EXPLAINER
Holders England face Italy whereas world champions Spain tackle Germany because the Girls’s Euro enters its ultimate week.
A final-minute winner, two thrilling shootouts, missed penalties and numerous saves – the quarterfinals of the UEFA Girls’s Euro delivered all the things one might ask for.
The drama now rolls on to the ultimate week with 4 groups left within the hunt for the European crown.
Right here’s how the Euro 2025 semifinals line up:
⚽ First semifinal: England vs Italy
When: Tuesday at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
The place: Stade de Geneve, Geneva
An extended-cherished dream grew to become a actuality for Italy on Wednesday when captain Cristiana Girelli’s Ninetieth-minute header ended their 28-year look ahead to a spot within the semifinals of the Girls’s European championships.
Coming into the competition because the underdogs, Italy surprised Norway 2-1 as Girelli scored twice whereas Ada Hegerberg netted as soon as for the Norwegians after lacking a penalty for the second time on this yr’s event.
“I felt one thing totally different, one thing particular. I’ve seen within the eyes of my teammates a particular mild,” the 35-year-old Girelli stated after the sport. “When you have a flame, you need to proceed to stay. We suffered so much, however we fought till the top.”
Their fairytale run now faces its subsequent check towards holders England, who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, successful 3-2 in a dramatic penalty shootout towards Sweden on Thursday.
Eleven minutes from full-time the Lionesses – trailing 2-0 and on the point of elimination – mounted a fast comeback, scoring two targets in two minutes to ship the match into further time.
Within the penalty shootout, which featured 14 makes an attempt, defender Lucy Bronze slammed her spot kick into the roof of the online because the seventh penalty taker, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made two saves as England coach Sarina Wiegman breathed a sigh of reduction as her aspect certified for the ultimate 4 at Euro 2025.
“It was arduous. One of many hardest video games I’ve ever watched. Very emotional. We might’ve been out 4 or 5 instances in the course of the sport,” Wiegman stated.
England are unbeaten of their final 5 matches towards Italy, all friendlies, with 4 of these ending in victories. The winner of the primary semifinal will face both Spain or Germany within the ultimate.
Cristiana Girelli scored a Ninetieth-minute winner, her second aim of an excellent double, as Italy beat Norway 2-1 to e book their spot within the semifinals on the UEFA Girls’s Euro for the primary time since 1997 (Alessandra Tarantino/AP Picture)
⚽ Second semifinal: Germany vs Spain
When: Wednesday at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
The place: Stadium Letzigrund, Zurich
Spain stored their quest for a maiden Girls’s Euro title alive by knocking out hosts Switzerland 2-0 in Friday’s quarterfinal regardless of failing twice from the penalty spot.
The world champions had been made to work arduous towards a cussed Swiss defence within the first half earlier than tremendous sub Athenea del Castillo scored the opener shortly after the hour mark, and Claudia Pina doubled the lead with an excellent curling effort. Spain’s victory stored their 100% successful file at Euro 2025 intact.
“Perhaps we’d choose to face Germany once more due to what occurred on the Olympics,” del Castillo stated after the match, referring to their 1-0 defeat to Germany within the bronze medal match at Paris 2024.
Athenea could get the revenge she hinted at: Germany are by means of, and Spain will now meet their Olympic nemesis within the semifinals.
The Germans defeated France 6-5 on penalties in Saturday’s thrilling semifinal, pulling off an excellent comeback from a aim down regardless of enjoying with 10 gamers for a lot of the match. Within the thirteenth minute, German midfielder Kathrin Hendrich was issued a straight crimson card after she pulled the hair of France captain Griedge Mbock.
With the match tied 1-1 after further time, the competition was selected penalties. Germany’s goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was the hero, firing dwelling from a vital spot kick herself earlier than pulling off a decisive penalty save to seal the upset victory towards France.
“There’s a very arduous and hard opponent (Spain) we’ve to face (within the ultimate). Everyone actually gave their final effort right here, and we have to regenerate. We’ve to ensure we get well,” stated the 34-year-old Berger, who produced a string of excellent saves all through the match.
Germany are unbeaten in eight conferences with Spain, successful 5 and drawing three with a aim depend of 18-3.
Germany received the shootout towards France 6-5, because of the heroics of Ann-Katrin Berger, who saved two photographs and transformed a penalty kick herself (Martin Meissner/AP Picture)
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