Preview: England and Italy meet in first Euros semifinal
One more win will see either England or Italy become the first team to book a place in the Euro 2025 final.
By Jamie Spencer
A place in the final
An England side that performs better than anyone else at major tournaments is seeking to make it to a third successive final at the Euros and World Cup. For Italy, this opportunity to reach another major final has been 28 years in the making.
The Lionesses have looked beaten a couple of times already, humbled by France in the group stage and then finding themselves 2-0 down in the quarter-final against Sweden until the final 12 minutes. But big wins over the Netherlands and Wales, and a chaotic last eight comeback, demonstrated an uncanny ability to get the job done when it matters most.
Italy followed Spain out of Group B, beating Belgium and drawing with Portugal either side of a loss against the reigning world champions. A 90th minute quarter-final winner against Norway, having earlier been ahead, resulted in a first semi-final appearance since Euro 1997.
Head-to-head
England thrashed Italy 5-1 in a 2024 friendly and secured a 2-1 win in the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup. Due to a dominant edge in the 1990s, when England didn’t record a single win against Le Azzurre, Italy lead the overall head-to-head record, victorious in 14 of 32 prior meetings, compared to England’s 12. But Italy haven’t beaten England since 2012.
Italy’s former glories
Italy were one of the early powerhouses of women’s international football, contesting each of the first five European Championships when it was just a four-team tournament. They were runners-up to Norway in 1993 and again reached the final in 1997 when the competition was first expanded to eight teams. But then came a slump that they have never fully emerged from.
The great hope is that after a surprising run to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2019 but group stage exits at the Euros in 2017, 2022 and the World Cup in 2023, this summer could be more of a permanent catalyst. The other side of that coin is plenty of experience will soon be lost, with seven of the 23 players selected this summer aged 31 or older.
‘Proper England’
It’s been the buzz phrase around the squad since the opening defeat to France, coined by Georgia Stanway, who was one of many that were subpar in that first game. When ‘Proper England’ show up, as the Netherlands, Wales and, eventually, Sweden, found out, they are among the very best around.
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, player of the match against Sweden, puts it down to “English blood”, the attitude that it’s never over until it’s over.
Team news
England were sweating on the fitness of captain Leah Williamson after rolling her ankle the quarter-final, but the Arsenal defender trained on Monday along with all 22 other players in the squad.
Italy midfielders Arianna Caruso and Manuela Giugliano were working in the gym to overcome fitness issues on Monday and could remain doubts. Veteran forward Cristiana Girelli has scored three of Italy’s five goals at the tournament, including both against Norway last time out.
Prediction
England’s quarter-final against Sweden was the tougher task, which bodes well for the Lionesses, especially after the nature of that game. What works in Italy’s favour is a day’s extra rest and preparation time, but that doesn’t feel like enough to make a decisive difference. England 3-1 Italy.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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