I just believe to fight until the end and to believe until the end until the referee's whistle. If you have a flame you have to continue to live. We suffered a lot but we fought until the end."

Italy were the better side throughout the opening 45 minutes and were left to rue missed opportunities at the break, with Arianna Caruso, Girelli, Emma Severini and Lucia di Guglielmo all going close.

Girelli broke the deadlock shortly after half-time, touching in Cantore's cross with her left foot from close range, and Italy thought they had doubled their lead a few minutes later when Severini scrambled the ball over the line. However, it was ruled out for offside against Caruso.

Norway were handed a golden opportunity to level in the 60th minute when Hegerberg was awarded a penalty after being hauled to the floor by Elena Linari, but for the second time in this tournament she sent her spot-kick wide.

However, she made amends six minutes later, coolly slotting the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Laura Giuliani.

Momentum swung in Norway's favour following the equaliser, with the best chance for a winner falling to Ingrid Engen, whose curled effort from the edge of the box went just wide, before Girelli popped up in the box late on to spark Italian celebrations.

What was the main talking point?

Hegerberg misses a penalty

While the headlines should be about Italy and their first appearance in the last four of a Women's Euros for 28 years, an unfortunate spotlight has fallen on Norway captain Hegerberg.

Having sent a penalty wide in her side's opening game against Switzerland, her nerves would have been jangling when the referee pointed to the spot on the hour mark.

There was a lengthy delay before she lined up to take the penalty, with a couple of team-mates gathered by the ball and plenty of gardening around the spot.

After the pause, she walked up to the ball and planted her penalty well wide of the right post before putting her head in her hands. Italy goalkeeper Giuliani had gone the right way.

Although she made amends six minutes later, the missed penalty was the latest blemish in an underwhelming tournament from a star-studded Norway side.

Despite topping Group A with three wins from three, their performances have left many fans underwhelmed, with their side benefitting from an own goal to beat Switzerland, needing an 84th-minute winner against Finland, and conceding two late goals to Iceland.

A common criticism has been their inability to get the best out of their superstars - and it was the case once against in Geneva.

Guro Reiten struggled as a makeshift left-back, finding herself hemmed back by a counter-attacking Italy, while Barcelona forward Caroline Graham Hansen was curiously absent throughout.

Norway have now not reached the semi-finals of a Women's Euros since 2013.

Who was the standout performer?

Girelli scores late winner for Italy against Norway

Barbara Bonansea was a nuisance down the left wing throughout the first half, but the star of the show was Italy skipper Girelli.

She was on the bench for her side's group-stage defeat by Spain but came up with two huge goals on her return to the starting XI - and could have had a third had she and Severini not gone for the same ball in the 19th minute.

Girelli, who opened the scoring in Italy's 1-1 draw with Portugal, was a constant threat in the box.

The 35-year-old now has three goals at Euro 2025 and eight in major tournaments for Italy.

The standout stats

Norway have been eliminated from five of their past six knockout ties at major tournaments, with the exception being a penalty shootout victory against Australia at the 2019 World Cup.

Italy have scored the opening goal in all four of their matches at Euro 2025.

Girelli (35y 84d) is the second-oldest goalscorer in the knockout stage of a Women's Euros, after Elisabetta Vignotto (35y 166d) for Italy against Germany in 1989.

What's next?

Italy will play their semi-final on Tuesday, 22 July in Geneva at 20:00.

They will face either Sweden or England, who meet in the second quarter-final on Thursday, 17 July in Zurich at 20:00.

Player of the match

C. Girelli
7.92
22 S. Gaupset
6.20
10 C. Graham Hansen
5.71
4 T. Hansen
5.56
11 G. Reiten
5.51
7 I. Engen
5.41
14 A. Hegerberg
5.39
6 M. Mjelde
5.33
1 C. Fiskerstrand
5.22
21 L. Naalsund
5.07
13 T. Bjelde
5.07
18 F. Maanum
5.00
3 E. Woldvik
4.88
19 E. Terland
4.76
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