logo
Italy is one win away from women's Euro final, 3 years after players were permitted to turn pro

Italy is one win away from women's Euro final, 3 years after players were permitted to turn pro

Italy is one win away from reaching the final of the Women's European Championship, but just three years ago its players couldn't even get professional contracts in their own country.
Little wonder veteran captain Cristiana Girelli was in tears after her two goals inspired Italy to a 2-1 victory over Norway last week, and a first semifinal appearance at the tournament in 28 years.
The Azzurre next plays defending champion England on Tuesday in Geneva.
'It's a great joy to be among the top four in Europe and it is a happiness that we want to share because we know how important it is to bring home the results in Italy and especially for the new generations,' Girelli said, after again wiping the tears from her eyes.
'Because obviously we do this for our glory but there is a much deeper meaning, which we certainly want to bring, which is that in Italy women can play soccer too.'
Of course they can, although they couldn't hope to make a lot of money for it until 2022 after years of amateur-only status.
It was in April of that year that the executive board of the sport's national federation approved new regulations to open the way for a women's professional era starting July 1 — in time for the following Serie A season.
A 1981 Italian law had limited female players to amateur status, meaning they couldn't earn more than 30,000 euros ($32,000) per year before taxes.
Benefits such as social security contributions, an end-of-career fund, pension, medical protection for injuries and maternity leave were a distant dream.
'Difficult years'
The 35-year-old Girelli and many of her national teammates have experienced the change firsthand, with several of them having had to do hospitality jobs to support their soccer careers.
'There were difficult years where we really suffered a lot,' Girelli said.
The push to make the women's game professional in Italy followed the national team's surprise run to the quarterfinals of the 2019 Women's World Cup.
It was also helped by the big clubs — Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Roma and Lazio — starting to invest more in their women's teams.
Progress has been slower than in the countries of its traditional soccer rivals — such as England, France and Spain — but Italy is showing signs that it is catching up on the international stage.
'Something magical'
Under coach Andrea Soncin, Italy is proving it can go toe-to-toe with the top teams, culminating in its first semifinal match at the European tournament since a run to the 1997 final.
'It's something magical,' Girelli said. 'But to tell you the truth I have felt something special in the air since I arrived in Switzerland, since the coach took charge of this team I felt something special.
'And you know, women are never wrong with their feelings,' she continued with a wry smile.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
While it hasn't quite reached fever pitch back home, 2.4 million television viewers in Italy — a 16.2% audience share — watched the team's match against Norway and that's likely to be even more for the semifinals.
'We hope this love, this affection, this atmosphere that's coming to us from Italy doesn't disappear,' Girelli said. 'I really hope that with all my heart because we struggled to get here.
'We've reached something amazing, something extraordinary, and however it goes, I really hope it continues to feed this passion, this love for us.'
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jannik Sinner rehires the fitness coach he fired for playing a role in his doping case
Jannik Sinner rehires the fitness coach he fired for playing a role in his doping case

Winnipeg Free Press

time2 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Jannik Sinner rehires the fitness coach he fired for playing a role in his doping case

ROME (AP) — Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has rehired Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach nearly a year after firing him for his role in the top-ranked player's doping case. The move comes after Sinner recently removed fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio from his team. 'Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level,' a statement from Sinner's team said Wednesday. Last year, Sinner tested positive twice for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid in March; the case wasn't made public until August, shortly before the U.S. Open, which he ended up winning for the second of his four Grand Slam titles. He initially was completely cleared, based on the defense that he accidentally was exposed to the banned substance, Clostebol, via a massage from his then-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Sinner said his fitness trainer at the time, Ferrara, purchased a product in Italy and gave it to Naldi for a cut on Naldi's finger. Naldi then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves. Sinner then fired Naldi and Ferrara, and Ferrara was hired briefly by Matteo Berrettini, another Italian player. The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the exoneration, and Sinner agreed to serve a three-month ban that ended right before the Italian Open in May of this year. Sinner, who won Wimbledon this month, will return to action at the Cincinnati Open next month as he prepares to defend his U.S. Open title. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP tennis:

Formula 1: How to watch the Belgian Grand Prix on TV and what to know
Formula 1: How to watch the Belgian Grand Prix on TV and what to know

Winnipeg Free Press

time5 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Formula 1: How to watch the Belgian Grand Prix on TV and what to know

