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ESPN News Services
Jul 16, 2025, 06:34 PM ET
An ecstatic Italy manager Andrea Soncin credited past players for paving the mode aft the Italians clinched their archetypal European title semifinal berth since 1997 acknowledgment to a 90th-minute header from Cristiana Girelli.
The Italians had been thrilled to marque the Euro 2025 quarterfinals, but person gone astatine slightest 1 amended aft Girelli's treble lifted them to a 2-1 triumph implicit Norway successful Geneva connected Wednesday.
"It's thing that makes maine and america wholly proud," a grinning Soncin told RAI. "But past is written by what has been done before, truthful we indispensable springiness recognition to those who were determination successful erstwhile years, who, adjacent without these possibilities, person fixed a boost to the movement. We are reaping the fruits.
"The girls merit a batch of recognition due to the fact that they person done thing exceptional; it is beauteous to observe present that we person entered history, present let's bask it afloat and successful a fewer minutes we volition commencement reasoning astir the semifinals."
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It was Italy's archetypal knockout signifier triumph astatine a large tourney since the 2019 World Cup. And Soncin and his squad made the astir of the moment. The 46-year-old manager clasped 2 players' hands and the squad did a celebratory tally hand-in-hand toward the Italian fans astatine Stade de Geneve aft the last whistle.
"Let's truly bask this moment. That's what I asked the girls earlier the match: to bask the moment, this unthinkable atmosphere," helium said. "Today was genuinely electrifying, from the anthem to the celebrations, with each the people. Something unique."
Norway defended poorly for Girelli's 2nd extremity which proved lethal considering the Juventus striker scored the astir headed goals successful Europe's large 5 leagues this past season.
"This is not conscionable a triumph for us, but it genuinely belongs to everyone, to each of Italian women's football," the 35-year-old Girelli told RAI.
"But truly, this is simply a triumph for the full group, for 23 girls, but much truthful for each those who are astatine location watching the triumph of the full Italian women's movement.
"This is truly thing unthinkable for the caller generation; being among the apical 4 successful Europe is simply a imagination travel true."
Girelli present has 61 goals for Italy and the past 3 each went into the aforesaid nett astatine the mountains extremity of the Stade de Genève stadium.
She besides scored 1 of the goals of the tournament, curling successful a 22-meter changeable against Portugal.
"We felt astatine location here," Girelli said of the Swiss metropolis with a large Italian assemblage wherever the Azzurre volition play a 3rd crippled adjacent week. "Maybe I could inquire Juventus to play successful this stadium, I'm joking."
Girelli heaped praise connected Soncin, who was hired by Italy successful precocious 2023.
"He has an highly important quality worth and it is thing we person perceived since the archetypal days helium arrived," she told RAI.
"He has adapted successful a truly peculiar way, with a humility that is hard to find successful an situation helium was not acquainted with.
"During training, conscionable looking into his eyes tells america a batch of things. A azygous glimpse is capable for america to recognize if we are connected the close track. There is ever a affirmative vigor from him and it boosts our confidence."
Italy volition look the victor of Thursday's quarterfinal betwixt England and Sweden successful the semis.
Information from Reuters, The Associated Press and ESPN Research was utilized successful this report.
