Emotion, unity and drive help Italy end 28-year wait to reach Women's Euro semi-finals

Straits Times

16 hours ago

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Italy's Eleonora Goldoni, Cristiana Girelli and Elena Linari celebrating after their 2-1 Women's Euro 2025 quarter-final win over Norway at the Stade de Geneve in Geneva on July 16, 2025.
GENEVA – Team unity drove Italy to end their 28-year wait to reach the semi-finals of the Women's European Championship, Italian midfielder Giada Greggi told Reuters after their 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway.
'I think the humility, the fact that we are a united group, showing our qualities, that's what made this important result and we brought it home,' Greggi, who came off the bench in the 77th minute of the July 16 encounter, said.
The raucous Italian crowd urged their players on, with chants of 'Forza Italia' and the Stade de Geneve lit up when Cristiana Girelli found the net twice in the second half, including a 90th-minute winner.
'There were a lot of emotions in that (second) goal. It was the whole journey we took, the sacrifices we made and in the end we reached the semi-final,' Greggi stated.
'It was a fantastic feeling. We almost didn't believe it at the end of the game,' said Michela Cambiaghi who also came on in the 77th minute in Geneva.
Italy defender Elena Linari said the 35-year-old Girelli was an inspiration for the team.
'Now we're going to put Girelli in a display case to rest for the semi-final – she deserves it all, and she's such a huge inspiration for us,' Linari said.
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Italy coach Andrea Soncin, meanwhile, credited past players for paving the way for his charges.
'It's something that makes me and us totally proud,' a grinning Soncin told RAI. 'But history is written by what has been done before, so we must give credit to those who were there in previous years, who, even without these possibilities, have given a boost to the movement. We are reaping the fruits.'
It was the first time since 1997 that Italy had reached the semi-finals at a European Championship.
'It was achieved with effort and many sacrifices... today we have shown that we can do very well,' Greggi said.
Before the match Italy's coach asked his team to close their eyes and think back to the first time they had touched a football, Barbara Bonansea said.
'The feeling I have now is exactly the same. The stadium was packed, the energy was incredible. This achievement fills my heart,' she added.
Italy will face either England or Sweden in the semi-final. Their quarter-final took place after press time.
Meanwhile, Elisabeth Terland lamented Norway's failure to capitalise on key moments after a late defensive error allowed Girelli to score the winner.
'I just think we didn't take our big moments, even though we had momentum, and they did,' said Terland, who was introduced in the second half to chase a second goal for Norway.
'It's those moments that win you the game, so unfortunately, it went like that today.'
Norway looked like they had the edge as the tie approached 90 minutes with the score tied at 1-1, but Girelli's late header off a deep cross from Sofia Cantore dashed their hopes.
The 2013 finalists had gone behind when Girelli got her first goal early in the second half and their misery was compounded by captain Ada Hegerberg missing a penalty.
But when Hegerberg equalised in the 66th minute the pendulum swung in favour of the Scandinavians, only for Italy to deal a late knockout blow.
'It was a first half in which Italy were best, but we improved ourselves in the second,' said Norway defender Maren Mjelde. 'We had good control, and then suddenly they seemed to get a goal out of nothing.'
The Italians had targeted Norway's right flank all night with Cantore's precise delivery catching the Norwegian defence off guard.
'We knew that they were good at crosses and in the box, they got a lot of players in the box and it's tough to stand here now,' Mjelde said.
'I thought we'd get to 90 minutes and then maybe restart.' REUTERS