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Here's a guide that tells you what you need to know about the Belgian Grand Prix. It's the 13th round of the 2025 Formula 1 season. How to watch the Belgian Grand Prix on TV — In the U.S., on ESPN. — Other countries are listed here. The Belgian Grand Prix schedule — Friday: Practice and qualifying for the sprint race. — Saturday: Sprint and qualifying. — Sunday: Belgian Grand Prix, 44 laps of the 7-kilometer (4.35-mile) circuit. It starts at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET / 1300 GMT). Belgian Grand Prix venue Spa is a drivers' favorite for its spectacular route through the hills and forests of eastern Belgium. The uphill, high-speed Eau Rouge is one of the most famed corners in all of motorsport. Originally laid out on public roads, Spa is the longest circuit on the calendar and one where rain often plays a big role. Last time out Lando Norris beat his McLaren teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri to the win the British Grand Prix in a thrilling and controversial race in the rain. Piastri lost the lead after a 10-second penalty for sharp braking under the safety car. Sauber's Nico Hülkenberg took his first career podium after placing third — it was his 239th GP. Max Verstappen was fifth after a spin in what turned out to be Christian Horner's last race as Red Bull team principal. He was fired three days later. Catch up on F1 — Lando Norris wins thrilling British Grand Prix in the rain to cut Oscar Piastri's F1 lead — Red Bull fires F1 team principal Christian Horner after 20 title-filled years — Red Bull signals it will keep up title fight after Horner was fired. It faces many other challenges — Oscar Piastri says he'll fuel his F1 title charge with 'frustration' at race-deciding penalty — Sauber's success is an F1 anomaly as teams switch focus to 2026 Key stats 20 — It's the first race in Red Bull's 20-year history without Christian Horner as team principal, after he was fired earlier this month. 100 — Yuki Tsunoda enters his 100th race in F1 with an unwanted record. Nico Hülkenberg's surprise third place in Britain means Verstappen's Red Bull teammate becomes the driver with most F1 starts without a podium finish. 139 — Charles Leclerc will mark his 139th race for Ferrari in Belgium, ranking him joint-third all-time with Felipe Massa for most F1 races for the Italian team. Only Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen have more. What they're saying Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Yesterday, I was informed by Red Bull that operationally I would no longer be involved with the business or the team moving forward… It came as a shock.' — Christian Horner tells Red Bull staff he's leaving. 'It still feels a bit unreal to be here and not to see him.' — New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies on taking Christian Horner's place. 'I will use the frustration to make sure I win some more races later.' — Oscar Piastri looks back on his penalty at the British Grand Prix. ___ AP auto racing:

Euro 2025: Tears for Italy and hope for the future after emotional semifinals loss to England
Euro 2025: Tears for Italy and hope for the future after emotional semifinals loss to England

Winnipeg Free Press

time10 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Euro 2025: Tears for Italy and hope for the future after emotional semifinals loss to England

GENEVA (AP) — Tears, distress and disbelief. Italy captain Cristiana Girelli and defender Lucia Di Guglielmo cried as they walked around the field after an emotional semifinal loss — 2-1 after extra time to England on Tuesday — each with one arm around the other's waist. They waved goodbye to fans and their shared Women's European Championship title hopes inside Stade de Genève, which had been a joyous second home for them in Switzerland. Less than hour earlier, Italy had been little more than one minute away from advancing to a final few had imagined. 'I feel that something has ended that we didn't want to end, because I still don't believe it's over,' the 35-year-old Girelli said, in tears again in the player interview area. 'Probably fate has been a little cruel to us.' Goalkeeper's grief Goalkeeper Laura Guilani had been alone with her emotions after fulltime, face down on the turf in midfield. It would have been Italy's first trip to the Women's Euros title match since 1997. No Italian team had won a knockout game at the tournament in 28 years until Girelli's 90th-minute winning goal against Norway last Wednesday in the same stadium. In a heartbreaking end to the semis for Italy, England teenager Michelle Agyemang first took victory away with a game-tying goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the end of the regulation. Then, just as a penalty shootout loomed, England clinched the victory with Chloe Kelly's goal in the 119th to send the defending champion to Sunday's final. Adding to Italy's sense of unfairness, Kelly scored by swooping on a rebound after Guiliani had saved her penalty kick. Minute details 'We were one minute away from the final,' Italy coach Andrea Soncin said at a post-game news conference. 'The players have deserved a different end, but unfortunately it happens sometimes you don't get what you deserve,' he said in translated comments. The Italian team was ecstatic in the 33rd when Barbara Bonansea lashed a volleyed shot rising into the England net. For the fifth straight game Italy scored first, adding England to that list of opponents that includes World Cup champion Spain. Bonansea ran toward the Italy bench with her tongue sticking out, with a broad smile, to be embraced by her teammates. The team's emotions were evident and powerful even before kickoff. The national anthem had been sung with gusto, concluding with a yelled crescendo that had some players bent over with the effort. Protecting their lead from England attacks in the second half, center backs Elena Linari and Cecilia Salvai were defiant and Di Guglielmo had made a key header by the goalpost to clear imminent danger. Di Guglielmo's emotional post-game walk to salute Italy supporters was made wearing the jersey of their nemesis — Kelly's No. 18 — they had exchanged after the game. World Cup next Soncin acknowledged women's soccer in Italy was playing catch-up to nations which had more established programs, like England. 'It's another step we have to make to better manage these situations.' In two years there will be a World Cup in Brazil where Italy, if it qualifies, will have a reputation and new-found respect to defend. With Girelli also? Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'We achieved something great, something stratospheric, but we'll see,' the storied veteran said of her chances of playing on until then. 'These emotions are too beautiful to not want to relive them.' ___ Associated Press writer Felipe Rocha contributed to this report ___ AP soccer:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store