Norway 1-2 Italy
By Gethin Thurlow
Above: Girelli heads Italy into the lead. Photo: Azzurri_En on X.
Italy beat Norway through a brace by captain Cristiana Girelli with the winner scored in stoppage time. The win sees Azzurri through to a first Women’s European Championship semi final since 1997.
Italy looked like a totally rejuvenated team compared to what we saw in the group stages. Having placed 15th in possession throughout the group stage, they played rings around a lacklustre Norway side, particularly having success down the right. Azzurri had a number of chances during the first 45 minutes, with Severini and Di Guglielmo hitting wide from inside the box.
Italy came out even more fired up and connected in the second half, with Girelli shooting into the bottom left corner to finally give them that deserved lead. Throughout the group stage, Norway relied on surviving through difficult periods then hitting back later, and this would come to fruition again.
Rather than pushing on for second, it seemed Italy were satisfied with a one goal lead and sat back, doing what they could to hold on. After Hegerberg put a penalty wide (that looked to have an offside in the build up anyway) she was played in by a long ball by Mjelde. Guiliani in the Italian goal hesitated and 2018 Ballon D’or winner Hegerberg had her redemption.
The entire rest of the game it always looked like Norway that would score the winner, yet Italy managed to hang on and the game looked like it was heading to extra time. Taking advantage of a lapse in concentration from Norway on the transition, Italy found themselves on the attack, and when Sofia Cantore put a well-weighted cross into the box, Girelli was on hand to head home once again.
Italy go on to face the winner of England v Sweden. Given how well they competed with world champions Spain in the group stage, they are not to be taken for granted and will be the semi finalist with the least amount of pressure on them.
TEAMS: NORWAY (4-3-3): Fiskerstrand, Bjelde, Mjelde, T Hansen, Reiten, Naalsund, Engen, Maanum, Graham Hansen, Hegerberg (c), Gaupset. Substitutes: Terland (for Maanum 64’), Woldvik (for Bjelde 87’), Panengstuen, Mikalsen, Ostenstad, Harviken, Bizet, Kielland, Boe Risa, Saevik, Jensen.
Scorers: Hegerberg 66’
ITALY (4-2-3-1): Guiliani, Oliviero, Salvai, Linari, Di Guglielmo, Caruso, Giugliano, Severini, Bonansea, Girelli (c), Cantore. Substitutes: Greggi (for Severini 77’), Cambiaghi (for Bonansea 77’), Piemonte (for Girelli 92’), Lenzini (for Cantore 92’), Baldi, Durante, Piga, Boattin, Bergamaschi, Serturini, Schatzer, Goldoni.
Scorers: Girelli 50’,90’
Attendance: 26,276
Referee: Stephanie Frapport (Fra)
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