Latest news with #womenstournament
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Girelli double sends Italy to Euro 2025 last four as Hegerberg misses spot-kick
Italy's heroine Cristiana Girelli hailed their 'magical and special' achievement of reaching their first major women's tournament semi-final since 1997 after her 90th-minute header beat Norway and sparked memorable celebrations. The 35-year-old striker's dramatic strike, her second goal of the game, set up a semi-final with either England or Sweden, who meet in Zurich on Thursday, as Italy moved a step closer to what could be their first major silverware. Norway, managed by the former Wales coach Gemma Grainger, were disappointing for the first hour and their captain Ada Hegerberg missed a penalty, but appeared to be the stronger side in the latter stages after equalising through Hegerberg's low finish in normal play. 'It's a dream that becomes reality,' Girelli said. 'Since we arrived in Switzerland, but also when we started the camp, I felt something special. I saw in the eyes of my teammates something I can't explain in words. We knew it was difficult to reach the semi-final but we all knew we could do it. 'It's something magical. Tonight being among the four best teams is a great satisfaction. We are doing this for our glory but the meaning is much deeper and we want to bring this meaning to Italy. In Italy we can play football and also women and girls can play football.' For both teams this tie represented a priceless opportunity to reach a semi-final, after a relatively kind draw. They had both been eliminated at the group stage of the European Championship in 2017 and 2022. They had both given their supporters cause for optimism during their group matches and knew the heavyweight contenders were all in action later this week in the other last-eight fixtures. Perhaps, with that, came a few nerves. Norway supporters were certainly in the minority as Italy fans flocked to Geneva and Norway also created the minority of the first-half chances, as the Italians showed the greater attacking endeavour in a cautious first 45 minutes. A tournament-record average of 3.7 goals per game had been scored in the group stages, as attacking football became the norm. But perhaps it was to be expected that the start of the knockout rounds would deliver a goalless first 45 minutes, an element of caginess creeping into both sides. Despite the slow tempo, Italy played some neat football, going close through Manuela Giugliano, Girelli's attempted header and Lucia Di Guglielmo, while their energetic midfielder Emma Severini burst into the penalty area but saw her shot well saved by the Norway goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand. The Italians broke the deadlock when Sofia Cantore's goalbound shot from the right side of the box was angled into the net with the gentlest of touches from Girelli. Italy had the momentum suddenly and Cantore thought she had doubled the lead moments later but her scrambled effort was disallowed for offside. Soon the game was seesawing as Norway were awarded a penalty when Hegerberg was bundled down by Elena Linari. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Former Ballon d'Or winner Hegerberg, who had also missed a spot-kick in Norway's opening group game against Switzerland, placed her effort wide to the bafflement of fans and to the dismay of the Norway supporters directly behind the goal. Hegerberg redeemed herself by running on to Maren Mjelde's long ball and tucking past Laura Giuliani, who had been too hesitant to come off her line. Norway almost turned the tie around when, from a half-chance, Ingrid Engen curled wide. But Italy were not to be denied as Cantore fired over a penetrating cross from the left that found an unmarked Girelli who headed past Fiskerstrand and they will be back in Geneva on Tuesday. Grainger, who is from Middlesbrough, insisted Norway will look back on their campaign with 'real pride' after topping their group, adding: 'When you concede so late, it's so hard to take, especially with that second-half performance.'
