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The lowdown on UEFA Women's EURO 2025: Day 17

The lowdown on UEFA Women's EURO 2025: Day 17

Yahoo6 days ago
The EURO 2025 semi-finals are here and the first finalist will be confirmed on Tuesday evening.
Here's what to expect from day 17 of the tournament in Switzerland.
Before we get into today's action, what happened last time out? ⏮️
📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors
Germany, finalists in 2022, went head to head with France in their quarter-final clash in Basel.
France initially took the lead in the first half as Grace Geyoro calmly converted from the penalty spot, after Kathrin Hendrich was shown a straight red card for pulling Griedge Mbock's hair.
Sjoeke Nüsken put Germany back on level terms in the first half but neither side was able to find that all important winner in the second half or in extra-time.
Ultimately, the game went to penalties and Germany narrowly edged out France 6-5 to progress into the semi-finals.
Who is playing today? 👀The first semi-final tie will see current holders England take on Italy in Geneva.
The Lionesses booked their place in the last four with a penalty shootout triumph over Sweden, despite finding themselves 2-0 down at half-time.
Italy, on the other hand, produced a narrow 2-1 win over Norway in their quarter-final clash to reach the latter stages.
Player to watch 🔎
It's fair to say few have been more impactful at this tournament for England than Michelle Agyemang.
The teenager only made her senior Lionesses debut back in April, when she scored a stunning volley against Belgium in the Nations League.
Here in Switzerland, she has been one of Sarina Wiegman's go-to players off the bench, and she proved exactly why in the quarter-final against Sweden last week.
Her perfectly taken goal in the second half put the Lionesses back on level terms in the tie, ensuring they could take things to extra-time, before they eventually triumphed on penalties.
Key storyline 🔑
📸 Charlotte Wilson - 2025 Getty Images
Italy have, undoubtedly, been one of the feel good stories at this summer's EUROs.
Heading into this tournament, the Azzurre hadn't qualified for the semi-finals of the competition since the late 90s, having only made it as far as the quarter-finals in 2009 and 2013.
In the last two European championships, Italy failed to even make it out of their group.
Which is why you could see exactly what it meant to Cristiana Girelli, when her double against Norway ensured their place in the final four for the first time in over two decades.
Overcoming reigning champions England will be a tough ask for Italy but their impressive run thus far speaks for itself.
Must-watch video 🎥
It may have little relevance to this evening's game in Geneva but one of the moments of the tournament so far is Ann-Katrin Berger's remarkable stop against France in the quarter-finals.
Germany spent the majority of that game up against it, due to being a player down, but the goalkeeper's late save to keep out a misdirected headed clearance, which appeared to be heading into the back of the net, was simply unbelievable.
Fun facts 📊
Italy have lost just one of their last seven matches heading into this tie.
England have won seven of their last 10 games in all competitions against Italy (D1 L2), that said, they've lost each of the two head-to-heads at the EUROs, in 1987 and 2009 respectively.
England are the first reigning champions to reach a EUROs semi-final since Germany back in 2013, and on the last five occasions the reigning champions have featured in the semi-finals, they have gone on to reach the final.
Our prediction 🔮
England 2-1 Italy
📸 Eddie Keogh - 2025 Getty Images
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati high school football: Best 10 linebackers ahead of 2025

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