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Girelli double sends Italy to Euro 2025 last four as Hegerberg misses spot-kick
Jubilant Italy reached their first major women's tournament semi-final since 1997 as Cristiana Girelli's 90th-minute header beat a Norway side who had seen their captain Ada Hegerberg miss a crucial penalty earlier in the second half. Norway, managed by the former Wales coach Gemma Grainger, were disappointing for the first hour of the contest but appeared to be the stronger side in the latter stages after equalising through Hegerberg's low finish in normal play, before Girelli's back-post header won the game with her second goal of the match and sent the Italians wild. For both Norway and Italy this tie had represented a priceless opportunity to reach a semi-final, after the draw in December had been relatively kind to them. They had both been eliminated at the group stage of the 2017 and 2022 editions of the Euros. They had both given their supporters cause for optimism during their group matches and knew the heavyweight contenders were all in action later this week in the other last-eight fixtures. Perhaps, with that, came a few nerves too. Norway fans were certainly in the minority in Geneva as hopeful Italy fans flocked to the stadium in their blue shirts and sang Il Canto degli Italiani, the Italian national anthem, with vigour and pride. Norway also created the minority of the first-half chances, as the Italians showed the greater attacking endeavour in what was largely a cautious first 45 minutes. An average of 3.7 goals per game had been scored during the group stages, the highest ratio in the history of the tournament, as free-flowing attacking football became the norm, so perhaps it was to be expected that the start of the knockout rounds would deliver a goalless first 45 minutes, an element of caginess creeping into both side's tactics. Despite the low tempo Italy played some neat football, going close through Manuela Giugliano, Girelli's attempted header and Lucia Di Guglielmo, while their energetic midfielder Emma Severini burst into the penalty area but saw her shot well saved by the Norway goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand. At the other end Hegerberg could scarcely believe she had not scored when the ball bounced up and hit her leg inside the six-yard box, before Signe Gaupset had the Norwegians' most ambitious effort, trying her luck from 35 yards when she had spotted the keeper off her line. Her looping shot dropped wide. The Italians broke the deadlock when Sofia Cantore's goalbound shot from the right side of the box was angled into the net with the gentlest of touches from Girelli, as the 35-year-old striker scored her second goal of the tournament and sparked wild celebrations on the Italy bench and particularly for their exuberant coach, Andrea Soncin. Italy had the momentum suddenly and Cantore thought she had doubled the lead moments later but her scrambled effort was disallowed for offside. Soon the game was seesawing as Norway were awarded a penalty when Hegerberg was bundled down by Elena Linari. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Hegerberg, who had also missed a spot kick in Norway's opening Group D fixture against Switzerland, placed her effort harmlessly wide to the bafflement of fans all around the world who had expected the former Ballon d'Or winner to score and to the dismay of the Norway supporters directly behind the goal. They were soon smiling again, though, when Hegerberg redeemed herself by running on to Maren Mjelde's long ball and tucking past Laura Giuliani, who had been too hesitant to come off her line. It was a precious equaliser for a Norway side who had been underwhelming for much of the game. Norway began to grow in confidence and were aided by the introduction of Manchester United's Elisabeth Terland from the bench. They had a half-chance when Ingrid Engen curled wide. But Italy were not to be denied as Cantore fired over a lethal cross from the left flank that found an unmarked Girelli who headed past Fiskerstrand and set up a semi-final against either England or Sweden back here in Geneva on Tuesday.
CNA
4 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Poland beat Denmark for first win at major women's tournament
LUCERNE, Switzerland :Poland recorded their first victory at a major women's tournament with a 3-2 win over Denmark on Saturday that saw them depart Euro 2025 on a high note. With both teams already eliminated, the result meant Poland came third in Group C at their debut Euros, and Denmark fourth. Natalia Padilla-Bidas made history and had Polish fans on their feet with her 12th-minute goal, the team's first in a major tournament, when a loose ball fell at her feet and she fired home. Ewa Pajor, Poland's all-time leading goalscorer, doubled the lead eight minutes later when she intercepted the ball in the midfield, laid it out to Padilla-Bidas then charged to the back post to head it in. Denmark's Janni Thomsen pulled one back in the 59th minute but Poland restored their two-goal lead when substitute Martyna Wiankowska struck from the edge of the box, firing the ball in off the bar. Denmark, runners-up at Euro 2017, replied in the 83rd minute when Signe Bruun headed in Katrine Veje's pinpoint cross. After the final whistle, the joyous Poland players tossed player of the match Padilla-Bidas in the air and celebrated with their supporters. "It was a fantastic match," Poland coach Nina Patalon said. "We waited a long time for it. We wanted to score that one goal, and we scored three. Today I am so proud of my girls and just so, so happy."
CNA
4 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Poland end Euro 2025 on high note with historic Padilla-Bidas goal, win over Denmark
LUCERNE, Switzerland :Poland's Natalia Padilla-Bidas scored her country's first goal at a major women's tournament in a 3-2 victory over Denmark on Saturday that sends Poland home from their European championship debut on a high note. Both teams had already been eliminated from quarter-final contention so Saturday's match was about final group placings with Poland finishing third and Denmark fourth. Bayern Munich's Padilla-Bidas brought the Polish fans to their feet at Allmend Stadion with her historic strike in the 12th minute when a loose ball fell at her feet and she fired home. Ewa Pajor, Poland's all-time leading goalscorer, doubled their lead eight minutes later when she intercepted the ball in the midfield, laid it out to Padilla-Bidas then charged to the back post to head it in. Janni Thomsen pulled one back in the 59th minute but Poland restored their two-goal lead when substitute Martyna Wiankowska struck from the edge of the box, firing the ball in off the bar.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Poland end Euro 2025 on high note with historic Padilla-Bidas goal, win over Denmark
LUCERNE, Switzerland: Poland's Natalia Padilla-Bidas scored her country's first goal at a major women's tournament in a 3-2 victory over Denmark on Saturday that sends Poland home from their European championship debut on a high note. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
